# US 2014/0194747 A1 · Infrared scanner and projector to indicate cancerous cells

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- Number: US 2014/0194747 A1
- Document ID: US20140194747A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/884,116
- Filed: 2012-05-01
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2012-05-01
- Assignees: Empire Technology Development LLC
- Inventors: Lewis John Kruglick; Ezekiel Kruglick
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194747A1

## CPC

- A61B 1/313: for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes
- A61B 1/00165: {with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics (A61B1/07 takes precedence)}
- A61B 1/00172: {with means for scanning}
- A61B 1/0638: {providing two or more wavelengths}
- A61B 1/07: using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
- A61B 5/0075: {by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy (A61B5/0071 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/0086: {using infrared radiation}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Provided herein are methods and devices for detecting and/or indicating cancerous cells. In some embodiments, infrared light can be used to induce an infrared signature of one or more cells and visible light can be used to indicate the one or more cells having the infrared signature.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An endoscopic probe, laparoscopic probe, or endoscopic and laparoscopic probe, the probe comprising:
at least one light guide comprising an input and an output, wherein the at least one light guide allows infrared and visible light to pass through the light guide; and
a mirror assembly in optical communication with the light guide, wherein the mirror assembly is configured to:
(a) direct an infrared beam from the light guide,
(b) receive an infrared signature and direct it into the light guide, and
(c) direct a visible light beam from the light guide.

### Claim 2

(canceled)

### Claim 3

(canceled)

### Claim 4

(canceled)

### Claim 5

(canceled)

### Claim 6

(canceled)

### Claim 7

(canceled)

### Claim 8

A system for guiding and collecting light, the system comprising:
a probe comprising:
a light guide; and
an optical head detachably connected to the light guide;
a collinear light guide, configured to be in optical communication with the probe;
an infrared (IR) light source, wherein the infrared light source is configured to be in optical, communication with the collinear light guide;
a visible light source, wherein the visible light source is configured to be in detachable, optical, communication with the collinear light guide; and
a detector, wherein the system is configured to allow the detector to detect infrared light that enters the system through the light guide.

### Claim 9

(canceled)

### Claim 10

(canceled)

### Claim 11

(canceled)

### Claim 12

(canceled)

### Claim 13

(canceled)

### Claim 14

(canceled)

### Claim 15

(canceled)

### Claim 16

(canceled)

### Claim 17

(canceled)

### Claim 18

(canceled)

### Claim 19

(canceled)

### Claim 20

(canceled)

### Claim 21

(canceled)

### Claim 22

(canceled)

### Claim 23

(canceled)

### Claim 24

(canceled)

### Claim 25

(canceled)

### Claim 26

(canceled)

### Claim 27

(canceled)

### Claim 28

A method for indicating a target cell, the method comprising:
detecting an infrared signature from one or more cells; and
projecting at least one wavelength of visible light onto an area corresponding to the one or more cells, thereby indicating a target cell.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, further comprising irradiating the one or more cells with at least one wavelength of infrared light to thereby induce the one or more cells to provide the infrared signature.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein an optical head on a probe is used to irradiate the one or more cells with the at least one wavelength of infrared light.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, wherein the optical head is also used to direct the infrared signature to a detector.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein the optical head is also used to selectively project the at least one wavelength of visible light.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, wherein the optical head comprises a scanning mirror assembly.

### Claim 34 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein 1) the at least one wavelength of infrared light used for irradiating the one or more cells and 2) the at least one wavelength of visible light, both pass through a same light guide.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34, wherein the infrared signature passes through the same light guide.

### Claim 36 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one wavelength of infrared light is generated by an infrared light source, and wherein the at least one wavelength of infrared light passes into a collinear light guide, then into a probe light guide, and then to an optical head.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36, wherein the infrared signature is directed by the optical head to the probe light guide.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, wherein the infrared signature then passes into a collinear light guide.

### Claim 39 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, wherein the infrared signature is detected by an infrared detector.

### Claim 40 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, wherein the at least one wavelength of visible light is generated by a visible light source, and wherein the at least one wavelength of visible light passes into the collinear light guide, then into the probe light guide, and then to the optical head.

### Claim 41 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the target cell is part of at least one of a pre-cancerous, benign, or a malignant tumor.

### Claim 42 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein projecting at least one wavelength of visible light comprises projecting at least a first wavelength of visible light onto a first cell and at least a second wavelength of visible light onto a second cell.

### Claim 43 (depends on 42)

The method of claim 42, wherein the first cell is a cancerous cell.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

The method of claim 43, wherein the second cell is a non-cancerous cell and wherein the second wavelength of light is different from the first wavelength of light.

### Claim 45 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein a wavelength of the at least one wavelength of visible light corresponds to a size of a cancer cluster.

### Claim 46 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein a wavelength of the at least one wavelength of visible light corresponds to a depth of a cancerous cell.

### Claim 47 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein a wavelength of light of the at least one wavelength of visible light is selected so as to contrast with an environment around the one of more cells.

### Claim 48 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein a wavelength of light of the at least one wavelength of visible light is selected so as to be visibly different from other areas of a subject that are illuminated by other wavelengths of visible light.

### Claim 49 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the visible wavelength of light and the infrared wavelength of light are collimated.

### Claim 50 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein projecting the visible wavelength of light is done via a detachably connected optical head.