Probe
AssigneesThe University of Bristol, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
InventorsJohn Charles Clifford Day, Nicholas Stone
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A probe, such as a spectroscopic probe, for enabling a fluid or tissue sample to be tested in situ. The probe includes a conduit, such as a hypodermic needle, that can be inserted into a test subject and a wave coupling arranged to direct electromagnetic radiation, such as light, from an energy source to the sample and/or from the sample to a receiver for analysis. The receiver may comprise a Raman spectroscope. The probe may include a carriage that can be used to move at least some of the optical coupling towards and away from the insertion tip of the conduit. The probe may include a pressure modifier that can be used to draw fluid into or expel fluid from the conduit.
Claims23
A probe comprising:
- an elongate conduit for piercing human tissue, the elongate conduit comprising a first opening and a second opening;
- a wave coupling for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from an energy source into the conduit and/or transmitting electromagnetic radiation from the conduit to a receiver.
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A method of testing a tissue or fluid sample comprising the steps of:
- inserting the conduit of a probe according to any preceding claim into the tissue of a test subject;
- and
- either transmitting electromagnetic radiation to the tissue or fluid sample via the wave coupling or transmitting electromagnetic radiation from the tissue or fluid sample to a receiver via the wave coupling.
A probe suitable for Raman spectroscopy comprising:
- an elongate conduit for piercing human tissue, the elongate conduit comprising a first opening and a second opening;
- a wave coupling for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from an energy source into the conduit and/or transmitting electromagnetic radiation from the conduit to a receiver,
- wherein the probe further comprises a body portion and a tip portion arranged to be removably coupled to body portion, the elongate conduit being associated with the tip portion, and the wave coupling includes one or more wave manipulation modules associated with the body portion, the wave manipulation modules each comprising a filter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.