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US 5,140,989 AGranted
Examination instrument for optical-response diagnostic apparatus
AssigneeSomanetics Corporation
InventorsGary D. Lewis, Hugh F. Stoddart
Life of this patent
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AssigneeSomanetics Corporation
InventorsGary D. Lewis, Hugh F. Stoddart
Estimating the term…
An examination instrument for optical apparatus, including a pair of optical heads mounted for relative movement toward and away from one another upon an elongated support, and having means (e.g., an electrical transducer) for producing an electrical signal which is specifically representative of the distance between the optical heads at various positions of relative movement therebetween, for use in analyzing test data obtained by the optical heads. The instrument also includes a test sequence actuation switch disposed in a position where the operator may readily initiate a test sequence without changing his grip upon the instrument as it is held in place on the test subject. The optical heads are mounted on stand-off members which position the heads in spaced relation alongside the elongated support and at an angle relative to one another, to facilitate use on the human breast. The optical heads include internal light-guides for emitting and/or receiving light, and such light-guides are preferably matched optically to electro-optical detectors carried by the optical heads, for optimum performance.
An examination instrument for use with optical response apparatus, comprising in combination:
An examination instrument for use with optical response apparatus, comprising in combination:
An examination instrument for use with optical response apparatus, comprising in combination:
An examination instrument for use with optical response apparatus, comprising in combination:
In a method of optically examining biological-type material to assess its physiological or conditional state, wherein light energy is infused into said material at at least a first location with respect thereto and resultant light energy is detected at at least one other location on the material, the improvement comprising the steps of:
In a method of optically examining a subject comprising biological or other such material to assess its physiological or conditional state, wherein light energy is applied to said subject at at least a first location with respect thereto and resultant infused light energy is detected at at least two mutually-separated locations on the subject, the improvement comprising the steps of detecting the resulting light energy infused into said subject by optically accessing the subject at each of said at least two mutually-separated locations using light receptors having optical acceptance angles which are particularly correlated to one another.
An examination instrument for use with optical response apparatus, comprising in combination:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.