Optical probe for the detection of cervical neoplasia using fluorescence spectroscopy and apparatus incorporating same
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorsRebecca Richards-Kortum, Costas Pitris, Michele Follen Mitchell
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Abstract
A probe, and an apparatus incorporating the probe, for detecting tissue abnormality, particularly precancerous cervical tissue, through fluorescence spectroscopy are disclosed. In vivo fluorescence excitation and detection can be accomplished easily and accurately using a probe whose tip conforms to the surface of the cervix. In addition, a higher number of fiber pairs provides more information and, therefore, more accurate diagnosis.
Claims21
An optical probe for cervical examination comprising:
- (a) a probe casing having an elongate portion and at least two openings, wherein one of said openings is disposed at a distal tip of said elongate portion of said casing;
- (b) a plurality of optical fiber pairs, each of said pairs comprising an excitation fiber and a collection fiber, said optical fibers entering said casing at the non-tip opening and traversing said casing to said tip opening;
- and
- (c) a substantially optically transparent window with a surface structured to conform to the surface of the human cervix, said window covering said tip opening.
The probe according to claim 5, wherein said probe casing is a hollow tube.
A probe for the optical examination of a generally annular region of the human cervix comprising:
- (a) a generally elongated probe body having an optically transparent distal region generally in conformity with the generally annular cervix region;
- (b) an excitation fiber traversing at least a portion of the probe body to the distal region having an optical axis traverse to a portion of the distal region;
- and
- (c) a plurality of collection fibers traversing at least a portion of the probe body to the distal region and having respective optical axes transverse to portions of the distal region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.