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US 6,289,236 B1Granted
Methods and apparatus for distinguishing inflamed and tumorous bladder tissue
AssigneeThe General Hospital Corporation
InventorsFrank Koenig, Francis J. McGovern, Thomas F. Deutsch, Kevin T. Schomacker
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Abstract
The invention features an apparatus and methods for distinguishing inflamed tissue from cancerous tissue using autofluorescence.
Claims17
A method for distinguishing cancerous tissue from inflamed tissue in a patient, the method comprising:
- (a) exposing a target tissue suspected of containing inflamed or cancerous tissue to incident radiation having a wavelength between 325 and 350 nm;
- (b) detecting autofluorescence emitted at a first wavelength between 370 and 400 nm and at a second wavelength between 440 and 470 nm after irradiation of the target tissue with the incident radiation;
- and
- (c) comparing the intensity of the autofluorescence emitted at the first wavelength with the intensity of the autofluorescence emitted at the second wavelength, wherein a decrease in autofluorescence intensity at the first wavelength compared to autofluorescence intensity emitted at the second wavelength indicates cancerous cells within the target tissue.
1 more element
An apparatus for distinguishing cancerous and inflamed tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a light source having a wavelength between 325 and 350 nm;
- (b) a first detector to detect autofluoresence emitted from the irradiated target tissue at a first wavelength between 370 and 400 mn;
- (c) a second detector to detect autofluoresence emitted from the irradiated target tissue at a second wavelength between 440 and 470 nm;
- (d) an analyzer that compares a threshold value to the ratio of the intensity of the autofluoresence at the first wavelength and the intensity of the autofluoresence at the second wavelength, wherein a ratio below the threshold value indicates that the analyzed tissue is cancerous, and a ratio above the threshold indicates that the analyzed tissue is inflamed or normal.
1 more element
A method for distinguishing cancerous tissue from inflamed tissue in a patient, the method comprising:
- (a) exposing a target tissue suspected of containing inflamed or cancerous tissue to incident radiation having a wavelength between 325 and 350 nm;
- (b) detecting autofluoresence emitted at a first wavelength between 370 and 400 nm and at a second wavelength between 440 and 470 nm upon irradiation of the target tissue with the incident radiation;
- and
- (c) comparing a threshold value to a ratio of the intensity of autofluoresence at the first wavelength to the intensity of autofluoresence at the second wavelength, wherein a ratio below the threshold value indicates that the analyzed tissue is cancerous, and a ratio above the threshold indicates that the analyzed tissue is inflamed or normal.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.