Apparatus and methods for monitoring tissue impedance
OwnerHosheng Tu, Rodolfo C. Quijanoinventors
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for differentiating in a given area of tissue a tumorous tissue from a normal tissue, the method comprising measuring a plurality of tissue impedance over a range of tissue temperatures and comparing the measured tissue impedance with reference tissue impedance of the normal tissue adapted for tissue differentiation. The management of tissue temperatures may be accomplished with a probe arrangement comprising two elements of different electromotive potential conductively connected at a probe junction, and passing an electrical current through the elements to reduce or raise a temperature of the probe junction in accordance with the Peltier effect.
Claims20
An apparatus for differentiating in a given area of tissue a tumorous tissue from a normal tissue, comprising:
- electrode means for continuous or time-discrete measurement of tissue impedance over a range of tissue temperatures;
- instrument means for effecting and monitoring said tissue temperatures;
- and
- means for comparing said measured tissue impedance over at least a portion of the range of tissue temperatures with reference tissue impedance of the normal tissue adapted for tissue differentiation, wherein said reference tissue impedance is measured over said range of tissue temperatures, wherein said range of tissue temperatures is between 20° C. and about 38° C.
An apparatus for differentiating in a given area of tissue a tumorous tissue from a normal tissue, comprising:
- electrode means for continuous or time-discrete measurement of tissue impedance over a range of tissue temperatures;
- instrument means for effecting and monitoring said tissue temperatures;
- processing means for analyzing tissue impedance data over the range of tissue temperatures to obtain a first impedance-temperature derivative of the tissue impedance versus tissue temperatures;
- and
- means for comparing said first impedance-temperature derivative at a tissue temperature of interest with reference first impedance-temperature derivative of the normal tissue at said tissue temperature of interest adapted for tissue differentiation.
A method of differentiating in a given area of tissue a tumorous tissue from a normal tissue, comprising:
- a) advancing an apparatus to said given area, wherein said apparatus comprises electrode means for continuous or time-discrete measurement of tissue impedance over a range of tissue temperatures and comprises instrument means for effecting and monitoring said tissue temperatures;
- b) acquiring tissue impedance data over the range of tissue temperatures to obtain a first impedance-temperature derivative of the tissue impedance versus tissue temperatures;
- and
- c) comparing said first impedance-temperature derivative at a tissue temperature of interest with reference first impedance-temperature derivative of the normal tissue at said tissue temperature of interest adapted for tissue differentiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.