EP 1173746 A1 20020123 - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING TISSUE CHARACTERISTICS
Title (en)
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING TISSUE CHARACTERISTICS
Title (de)
VORRICHTUNG UND VERFAHREN ZUR BESTIMMUNG DER EIGENSCHAFTEN VON GEWEBE
Title (fr)
APPAREIL ET PROCEDE DE DETERMINATION DES CARACTERISTIQUES D'UN TISSU
Publication
Application
Priority
- US 0006428 W 20000324
- US 12606599 P 19990325
- US 9910947 W 19990519
Abstract (en)
[origin: WO0057157A1] An apparatus embodying the invention includes a probe head (317) with an interrogation surface that is intended to be positioned adjacent or pushed into contact with a target material or tissue (50). The probe head (317) is constructed to have a plurality of interrogation devices arranged across the face of the interrogation surface. The probe head (317) is also constructed so that the interrogation device can conform to a non-uniform or non-planar surface of the target tissue (50). In some embodiments, the interrogation surface may have a particular shape that conforms to the shape of a target material. In other embodiments, one or more portions of the interrogation surface could be movable with respect to remaining portions so that the interrogation surface can thereby conform to a non-uniform surface. In still other embodiments, a plurality of separately moveable interrogation devices can be arranged across the interrogation surface. During a mesurement process, the interrogation surface would be pressed into contact with the uniform surface to cause individual ones of the interrogation devices to move, thereby causing the probe head to conform to the non-uniform surface.
[origin: WO0057157A1] An apparatus embodying the invention includes a probe head (304) with an interrogation surface that is intended to be positioned adjacent or pushed into contact with a target material or tissue (50). The probe head (304) is constructed to have a plurality of interrogation devices (317) arranged across the face of the interrogation surface. The probe head (304) is also constructed so that the interrogation device can conform to a non-uniform or non-planar surface of the target tissue (50). In some embodiments, the interrogation surface may have a particular shape that conforms to the shape of a target material. In other embodiments, one or more portions of the interrogation surface could be movable with respect to remaining portions so that the interrogation surface can thereby conform to a non-uniform surface. In still other embodiments, a plurality of separately moveable interrogation devices can be arranged across the interrogation surface. During a measurement process, the interrogation surface would be pressed into contact with the uniform surface to cause individual ones of the interrogation devices to move, thereby causing the probe head to conform to the non-uniform surface.
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
G01N 21/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); G01N 21/25 (2006.01); G01N 21/47 (2006.01); G01N 21/49 (2006.01); G01N 21/64 (2006.01); G01N 21/21 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP)
A61B 5/0059 (2013.01); A61B 5/6843 (2013.01); G01N 21/474 (2013.01); A61B 5/0071 (2013.01); A61B 5/0075 (2013.01); A61B 5/0084 (2013.01); A61B 5/0091 (2013.01); A61B 5/4312 (2013.01); A61B 5/444 (2013.01); A61B 2562/164 (2013.01); G01N 21/21 (2013.01); G01N 21/49 (2013.01); G01N 21/64 (2013.01)
Designated contracting state (EPC)
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated extension state (EPC)
AL LT LV MK RO SI
DOCDB simple family (publication)
WO 0057157 A1 20000928; WO 0057157 A8 20010315; AU 3877600 A 20001009; EP 1173746 A1 20020123; EP 1173746 A4 20080423
DOCDB simple family (application)
US 0006428 W 20000324; AU 3877600 A 20000324; EP 00917869 A 20000324