US5467767A
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Method for determining if tissue is malignant as opposed to non-malignant using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1993-08-27
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Granted: 1995-11-21
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Expires: 2013-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A method for determining if tissue is malignant as opposed to non-malignant (i.e., benign tumor tissue, benign tissue, or normal tissue). In one embodiment, the method comprises irradiating a human breast tissue sample with light at a wavelength of about 310 nm and measuring the time-resolved fluorescence emitted therefrom at about 340 nm. The time-resolved fluorescence profile is then compared to similar profiles obtained from known malignant and non-malignant human breast tissues. By fitting the profiles to the formula I(t)=A 1 e.sup.(-t/τ 1.sup.) +A 2 e.sup.(-t/τ 2.sup.), one can quantify the differences between tissues of various conditions. For example, non-malignant human breast tissues exhibit a slow component (τ 2 ) which is less than 1.6 ns whereas malignant human breast tissues exhibit a slow component (τ 2 ) which is greater than 1.6 ns. In addition, non-malignant human breast tissues exhibit a ratio of fast to slow amplitudes (A 1 /A 2 ) which is greater than 0.85 whereas malignant human breast tissues exhibit a ratio of fast to slow amplitudes (A 1 /A 2 ) which is less than 0.6. This technique can be used with different excitation and/or emission wavelengths, and can be applied to the detection of malignancies (or other abnormal states) in tissues other than human breast tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R. Alfano
- 👤 Asima Pradhan
- 👤 Guichen C. Tang
- 👤 Leming Wang
- 👤 Yury Budansky
- 👤 Bidyut B. Das
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/6408; A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/04; A61B1/043; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0071; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0084; A61B5/0091; A61B5/43; A61B5/4306; A61B5/4312; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/06; B23K26/062; B23K26/0622; B23K26/0624; G01N21/6486; A61B5/0075; A61B5/0086; G01N2021/6417
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for determining if a human breast tissue sample is malignant as opposed to non-malignant comprising: a) irradiating the human breast tissue sample with light at a wavelength of about 310 nm whereby native time-resolved fluorescence is emitted therefrom; b) measuring the native time-resolved fluorescence emitted therefrom at a wavelength of about 340 nm; and c) comparing the native time-resolved fluorescence emitted from the human breast tissue sample to that emitted from known malignant and non-malignant human breast tissues; d) the irradiating and measuring steps being performed using a fiber optic bundle in combination with a hypodermic needle to convey the light to and from the human breast tissue.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for determining if a human breast tissue sample is malignant as opposed to non-malignant comprising: a) irradiating the human breast tissue sample with light at a wavelength of about 310 nm whereby native time-resolved fluorescence is emitted therefrom; b) measuring the native time-resolved fluorescence emitted therefrom at a wavelength of about 340 nm; and c) comparing the native time-resolved fluorescence emitted from the human breast tissue sample to that emitted from known malignant and non-malignant human breast tissues; d) the irradiating and measuring steps being performed using a fiber optic bundle in combination with a hypodermic needle to convey the light to and from the human breast tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said measuring step is performed with a measuring device selected from the group consisting of a streak camera, an optical Kerr gate, an up-conversion gate, a time-correlated single photon counting instrument, a phase fluorimeter, and an oscilloscope with a fast photodetector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said measuring step is performed with a streak camera.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for determining if a tissue sample selected from the group consisting of human breast tissue and human ovarian tissue is malignant as opposed to non-malignant comprising: a) irradiating the tissue sample with light at a wavelength of about 353 nm; b) measuring a native time-resolved fluorescence emitted therefrom over one or more wavelengths in a spectral band from about 400 nm to about 500 nm; and c) determining the condition of the tissue sample in accordance with said measurement; d) the irradiating and measuring steps being performed using a fiber optic bundle in combination with a hypodermic needle to convey the light to and from the tissue sample.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for determining if a tissue sample selected from the group consisting of human breast tissue and human ovarian tissue is malignant as opposed to non-malignant comprising: a) irradiating the tissue sample with light at a wavelength of about 353 nm; b) measuring a native time-resolved fluorescence emitted therefrom over one or more wavelengths in a spectral band from about 400 nm to about 500 nm; and c) determining the condition of the tissue sample in accordance with said measurement; d) the irradiating and measuring steps being performed using a fiber optic bundle in combination with a hypodermic needle to convey the light to and from the tissue sample.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for determining if a tissue sample selected from the group consisting of human breast tissue and human lung tissue is malignant as opposed to non-malignant comprising: a) irradiating the tissue sample with light at a wavelength of about 530 nm; b) measuring a native time-resolved fluorescence emitted therefrom over one or more wavelengths in a spectral band from about 500 nm to about 600 nm; and c) determining the condition of the tissue sample in accordance with said measurement; d) the irradiating and measuring steps being performed using a fiber optic bundle in combination with a hypodermic needle to convey the light to and from the tissue sample.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for determining if a tissue sample selected from the group consisting of human breast tissue and human lung tissue is malignant as opposed to non-malignant comprising: a) irradiating the tissue sample with light at a wavelength of about 530 nm; b) measuring a native time-resolved fluorescence emitted therefrom over one or more wavelengths in a spectral band from about 500 nm to about 600 nm; and c) determining the condition of the tissue sample in accordance with said measurement; d) the irradiating and measuring steps being performed using a fiber optic bundle in combination with a hypodermic needle to convey the light to and from the tissue sample.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-11-20 | 1999-05-22 | 1999-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-20 | 2003-05-22 | 2003-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-20 | 2007-05-22 | 2007-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |