Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus for analyzing tissue including arterial lesions, comprising: a light generating means for transmitting simultaneously and in parallel an incident beam of light having a wavelength range from substantially 1000 to 2500 nm; means for directing light from said light generating means onto the tissue to be analyzed; fiber-optic probe means for transmitting light from said light generating means to said light directing means and for receiving light scattered by said tissue; means for detecting light simultaneously and in parallel across a full wavelength range of substantially 1000 to 2500 nm scattered by said tissue; and means for analyzing the detected light across a full wavelength range of substantially 1000 to 2500 nm. said fiber opticprobe means including a centrally located light transmitting strand and a radial array of light receiving strands concentrically positioned around said light transmitting strand, said light transmitting and receiving strands each including a distal end and said distal end of said light transmitting strand projecting beyond said distal ends of said light receiving strands by between 0.1 and 50.0 mm.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus for analyzing tissue including arterial lesions, comprising: a light generating means for transmitting simultaneously and in parallel an incident beam of light having a wavelength range from substantially 1000 to 2500 nm; means for directing light from said light generating means onto the tissue to be analyzed; fiber-optic probe means for transmitting light from said light generating means to said light directing means and for receiving light scattered by said tissue; means for detecting light simultaneously and in parallel across a full wavelength range of substantially 1000 to 2500 nm scattered by said tissue; and means for analyzing the detected light across a full wavelength range of substantially 1000 to 2500 nm. said fiber opticprobe means including a centrally located light transmitting strand and a radial array of light receiving strands concentrically positioned around said light transmitting strand, said light transmitting and receiving strands each including a distal end and said distal end of said light transmitting strand projecting beyond said distal ends of said light receiving strands by between 0.1 and 50.0 mm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein light from said light generating means is of a more limited wavelength range from substantially 1500 to 2100 nm and said means for detecting and analyzing light functions over a more limited wavelength range of substantially 1500 to 2100 nm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said light directing means is an inverted substantially conical reflector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 3, wherein said inverted substantially conical reflector includes a parabolic sidewall for scattering incident light and focusing light reflected from said tissue.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of analyzing tissue, comprising the steps of: focusing simultaneously and in parallel light having a continuous bandwidth range of at least 600 nm within a Wavelength range from substantially 1,000-2,500 nm on said tissue to be analyzed; detecting simultaneously and in parallel light having said at least 600 nm bandwidth range Within a wavelength range from substantially 1,000-2,500 nm scattered by said tissue; and analyzing simultaneously and in parallel the detected light having said at least 600 mm bandwidth range within a wavelength range from substantially 1,000-2,500 nm while giving all wavelengths equal weight.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of analyzing tissue, comprising the steps of: focusing simultaneously and in parallel light having a continuous bandwidth range of at least 600 nm within a Wavelength range from substantially 1,000-2,500 nm on said tissue to be analyzed; detecting simultaneously and in parallel light having said at least 600 nm bandwidth range Within a wavelength range from substantially 1,000-2,500 nm scattered by said tissue; and analyzing simultaneously and in parallel the detected light having said at least 600 mm bandwidth range within a wavelength range from substantially 1,000-2,500 nm while giving all wavelengths equal weight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method set forth in claim 5, wherein said light being focused is of a more limited wavelength range from substantially 1500 to 2100 nm and said light detecting and analyzing steps are also carried out over a more limited wavelength range from substantially 1500 to 2100 nm.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of analyzing arterial endothelium in vivo utilizing a fiber optic probe, comprising the steps of: introducing said probe into an artery; focusing simultaneously and in parallel light having a continuous bandwidth range of at least 600 nm within a wavelength range from substantially 1,000-2,500 nm on said arterial endothelium to be analyzed; detecting simultaneously and in parallel light having said continuous bandwidth range of at least 600 nm within a wavelength range from substantially 1,000-2,500 nm as reflected by said arterial endothelium; and analyzing simultaneously and in parallel the detected light having said continuous bandwidth range of at least 600 nm within a wavelength range from substantially 1,000-2,500 nm while giving all wavelengths equal weight.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of analyzing arterial endothelium in vivo utilizing a fiber optic probe, comprising the steps of: introducing said probe into an artery; focusing simultaneously and in parallel light having a continuous bandwidth range of at least 600 nm within a wavelength range from substantially 1,000-2,500 nm on said arterial endothelium to be analyzed; detecting simultaneously and in parallel light having said continuous bandwidth range of at least 600 nm within a wavelength range from substantially 1,000-2,500 nm as reflected by said arterial endothelium; and analyzing simultaneously and in parallel the detected light having said continuous bandwidth range of at least 600 nm within a wavelength range from substantially 1,000-2,500 nm while giving all wavelengths equal weight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method set forth in claim 7, wherein said light being focused is of a more limited wavelength range from substantially 1500 to 2100 nm and said detecting and analyzing steps are also carried out over a more limited wavelength range from substantially 1000 to 2500 nm.