Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-27
2002-11-19
Lateef, Marvin M. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C382S128000, C382S173000, C382S294000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06484047
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method of detecting tissue changes.
Early recognition of tissue changes is vital in the medical field, especially in combating cancer since if tissue changes are ascertained relatively early on, in most cases, it is possible to take measures which lead to the complete recovery of the patient.
2. Description of Related Art
Known methods of early recognition are obtaining samples of body fluids for analysis, the scanning of tomographs, or in apparatus medicine also the observation, of tomographs as well as ultrasound images of individual body parts.
The disadvantage of all of these methods is that they can only furnish “moment images”. Although, the physician is able to recognize the momentary condition of the tissue, he has no possibility of determining the growth of such a tissue change. Even for skilled physicians it is often difficult to pin-point diseased tissue changes from such a single image.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a method of detecting tissue changes which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, it is intended that changes in the shape and size of such tissue changes may be easily detected. The surgeon should be provided with technical means by means of which he can easily analyze the progress or formation of tissue changes.
For this purpose, the invention makes available a method of detecting tissue changes comprising the following steps:
a) taking a tissue structure scan for at least one part of a patient's body and storing all tissue structure scan data;
b) after a predetermined period of time, taking another tissue structure scan for the part or all of the patient's body at least once, and again storing the data;
c) computer-assisted positional assignment and comparison of the data of two or more sequential tissue structure scans;
d) computer-assisted detection and output of changes in the tissue of the patient, resulting from the different data of each body portion assigned.
In other words, either a body part or all of the patient's body is scanned for signs of a tissue change in defined periods of time over a lengthy time period. Once the computer has assigned and compared the matching body parts, any tissue changes can be ascertained and be output so that they are easily recognizable. Thus, it is possible to locate early a diseased site, forming or growing in the body, and to observe its development.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4722056 (1988-01-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 5383454 (1995-01-01), Bucholz
patent: 5389101 (1995-02-01), Heilbrun et al.
patent: 5411026 (1995-05-01), Carol
patent: 5603318 (1997-02-01), Heilbrun et al.
patent: 5768413 (1998-06-01), Levin et al.
patent: 5779634 (1998-07-01), Ema et al.
patent: 5836954 (1998-11-01), Heilbrun et al.
patent: 5851183 (1998-12-01), Bucholz
patent: 5926568 (1999-07-01), Chancy et al.
patent: 5974159 (1999-10-01), Lubin et al.
patent: 6226418 (2001-05-01), Miller et al.
patent: 197 26 226 (1998-12-01), None
patent: 198 29 230 (2000-03-01), None
Lateef Marvin M.
Lin Jeoyuh
Renner , Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP
LandOfFree
Continuous detection and analysis of tissue changes does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Continuous detection and analysis of tissue changes, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Continuous detection and analysis of tissue changes will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2993969