Optics: measuring and testing – Of light reflection – With diffusion
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-26
2001-04-10
Font, Frank G. (Department: 2877)
Optics: measuring and testing
Of light reflection
With diffusion
C356S039000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215554
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for detecting cancerous cells and, more specifically, to a laser device for checking for the existence of carcinosis based upon an analysis of the laser spectrum of a specimen taken from a patient.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Carcinosis is a disease having a high mortality rate posing a great threat to humankind. This disease is one of the three leading causes of death. Due to these factors, detecting the existence of carcinogenic cells in the body is of great importance. The earlier the cells are detected, the greater the chance of treating the disease effectively. In order to provide an effective measure for detecting carcinosis in the body, numerous different devices have been utilized over the years to check for the existence of carcinosis. Such devices have generally centered around imaging techniques such as CT, &bgr; ultrasonic, X-ray, NMR and endoscope. The final diagnosis being dependent on the pathological findings. However, these devices were difficult to operate, were not sensitive enough to obtain an accurate reading and also provided difficulty in obtaining a diagnosis. The devices also subject the patient to atrogenic damage and were unable to detect precancerous cells at a molecular level thus making it difficult to detect a carcinoma at an early stage. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
It is thus desirable to provide a laser diagnostic unit for detection of carcinosis which is able to detect and diagnose carcinosis at a molecular level therefore allowing for detecting of precancerous changes at an early stage. It is further desirable to provide a laser diagnostic unit for detection of carcinosis which is easy to use and provides a rapid diagnosis. It is still further desirable to provide a laser diagnostic unit for detection of carcinosis which will not cause iatrogenic damage to a patient.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to devices for detecting cancerous cells and, more specifically, to a laser device for checking for the existence of carcinosis based upon an analysis of the laser spectrum of a specimen taken from a patient.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a laser diagnostic unit for detection of carcinosis that will overcome the shortcomings of prior art devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a laser diagnostic unit for detection of carcinosis which is able to detect carcinosis on a molecular level to thereby detect precancerous changes at an early stage.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a laser diagnostic unit for detection of carcinosis including an argon laser for checking for the existence of carcinosis.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a laser diagnostic unit for detection of carcinosis wherein the laser spectrum created by irradiating a sample taken from a patient with a light beam produced by the argon laser is analyzed to detect irregularities from a spectrum produced by normal non-cancerous samples to thereby determine the existence of carcinosis.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a laser diagnostic unit for detection of carcinosis which does not produce side effects, iatrogenic damage and pain for a patient being tested.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a laser diagnostic unit for detection of carcinosis which requires only 0.5 m/l of serum/blood sample for purposes of diagnosis wherein no special treatment of the serum is needed, thus, mass surveys of patients may be easily and readily obtained.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a laser diagnostic unit for detection of carcinosis which is capable of examining any type of tumor on any part of the body thereby allowing use of the device during regular health check-ups to screen out carcinosis patients.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a laser diagnostic unit for detection of carcinosis able to provide a printout of diagnosis results automatically immediately after examination.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a laser diagnostic unit for detection of carcinosis able to differentiate between benign and malignant tumors and provide dynamic monitoring of patients in post-operation convalescence stays and during regular checks of cancer patients during treatment.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a laser diagnostic unit for detection of carcinosis that is simple and easy to use.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a laser diagnostic unit for detection of carcinosis that is economical in cost to manufacture.
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
A laser diagnostic unit for detection of carcinosis and method of detecting carcinosis in a patient by examining a specimen taken from the patient is disclosed by the present invention. The laser diagnostic unit includes a specimen well for retaining the specimen therein and a laser for irradiating the specimen within the specimen well. A monochromator having an entrance slit receives light scattered by the specimen within the specimen well through the slit and a photomultiplier for converting light dispersed in said monochromator into electrical signals. The electrical signals are provided to a microprocessor for analyzing the signals and generate a spectrogram of the laser light irradiating the specimen. The spectrogram will indicate that the specimen is cancerous upon detection of differences with a spectrogram created by irradiation of a non-cancerous specimen. The laser used to irradiate the specimen is preferably an argon laser and a power source is connected to the argon laser and is able to regulate a current supplied to the argon laser, thereby regulating the wavelength of the light beam produced by the argon laser.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4832483 (1989-05-01), Verma
patent: 5072338 (1991-12-01), Hug et al.
patent: 5786893 (1998-07-01), Fink et al.
patent: 6002476 (1999-12-01), Treado
Font Frank G.
Kroll Michael I.
Stafira Michael P.
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