Radiant energy – Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling – With or including a luminophor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-05
2001-08-28
Sugarman, Scott J. (Department: 2873)
Radiant energy
Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling
With or including a luminophor
C250S370090
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281503
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for characterizing samples having periodic structures. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing structural functions of a tissue sample in order to characterize the tissue sample.
2. Description of Related Art
The ability to characterize biological tissues can be of great value in scientific research as well as in the diagnosis of diseases and other maladies. For instance, the ability to identify the type and quantity of cancerous tissues at various stages of a cancer's development can lead to selection of the correct therapy and can save the lives of many patients. However, the complexity of biological tissues has caused the characterization of biological tissues to be very challenging.
One technique for identifying and characterizing various tissues is to take an x-ray of the tissue. An x-ray is an image of the tissue which is formed by measuring how much each portion of the tissue absorbs x-ray radiation. Portions of the tissue with an increased absorption of x-rays generally show up as darker areas on the image while portions with a decreased absorption show up as lighter areas. However, different substances can have similar absorptions. Accordingly, the existence of the two substances can be overlooked and the tissue misdiagnosed.
When an x-ray indicates that cancerous tissues may exist a biopsy is frequently performed. The biopsy process includes inserting a needle into the tissue in order to remove a portion of the suspicious tissue. The tissue is sent to a lab so it can be identified. The biopsy procedure can be painful. Further, obtaining the results can be time consuming since they must be sent to a lab.
For these reasons, there is a need for an apparatus and method for distinguishing between the different tissues within a tissue sample. There is also a need for an apparatus and method which reduces the need for a biopsy and which reduce the time required to identify tissues which may be of interest.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for characterizing a test sample of biological tissue. The method includes obtaining at least a portion of a radiation scattering pattern produced by the test sample of biological tissue and processing the obtained radiation scattering pattern to determine a pair distance distribution function for the test sample. The method also includes comparing sample data derived from the pair distance distribution function with known data derived from known samples which each have one or more known characteristics. The comparison producing data about the character of the biological sample.
The invention also relates to a method for characterizing a biological sample. The method includes providing a plurality of relationships between the value of a characteristic and the value of a structural function at a particular point. The method also include identifying the value of a structural function developed from the biological sample at one or more points where the structural function is known to be sensitive to changes in the value of the characteristic and comparing the identified values with the provided relationships to determine a plurality of possible approximate values for the characteristic.
The invention also relates to a method for developing a normalized structural function for a biological sample. The method includes obtaining at least a portion of a structural function for the biological sample and identifying a value of the obtained portion at a point where the structural functions of a plurality of known samples each illustrate a common feature. The method also includes determining a ratio between the obtained structural function and the identified value over a range of the obtained structural function.
Another embodiment of the method for developing a normalized structural function includes concurrently determining at least a portion of a structural function for the biological sample and at least a portion of a structural function for a standard. The method also includes determining a ratio between at least a portion of the structural function obtained for the biological sample and at least a portion of the structural function obtained for the standard.
The invention also relates to a method for identifying points of a structural function which are sensitive to changes in the value of a characteristic. The method includes fitting a plurality of curves to data for known samples. The data for the known sample includes the value of the characteristic for each known sample and a value of a structural function for each known sample. The value of the structural function for each known sample is taken at a particular point along the structural function. As a result, each relationship is associated with a particular point along the structural function. The method also includes determining the mean deviation between each relationship and the data used to create each relationship and determining the variance of each relationship. The method further includes: identifying relationships with a relatively high ratio of variance to mean deviation; and characterizing the particular point along the structural function which is associated with the identified relationships as being a point which is sensitive to changes in the characteristic value.
The invention also relates to a computer readable medium which has stored thereon computer executable logic which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the acts of: obtaining at least a portion of a radiation scattering pattern produced by a test sample of biological tissue; processing the obtained radiation scattering pattern to determine a pair distance distribution function for the test sample; and comparing sample data derived from the pair distance distribution function with known data derived from known samples which each have one or more known characteristics.
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Lazarev Pavel
Paukshto Mikhail
Hanig Richard
Quanta Vision, Inc.
Sugarman Scott J.
Weitz David J.
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
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