Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting the possible rejection of a transplanted tissue by a host. The transplanted tissue is subjected to illumination with light to induce fluorescence. The light can be ultraviolet light, visible light or infrared light, which can be used alone or in any combination, which means one, two or three forms of light may be used together. The induced fluorescence is collected and analyzed, then compared with fluorescence that is obtained using the same procedure for a known, healthy tissue that is the same type of tissue as the transplanted tissue. Also provided are methods and apparatus related to the determination of probe orientation and the need for biopsy.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 12, 1998
Date of Patent:
March 13, 2001
Assignee:
Biomax Technologies Inc.
Inventors:
Peter D. Whitehead, Calum E. MacAulay, Nicholas B. MacKinnon, Haishan Zeng, Christopher R. Thompson, Bruce M. McManus
Abstract: Apparatus and methods that permit the direct viewing of induced tissue fluorescence or other response by a human viewer through an endoscope without the need for bulky and expensive auxiliary apparatus such as imaging devices, sensor arrays, analyzing systems and computer hardware and software. The apparatus and methods provide an excitation energy, such as blue light, that is transmitted to the target, and then the endoscope collects the emitted response, which is typically fluorescent light of a wavelength longer than the UV or blue light used to induce the fluorescence. The endoscope then transmits the response through a series of filters in the endoscope and directly to the eye of a human user.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 24, 1998
Date of Patent:
August 29, 2000
Assignee:
Biomax Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Nicholas B. MacKinnon, Peter D. Whitehead
Abstract: The present invention provides umbilical cord clamps that comprise two or more different colors at the distal end of each of the elongated arms of the clamps. The colors are complementary to each other so that, when combined, they create a third color.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 23, 1997
Date of Patent:
July 13, 1999
Assignee:
Biomax Technologies Inc.
Inventors:
Peter D. Whitehead, Christopher R. Thompson