Patents by Inventor M. Ries Robinson

M. Ries Robinson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9597024
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for accurate noninvasive determination of tissue properties. Some embodiments of the present invention comprise an optical sampler having an illumination subsystem, adapted to communicate light having a first polarization to a tissue surface; a collection subsystem, adapted to collect light having a second polarization communicated from the tissue after interaction with the tissue; wherein the first polarization is different from the second polarization. The difference in the polarizations can discourage collection of light specularly reflected from the tissue surface, and can encourage preferential collection of light that has interacted with a desired depth of penetration or path length distribution in the tissue. The different polarizations can, as examples, be linear polarizations with an angle between, or elliptical polarizations of different handedness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Medici Instruments LLC
    Inventors: M Ries Robinson, Russell E Abbink, Robert D Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140303463
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for accurate noninvasive determination of tissue properties. Some embodiments of the present invention comprise an optical sampler having an illumination subsystem, adapted to communicate light having a first polarization to a tissue surface; a collection subsystem, adapted to collect light having a second polarization communicated from the tissue after interaction with the tissue; wherein the first polarization is different from the second polarization. The difference in the polarizations can discourage collection of light specularly reflected from the tissue surface, and can encourage preferential collection of light that has interacted with a desired depth of penetration or path length distribution in the tissue. The different polarizations can, as examples, be linear polarizations with an angle between, or elliptical polarizations of different handedness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: M. Ries Robinson, Russell E. Abbink, Robert D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120179010
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus suitable for determining properties of in vivo tissue. An illumination system communicates light at a plurality of broadband ranges to an optical probe, which can comprise a flexible probe. Light homogenizers and mode scramblers can be employed in some embodiments. The optical probe can physically contact the tissue, or can be maintained separate from the tissue. The optical probe receives light from the illumination system and transmits it to tissue, and receives light diffusely reflected in response to the broadband light, emitted from the in vivo tissue by fluorescence thereof in response to the broadband light, or a combination thereof. The optical probe can communicate the light to a spectrograph which produces a signal representative of the spectral properties of the light. An analysis system determines a property of the in vivo tissue from the spectral properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: John D. Maynard, Marwood Neal Ediger, Robert D. Johnson, M. Ries Robinson
  • Publication number: 20110184260
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for accurate noninvasive determination of tissue properties. Some embodiments of the present invention comprise an optical sampler having an illumination subsystem, adapted to communicate light having a first polarization to a tissue surface; a collection subsystem, adapted to collect light having a second polarization communicated from the tissue after interaction with the tissue; wherein the first polarization is different from the second polarization. The difference in the polarizations can discourage collection of light specularly reflected from the tissue surface, and can encourage preferential collection of light that has interacted with a desired depth of penetration or path length distribution in the tissue. The different polarizations can, as examples, be linear polarizations with an angle between, or elliptical polarizations of different handedness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: M. Ries Robinson, Russell E. Abbink, Robert D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7623906
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. A specular control device is provided that can discriminate between diffusely reflected light that is reflected from selected depths or layers within the tissue. The specular control device permits a spectroscopic analyzer to receive the diffusely reflected light that is reflected from, for example, a first layer or depth within the tissue, while preventing the remaining diffusely reflected light from reaching the spectroscopic analyzer. Furthermore, the specular control device may prevent the specularly reflected light (e.g. surface reflected light) from reaching the spectroscopic analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: InLight Solutions, Inc
    Inventors: M. Ries Robinson, Robert G. Messerschmidt
  • Publication number: 20090018415
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for accurate noninvasive determination of tissue properties. Some embodiments of the present invention comprise an optical sampler having an illumination subsystem, adapted to communicate light having a first polarization along a first path to a tissue surface; a collection subsystem, adapted to collect light having a second polarization communicated from the tissue along a second path after interaction with the tissue; wherein the first polarization is different from the second polarization; and wherein the first path and the second path are substantially parallel for at least of portion of each path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: M. Ries Robinson, Russell E. Abbink, Michael H. Haass
  • Publication number: 20040092822
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. A specular control device is provided that can discriminate between diffusely reflected light that is reflected from selected depths or layers within the tissue. The specular control device permits a spectroscopic analyzer to receive the diffusely reflected light that is reflected from, for example, a first layer or depth within the tissue, while preventing the remaining diffusely reflected light from reaching the spectroscopic analyzer. Furthermore, the specular control device may prevent the specularly reflected light (e.g. surface reflected light) from reaching the spectroscopic analyzer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: M. Ries Robinson, Robert G. Messerschmidt
  • Publication number: 20030087456
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for infrared spectral analysis of samples to determine if the samples are normal or abnormal or to otherwise classify the sample. More specifically, the apparatus and method classify the sample on the basis of attenuation of infrared radiation at different wavelengths using a within-sample variance model. Further, the method and apparatus can include merging the output of multivariate classification models with the within-sample variance model applied to the infrared spectra sample such that their combined output results in a classification accuracy that is greater than any single model. The invention is useful in classifying, for example, biological samples such as human tissue, including cervical cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Howland D.T. Jones, Craig M. Gardner, Edward L. Hull, Kristin A. Nixon, M. Ries Robinson