Michele L Mitchell

US Patent:

6697666, Feb 24, 2004

Filed:

Mar 6, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/519153

Inventors:

Michele Follen Mitchell - Houston TX
Urs Utzinger - Bachenbülach, CH

Assignee:

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System - Austin TX

International Classification:

A61B 500

US Classification:

600478, 604 27, 604 48

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for characterizing tissue of epithelial lined viscus in vivo including, for example, the endocervical canal. The method comprises illuminating an interior surface of the viscus with electromagnetic radiation wavelengths to produce a plurality of fluorescence intensity spectra, detecting a plurality of emission wavelengths from the fluorescence intensity spectra, and characterizing the epithelial viscus tissue as a function of the emission wavelengths. The apparatus includes a light source of emitting a plurality of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths, an optical probe connected to the light source, the probe being adapted to apply the plurality of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths to an interior surface of epithelial viscus tissue under test and to gather fluorescence emitted from the tissue, a detector connected to the probe for detecting at least one fluorescence spectrum emitted from the tissue under test and a programmed computer connected to the detector for processing the at least one fluorescence spectrum according to a predetermined algorithm to characterize the tissue under test.

US Patent:

56125402, Mar 18, 1997

Filed:

Mar 31, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/412325

Inventors:

Gregg Staerkel - Houston TX
Youseph Yazdi - Austin TX
Michele F. Mitchell - Houston TX

Assignee:

Board of Regents, The University of Texas Systems - Austin TX

International Classification:

G01N 2164

US Classification:

2504612

Abstract:

A method for detecting tissue abnormality, particularly precancerous cervical tissue, through fluorescence spectroscopy is disclosed. In vitro fluorescence measurements over a variety of different fluorescence spectra are used to screen tissue samples. Using a principal component analysis (PCA), it is possible to discriminate between normal and dysplastic tissues with relatively low false-positive and false-negative results.

US Patent:

58429956, Dec 1, 1998

Filed:

Jun 28, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/672623

Inventors:

Michele Follen Mitchell - Houston TX

Assignee:

Board of Regents, The Univerisity of Texas System - Austin TX

International Classification:

A61B 600

US Classification:

600473

Abstract:

An optical probe is disclosed which is suitable for rapidly measuring Raman spectra in vivo. The probe is designed to minimize interfering Raman and fluorescence signals generated within the probe itself. In addition, the probe design is compact, making it particularly suited for use in confined spaces such as body cavities. In one embodiment, the probe is employed to detect tissue abnormalities such as cervical cancers and precancers.