US 12,186,099 B2
Optoacoustic probe
Jeffrey Nelson Harris, San Antonio, TX (US); Tam Thien Do, San Antonio, TX (US); Xavier Rey Saenz, San Antonio, TX (US); and Lisa Michelle Richards Cook, San Antonio, TX (US)
Assigned to SENO MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC., San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed by Seno Medical Instruments, Inc., San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed on May 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/661,784.
Application 17/661,784 is a continuation of application No. 16/517,831, filed on Jul. 22, 2019, granted, now 11,382,565.
Prior Publication US 2022/0257193 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/103 (2006.01); G01N 29/24 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/6844 (2013.01) [A61B 5/0095 (2013.01); A61B 5/1032 (2013.01); A61B 5/443 (2013.01); G01N 29/2418 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optoacoustic probe for optoacoustic imaging of a volume, the optoacoustic probe having a distal end operable to contact the volume and a proximal end, the optoacoustic probe comprising:
at least one laser outside a probe housing configured to generate light that is transmitted along a light path to generate optoacoustic return signals when the light reacts with the volume;
an optical window configured to carry the light along the light path to the volume;
a light emitting diode within the probe housing and configured to generate auxiliary light carried through the optical window to the volume during operation of the optoacoustic probe;
a detection device configured to detect signals generated from the light emitting diode and the light generated by the at least one laser reflecting from the volume or the optical window; and
a microcontroller including one or more processors, and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the memory stores program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable by the one or more processors to:
receive the signals generated from the auxiliary light reflecting from the volume;
determine contact between the volume and the optoacoustic probe based on the signals generated from the auxiliary light reflecting from the volume; and
prevent the at least one laser from generating the light until the optoacoustic probe is contacting the volume;
wherein the light emitting diode is within a distal portion of the probe housing adjacent to the optical window.