Patent ID: 8805480
Filing Date: 2014-08-12
Classification: A61B,G16H

Abstract:
1. A tissue classifying apparatus comprising: a microwave radiation source which outputs microwave radiation having a single stable frequency in the range of 5 to 60 GHz; a cable having a high phase stability under flexure which connects at a first end to the microwave radiation source; a probe which is connected to a second end of the cable, which is fitted with a distal end made from a rigid low loss ceramic which distal end penetrates into biological tissue to deliver the microwave radiation from the microwave radiation source to a region of tissue in direct contact with the distal end of the probe and which produces a reflected signal from the microwave radiation reflected back from the region of the tissue in direct contact with the distal end of the probe; a mixer which receives the reflected signal and a reference signal which is a portion of the output microwave radiation of the microwave radiation source, and which mixer reduces the frequency of the reflected signal and reference signal, the mixer having a reflected radiation detector connected to the output of the mixer to receive the mixed down reflected signal and the mixed down reference signal, where the detector detects the magnitude and phase of both the mixed down reflected signal and the mixed down reference signal; and a tissue classifier which: