Patent ID: 7899515
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: A61B,G01R

Abstract:
1. A sensor for near-zone tissue characterization, comprising: a broad-band resonator, configured to be placed proximally to an edge of a tissue for characterization, without penetrating the tissue, the broad-band resonator comprising a conductive structure associated with a diameter-equivalent dimension D, in a plane substantially parallel with the edge, and with a feature size d, which is substantially equal to a spacing between conductive materials of the conductive structure; and at least one conductive lead, for providing communication with an external system, wherein the broad-band resonator is designed with Δf/f of at least ±15%, Δf being a range of frequencies for which there is a change of at least 10% in the reflection coefficient amplitude of a reflection signal of the resonator, and f a corresponding resonant frequency, the resonator being configured to resonate at a frequency which corresponds to a free-air wavelength range of between about λ and about 40λ, wherein λ is at least about ten times the diameter-equivalent D, and wherein upon receiving a signal in the range of between about λ and about 40λ, the sensor is configured to induce electric and magnetic fields in the near zone in the tissue, the near zone being a generally disk-like region, delimited by a diameter of about D and a depth of penetration being limited to the feature size d, so that the tissue in the near zone effectively functions as part of the broad-band resonator, influencing its resonating values, such that the tissue in the near zone is thereby characterized through its electromagnetic properties, by the resonating response of the broad-band resonator.