Patent ID: 6179790
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
Apparatus comprisinga tissue examination device that includes a plurality of pressure sensors that produce signals in response to pressure imposed thereon as the sensors are pressed against tissue, a housing having a distal region defining a maximum dimension, the pressure sensors being disposed on said distal region of the housing, and a processor for processing said signals to detect whether an underlying tissue structure is present in the tissue being examined, anda layer of material comprisinga sensor covering portion configured to be disposed over the sensors and to distribute the imposed pressure in a selected manner, andan attachment portion extending the sensor covering portion to define a cavity for receiving the distal region of the housing, said attachment portion being smaller than the maximum dimension defined by the distal region of the housing and being flexible so that the attachment portion can be stretched over the distal region of the housing when the distal region is inserted into the cavity and tends to return to its original size to cause the attachment portion to engage against the housing.