System, Devices, and Methods For Detecting Occlusions In A Biological Subject

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods are described for detecting an embolus, thrombus, or a deep vein thrombus in a biological subject.

1 . A method, comprising:
 comparing an optical energy spectral image profile of at least one of an anastomosed blood vessel, a bypassed blood vessel, a widened blood vessel, or an endarterectomized blood vessel to characteristic blood vessel spectral signature data; and   generating a response based at least in part on the comparison of the optical energy spectral image profile to the characteristic spectral signature data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein comparing the optical energy spectral image profile of the anastomosed blood vessel, the bypassed blood vessel, the widened blood vessel, or the endarterectomized blood vessel to the characteristic blood vessel spectral signature data includes comparing at least one of an absorption parameter, an extinction parameter, or a scattering parameter associated with the optical energy spectral image profile to the characteristic spectral signature data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein comparing the optical energy spectral image profile of the anastomosed blood vessel, the bypassed blood vessel, the widened blood vessel, or the endarterectomized blood vessel to the characteristic blood vessel spectral signature data includes comparing the optical energy spectral image profile to one or more heuristically determined parameters selected from at least one in vivo or in vitro determined metric. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the response includes generating at least one of an absorption value indicative of a thrombus absorption coefficient, an extinction value indicative of a thrombus extinction coefficient, or a scattering value indicative of a thrombus scattering coefficient. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the response includes generating at least one of a response signal, an absorption parameter, an extinction parameter, a scattering parameter, a comparison code, a comparison plot, a diagnostic code, a treatment code, a test code, or an alarm response based on the comparison of the detected optical energy absorption profile to the characteristic spectral signature information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the response includes generating at least one of a code indicative of a thrombus, a code indicative of an embolus, a code indicative of a location of an embolus, a code indicative of a location of a thrombus, a code indicative of at least one dimension of an embolus, or a code indicative of at least one dimension of a thrombus. 
     
     
         7 . A method, comprising:
 comparing an optical energy spectral image profile of a revascularized region of a biological subject to characteristic blood vessel spectral signature data; and   generating a response based at least in part on the comparison of the optical energy spectral image profile to the characteristic spectral signature data.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein comparing the optical energy spectral image profile of the revascularized region to the characteristic blood vessel spectral signature data includes comparing at least one of an absorption parameter, an extinction parameter, or a scattering parameter associated with the optical energy spectral image profile to the characteristic spectral signature data. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein comparing the optical energy spectral image profile of the revascularized region to the characteristic blood vessel spectral signature data includes comparing the optical energy spectral image profile to one or more heuristically determined parameters selected from at least one in vivo or in vitro determined metric. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein generating the response includes generating at least one of an absorption value indicative of a thrombus absorption coefficient, an extinction value indicative of a thrombus extinction coefficient, or a scattering value indicative of a thrombus scattering coefficient. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein generating the response includes generating at least one of a response signal, an absorption parameter, an extinction parameter, a scattering parameter, a comparison code, a comparison plot, a diagnostic code, a treatment code, a test code, or an alarm response based on the comparison of the detected optical energy absorption profile to the characteristic spectral signature information. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein generating the response includes generating at least one of a code indicative of a thrombus, a code indicative of an embolus, a code indicative of a location of an embolus, a code indicative of a location of a thrombus, a code indicative of at least one dimension of an embolus, or a code indicative of at least one dimension of a thrombus. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein generating the response includes generating the response includes generating a visual, audio, or tactile representation indicative of a parameter associated with an embolus, thrombus, or a deep vein thrombus present in a region of a tissue proximate the optical energy sensor component 
     
     
         14 . A system, comprising:
 a computer-readable memory medium having biological tissue information configured as a data structure, the data structure including a tissue spectral model having at least one of
 a blood spectral component, 
 a fat spectral component, 
 a muscle spectral component, or 
 a bone spectral component; and 
   a control means configured to compare a measurand associated with the biological subject to a threshold value associated with the tissue spectral model and to generate a response based on the comparison.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the blood spectral component, the fat spectral component, the muscle spectral component, or the bone spectral component includes initial tissue spectral model information. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control means is configured to generate the response based on the comparison of a measurand that modulates with a detected heartbeat of the biological subject to a target value associated with the tissue spectral model. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control means is configured to compare the measurand associated with the biological subject to the threshold value associated with the tissue spectral model and to generate a real-time estimation of the formation of an obstruction of a flow in a blood vessel based on the comparison. 
     
     
         18 .- 49 . (canceled)