Probe

Abstract

A probe, such as a spectroscopic probe, for enabling a fluid or tissue sample to be tested in situ. The probe includes a conduit, such as a hypodermic needle, that can be inserted into a test subject and a wave coupling arranged to direct electromagnetic radiation, such as light, from an energy source to the sample and/or from the sample to a receiver for analysis. The receiver may comprise a Raman spectroscope. The probe may include a carriage that can be used to move at least some of the optical coupling towards and away from the insertion tip of the conduit. The probe may include a pressure modifier that can be used to draw fluid into or expel fluid from the conduit.

1 . A probe comprising:
 a body portion having a body coupling face;   a tip portion having a tip coupling face arranged to be removably coupled to the body portion via one or more coupling elements provided at or adjacent to the body coupling face and/or tip coupling face;   an elongate hollow needle having a proximal end attached to the tip portion and a distal end for piercing human tissue, the needle comprising a first opening at the proximal end which is in fluid communication with the tip coupling face and a second opening at the distal end;   a signal transmission link for transmitting electromagnetic signals from an energy source, though the body portion and into the needle and for transmitting electromagnetic signals from the needle, through the body portion to a receiver,   wherein the signal transmission link includes one or more filters mounted on or in the body portion.   
     
     
         2 . A probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the body coupling face includes a first signal transmission link interface and the tip coupling face includes a second signal transmission link interface, the first and second signal transmission link interfaces being arranged to provide signal communication between first and second portions of the signal transmission link when the tip portion is coupled to the body portion. 
     
     
         3 . A probe according to  claim 1 , comprising a carriage for moving an element of the signal transmission link between a deployed condition and a retracted condition, wherein a tip of the signal transmission link element is closer to the second opening of the needle when the signal transmission link element is in the deployed condition than it is when signal transmission link element is in the retracted condition. 
     
     
         4 . A probe according to  claim 5 , arranged such that the tip of the signal transmission link element is at, or adjacent, the second opening of the needle when the signal transmission link element is in the deployed condition. 
     
     
         5 . A probe according to  claim 5 , arranged such that the tip of the signal transmission link element is spaced from second opening of the needle when the signal transmission link element is in the retracted condition. 
     
     
         6 . A probe according to  claim 5  when directly or indirectly dependent on  claim 2 , wherein the carriage comprises a body carriage associated with the body portion and a tip carriage associated with the tip portion, the body and tip carriages being arranged to be removably coupled to one another. 
     
     
         7 . A probe according to  claim 5 , wherein the signal transmission link element comprises a waveguide. 
     
     
         8 . A probe according to  claim 5 , wherein the carriage comprises a plunger of a syringe to which the needle is coupled. 
     
     
         9 . A probe according to  claim 1 , including a pressure modifier arranged in fluid communication with the first opening of the needle via a fluid passageway, the pressure modifier being operable to change the pressure within the needle. 
     
     
         10 . A probe according to  claim 11 , wherein the pressure modifier comprises a plunger of a syringe to which the needle is coupled. 
     
     
         11 . A probe according to  claim 10  when directly or indirectly dependent on  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the pressure modifier which arranged to be in fluid communication with the elongate needle is associated with the tip portion. 
     
     
         12 . A probe according to  claim 5 , wherein a portion of the signal transmission link element which enters the needle includes a stiffening support. 
     
     
         13 . A probe according to  claim 5 , wherein the probe further comprises a pressure modifier arranged to reduce the pressure within the needle, and wherein the signal transmission link includes a lens arranged to focus electromagnetic signals into the needle. 
     
     
         14 . A probe according to  claim 15 , wherein the needle includes a reflective region. 
     
     
         15 . A probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the needle comprises a hypodermic needle. 
     
     
         16 . A probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic signals is within the range of ultraviolet to infrared. 
     
     
         17 . A probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the probe is an optical probe. 
     
     
         18 . A probe substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
         19 . A probe suitable for Raman spectroscopy comprising:
 an elongate conduit for piercing human tissue, the elongate conduit comprising a first opening and a second opening;   a light transmission link for transmitting light from a light source into the conduit and/or transmitting light from the conduit to a receiver,   wherein the probe further comprises a body portion and a tip portion arranged to be removably coupled to the body portion via retention clips, the elongate conduit being mounted on the tip portion, and the light transmission link including one or more optical filters mounted on the body portion.   
     
     
         20 . A probe for Raman spectroscopy, the probe comprising:
 an elongate conduit for piercing human tissue, the elongate conduit comprising a first opening and a second opening;   a wave coupling for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from an energy source into the conduit and/or transmitting electromagnetic radiation from the conduit to a receiver, the wave coupling comprising first and second discrete portions,   wherein the probe further comprises a body portion and a tip portion arranged to be removably coupled to the body portion via a mechanical coupling, the elongate conduit being mounted on the tip portion, and wherein the wave coupling includes one or more filters mounted on the body portion, and wherein the body portion includes a first wave coupling interface defining an end of the first portion of the wave coupling and the tip portion includes a second wave coupling interface defining an end of the second portion of the wave coupling, the first and second wave coupling interfaces being arranged to provide wave communication between first and second portions of the wave coupling when the tip portion is coupled to the body portion.