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:
 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.   
     
     
         2 . A probe according to  claim 1  comprising a body portion and a tip portion arranged to be removably coupled to body portion, wherein the elongate conduit is associated with the tip portion. 
     
     
         3 . A probe according to  claim 2 , wherein the wave coupling includes one or more wave manipulation modules associated with the body portion. 
     
     
         4 . A probe according to  claim 2 , wherein the body portion includes a first wave coupling interface and the tip portion includes a second wave coupling interface, the first and second wave coupling interfaces being arranged to provide wave communication between the first and second portions of the wave coupling when the tip portion is coupled to the body portion. 
     
     
         5 . A probe according to  claim 2 , comprising a carriage for moving an element of the wave coupling between a deployed condition and a retracted condition, wherein a tip of the wave coupling element is closer to the second opening of the conduit when the wave coupling element is in the in the deployed condition than it is when wave coupling element is in the in the retracted condition. 
     
     
         6 . A probe according to  claim 5 , arranged such that the tip of the wave coupling element is at, or adjacent, the second opening of the conduit when the wave coupling element is in the in the deployed condition. 
     
     
         7 . A probe according to  claim 5 , arranged such that the tip of the wave coupling element is spaced from second opening of the conduit when the wave coupling element is in the retracted condition. 
     
     
         8 . 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. 
     
     
         9 . A probe according to  claim 5 , wherein the wave coupling element comprises a waveguide. 
     
     
         10 . A probe according to  claim 5 , wherein the carriage comprises a plunger of a syringe to which the conduit is coupled. 
     
     
         11 . A probe according to  claim 1 , including a pressure modifier arranged in fluid communication with the first opening of the conduit, the pressure modifier being operable to change the pressure within the conduit. 
     
     
         12 . A probe according to  claim 11 , wherein the pressure modifier comprises a plunger of a syringe to which the conduit is coupled. 
     
     
         13 . A probe according to  claim 11 , 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 conduit is associated with the tip portion. 
     
     
         14 . A probe according to  claim 5 , wherein a portion of the wave coupling element which enters the conduit includes a stiffening support, such as a metal or hard plastics coating. 
     
     
         15 . A probe according to  claim 5 , wherein the pressure modifier is arranged to reduce the pressure within the conduit and the wave coupling includes a lens arranged to focus electromagnetic radiation into the conduit. 
     
     
         16 . A probe according to  claim 15 , wherein the conduit includes a reflective region. 
     
     
         17 . A probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises a hypodermic needle. 
     
     
         18 . A probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation is within the range of ultraviolet to infrared. 
     
     
         19 . A probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the probe is an optical probe. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of testing a tissue or fluid sample comprising the steps of: inserting the conduit of a probe according to any preceding claim into the tissue of a test subject; and
 either transmitting electromagnetic radiation to the tissue or fluid sample via the wave coupling or transmitting electromagnetic radiation from the tissue or fluid sample to a receiver via the wave coupling.   
     
     
         23 . 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 wave coupling for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from an energy source into the conduit and/or transmitting electromagnetic radiation from the conduit to a receiver,   wherein the probe further comprises a body portion and a tip portion arranged to be removably coupled to body portion, the elongate conduit being associated with the tip portion, and the wave coupling includes one or more wave manipulation modules associated with the body portion, the wave manipulation modules each comprising a filter.