Handheld electromagnetic field-based bio-sensing and bio-imaging system

Abstract

A handheld electromagnetic field-based bio-sensing and bio-imaging system, for use with a biological object, includes a handheld control unit, a handheld probe, connected to the control unit, that may manipulated around a biological object as it generates and receives an electromagnetic field, and a tracking unit that tracks the position of the handheld probe.

1 . A handheld electromagnetic field-based bio-sensing and bio-imaging system for use with a biological object, comprising:
 a handheld control unit;   a handheld probe, connected to the control unit, that may be manipulated around a biological object while the probe irradiates an electromagnetic field, generated by the control unit, into the biological object and while the probe receives the irradiated electromagnetic field after being scattered and/or reflected by the biological object; and   a tracking unit that tracks the position of the handheld probe.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the handheld probe is a first probe, and wherein the system further includes a second probe, connected to the control unit, that also irradiates an electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second probe may manipulated around the biological object as it irradiates the electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the received electromagnetic field is analyzed in conjunction with other data to create an image, in at least two dimensions, of the biological object around which the probe is manipulated. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second probe is stationary relative to the biological object and to the first probe. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second probe also receives an irradiated electromagnetic field, and wherein the second received electromagnetic field is also analyzed in conjunction with other data to create the image, in at least two dimensions, of the biological object around which the probes are manipulated. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the probe includes a waveguide. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the waveguide is a ceramic waveguide. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the waveguide is a rectangular waveguide. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the probe includes a plurality of sensors whose positions are tracked by the tracking unit. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the probe includes at least three sensors whose positions are tracked by the tracking unit. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an electromagnetic signal is generated by a Vector Network Analyzer and travels through a cable to a probe placed on the biological object where the electromagnetic signal is used to generate the electromagnetic field that is irradiated into the biological object. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the biological object is a human tissue. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the received electromagnetic field is analyzed in conjunction with other data to create an image, in at least two dimensions, of the biological object around which the probe is manipulated. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking unit is external to the handheld control unit. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking unit is internal to the handheld control unit. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an electromagnetic signal is generated by a Vector Network Analyzer and travels through a cable to a first probe where the electromagnetic signal is used to generate the electromagnetic field that is irradiated into the biological object, and wherein the irradiated electromagnetic field is scattered and/or reflected by the biological object and received by a second probe. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the scattered and/or reflected electromagnetic field is captured by an antenna device within the second probe and analyzed by the handheld control unit to determine functional and/or pathological conditions of the biological object. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the scattered and/or reflected electromagnetic field above is captured by an antenna device within the second probe and analyzed by the handheld control unit to determine if there is blood flow reduction. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the received electromagnetic field is analyzed in conjunction with other data to create an image, in at least two dimensions, of the biological object around which the probe is manipulated. 
     
     
         21 .- 135 . (canceled)