Apparatus and methods for the detection of tissue malignancy based on laser spectroscopy using attachable handpiece

Abstract

A disease diagnosis and skin age measurement apparatus includes: a first light collection unit; a second light collection unit; a spectrometer configured to measure a spectrum of the light which is collected by the second light collection unit; a spectrum data comparison unit for disease diagnosis configured to compare the spectrum measured by the spectrometer and reference spectrum data for disease diagnosis; a CCD; an image data comparison unit configured to compare the digital image converted by the CCD and a reference image; a disease diagnosis unit configured to determine whether there is a disease in the body tissue; and/or a spectrum data comparison unit for skin age measurement configured to measure skin age by comparing a spectrum measured by the spectrometer and reference spectrum data for skin age measurement, wherein the light projected onto the body tissue is collimate light.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A disease diagnosis apparatus for collecting light which is generated when light that is radiated from a laser irradiation device is projected onto body tissue and diagnosing a disease, the apparatus comprising:
 a first light collection unit configured to detachably coupled to the laser irradiation device and collect a part of the generated light;   a second light collection unit configured to detachably coupled to the laser irradiation device and collect a part of the generated light;   a spectrometer configured to analyze a spectrum of the light which is collected by the second light collection unit;   a spectrum data comparison unit configured to compare the spectrum analyzed by the spectrometer and reference spectrum data;   a CCD configured to convert the light collected by the first light collection unit into a digital image;   an image data comparison unit configured to compare the digital image converted by the CCD and a reference image; and   a disease diagnosis unit configured to determine whether there is a disease in the body tissue based on at least one of a comparison result of the spectrum data comparison unit and a comparison result of the image data comparison unit.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a related data generation unit configured to generate related data which defines a relationship between the digital image converted by the CCD and the spectrum data analyzed by the spectrometer. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the second light collection unit comprises an optical module configured to provide a part of the generated light collected by the second light collection unit to an optical fiber connected to the spectrometer. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the second light collection unit comprises an optical module configured to provide a part of the generated light collected by the second light collection unit to an optical fiber connected to the spectrometer. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the first light collection unit comprises an optical module configured to provide a part of the generated light collected by the first light collection unit to the CCD. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the first light collection unit comprises an optical module configured to provide a part of the generated light collected by the first light collection unit to the CCD. 
     
     
         26 . A disease diagnosis apparatus for collecting light which is generated when light that is radiated from a laser irradiation device is projected onto body tissue and diagnosing a disease, the apparatus comprising:
 a complex light collection unit configured to detachably coupled to the laser irradiation device and collect at least part of the generated light;   a spectrometer configured to analyze a spectrum of a part of the light which is collected by the complex light collection unit;   a spectrum data comparison unit configured compare the spectrum analyzed by the spectrometer and reference spectrum data;   a CCD configured to convert a part of the light collected by the complex light collection unit into a digital image;   an image data comparison unit configured to compare the digital image converted by the CCD and a reference image; and   a disease diagnosis unit configured to determine whether there is a disease in the body tissue based on at least one of a comparison result of the spectrum data comparison unit and a comparison result of the image data comparison unit.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising a related data generation unit configured to generate related data which defines a relationship between the digital image converted by the CCD and the spectrum data analyzed by the spectrometer. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the complex light collection unit is configured to split the collected light into the spectrometer and the CCD. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the complex light collection unit is configured to split the collected light into the spectrometer and the CCD. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the complex light collection unit comprises a first optical module configured to split a part of the collected light into a first direction and a second direction, and transmit the light, a second optical module configured to receive at least part of the light transmitted from the first optical module in the first direction; and a third optical module configured to receive at least part of the light transmitted from the first optical module in the second direction,
 wherein the second optical module is configured to provide the at least part of the light received from the first optical module to an optical fiber connected with spectrometer, and   wherein the third optical module is configured to provide the at least part of the light provided from the first optical module to the CCD.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the third optical module comprises two optical devices,
 wherein a first optical device of the two optical devices is configured to receive at least part of the light which is generated when the light is projected onto the body tissue, and provide the light to a second optical device of the two optical devices,   wherein the second optical device is configured to split the light received from the first optical device into the first direction and the second direction, and   wherein the second optical module is configured to receive at least part of the light split into the first direction, and the third optical module is configured to receive at least part of the light split in the second direction.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical module comprises two optical devices,
 wherein a first optical device of the two optical devices is configured to receive at least part of the light which is generated when the light is projected onto the body tissue, and split the light into the first direction and the second direction, and   wherein a second optical device of the two optical devices is configured to provide at least part of the light split into the first direction to the second optical module, and the third optical module is configured to receive at least part of the light split into the second direction.   
     
     
         33 . A detachable handpiece for disease diagnosis, which is attachable to or detachable from a laser irradiation device which is able to perform an operation for medical or beauty care using light, the detachable handpiece comprising:
 a body part having a cylindrical shape, the body part comprising:   a path formed therein to allow light to travel,   a generated light entering part configured to receive light which is generated when light is projected onto body tissue by the laser irradiation device, and   a connection part detachably connected with the laser irradiation device;   a CCD disposed in the body part to generate a digital image; and   a light collection unit configured to split the generated light entering through the generated light entering part into a spectrometer and the CCD,   wherein the CCD is configured to generate the digital image corresponding to the light provided from the light collection unit, and   wherein the light collection unit comprises:   an optical module configured to split at least part of the generated light entering through the generated light entering part into a first direction and a second direction, and transmit the light;   an optical module configured to provide the light transmitted in the first direction to an optical fiber connected to the spectrometer; and   an optical module configured to provide the light transmitted in the second direction to the CCD.   
     
     
         34 . The detachable handpiece of  claim 33 , wherein the body part comprises a first part having a space to allow light to travel therein, a second part having a space to allow light to travel therein, and a third part having a space to allow light to travel therein,
 wherein at least part of the optical module for providing the light transmitted in the first direction to the optical fiber is disposed in the first part,   wherein the optical module for providing the light transmitted in the second direction to the CCD is disposed in the second part,   wherein the optical module for splitting at least part of the generated light entering through the generated light entering part into the first direction and the second direction and transmitting the light is disposed in the third part, and   wherein the light projected onto the body tissue enters through one end of the third part, travels through the inner space formed in the third part, and then is projected through the generated light entering part formed at the other end of the third part.   
     
     
         35 . The detachable handpiece of  claim 34 , wherein the third part is disposed in the center of the body part, and the first part and the second part are disposed to enclose the third part. 
     
     
         36 . The detachable handpiece of  claim 35 , wherein the first part and the second part are disposed to face each other. 
     
     
         37 . The detachable handpiece of  claim 34 , wherein the optical module for providing the light transmitted in the first direction to the optical fiber comprises:
 one or more optical devices configured to change a direction of light, and   an optical device configured to place a focal point of light the direction of which has been changed by the one or more optical devices on the optical fiber.   
     
     
         38 . The detachable handpiece of  claim 34 , wherein the generated light entering through the generated light entering part is a collimated beam.