Method of detecting amyloid-containing lesions by autofluorescence

21) A system for detecting amyloidosis in a mammal, comprising:

• (a) a radiation source capable of subjecting tissue or circulating fluid of a mammal suspected of having at least one form of amyloidosis with:
• (i) excitation incident radiation having a wavelength of light within the range of from about 360 to about 370 nm;
• and optionally with (ii) illumination incident radiation having wavelengths in the visible spectrum.
• (b) a mechanism for collecting an emitted light signal beam from the tissue or circulating fluid, and optionally a reflected light signal beam from the tissue or circulating fluid;
• (c) a mechanism for processing the collected light signal beams to generate at least an excited image stream;
• (d) a mechanism that is capable of detecting the presence of emitted light having a wavelength of from about 400 nm to about 460 nm from the excited image stream.

34) A method of detecting amyloidosis comprising:

• subjecting tissue of a mammal suspected of having at least one form of amyloidosis to excitation incident radiation from a light source having a wavelength of light within the range of from about 360 to about 370 nm, and to illumination incident radiation from a light source having wavelengths in the visible spectrum, thereby generating an emitted light signal beam and a reflected light signal beam;
• separating the emitted light signal beam from the reflected light signal beam;
• and
• detecting the presence of emitted light having a wavelength of from about 400 nm to about 460 nm.