US 2004/0073101 A1 · Optical techniques for examination of biological tissue

Abstract

Methods and systems are described that examine tissue positioned between input ports and a detection port. At lease one source of a visible or infrared wavelength is provided that introduces electromagnetic radiation into the subject. The detection port is optically coupled to a detector that is connected to a detector circuit. Radiation intensities are selected for introduction at the input ports to define a null plane in the tissue. The detection port is positioned relative to the null plane. Radiation is introduced into the subject at the first input port and the radiation that migrates through the tissue is detected. The detector circuit stores a first detector signal corresponding to the first detected radiation. Radiation is introduced at the second input port and is detected. The first detector signal is subtracted from a second detector signal corresponding to the second detected radiation to obtain processed data.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A spectroscopic method of deriving data signals useful for examination of biological tissue of a subject, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one source of electromagnetic radiation of a visible or infrared wavelength selected to be scattered and absorbed while migrating in the tissue, said source being optically coupled to at least two input ports, and providing a detection port optically coupled to a detector, said detector connected to a detector circuit;
positioning a first input port and a second input port relative to selected input locations of a subject;
selecting for each input port first and second radiation intensities to be introduced to the tissue, said selected radiation intensities defining a null plane in the tissue;
positioning said detection port relative to a selected detection location of the examined tissue corresponding to said null plane, said input locations and detection location defining a volume of the examined tissue of the subject;
introducing into the tissue, at said first input port, radiation of said first intensity;
detecting, at said detection port, said first radiation that has migrated in the examined tissue;
storing, in said detector circuit, a first detector signal corresponding to said first detected radiation;
introducing into the tissue, at said second input port, radiation of said second intensity;
detecting, at said detection port, said second radiation that has migrated in the examined tissue;
storing, in said detector circuit, a second detector signal corresponding to said second detected radiation;
and
subtracting said first detector signal from said second detector signal to obtain processed data corresponding to properties of said tissue volume.

9 more elements

A spectroscopic method of deriving data signals useful for examination of biological tissue of a subject, comprising the steps of:

providing a source of electromagnetic radiation of a visible or infrared wavelength selected to be scattered and absorbed while migrating in the tissue, said source being optically coupled to an input port, and providing at least two detection ports optically coupled to at least one detector, said detector connected to a detector circuit;
positioning said input port relative to selected input locations of the tissue;
positioning a first detection port and a first detection port relative to selected detection locations of the examined tissue, said locations defining a null plane in the tissue a volume of the examined tissue of the subject;
introducing into the tissue, at said input port, radiation of a selected intensity;
detecting, at said first detection port, radiation that has migrated in the examined tissue and storing, in said detector circuit, a first detector signal corresponding to said detected radiation;
detecting, at said second detection port, radiation that has migrated in the examined tissue and storing, in said detector circuit, a second detector signal corresponding to said detected radiation;
and
subtracting said first detector signal from said second detector signal to obtain processed data corresponding to properties of said tissue volume.

5 more elements

A spectroscopic system for examination of biological tissue of a subject, comprising:

at least one light source of electromagnetic radiation of a visible or infrared wavelength;
at least two input ports, optically coupled to said light source, constructed to introduce at selected input locations of the examined tissue said radiation of known intensities that define a null plane in the tissue;
a detection port located at a selected detection location of the examined tissue relative to said null plane;
a detector, optically coupled to said detection port, constructed to detect radiation that has migrated in the examined tissue;
a detector circuit connected to and receiving detection signal from said detector, said detector circuit including a sample-and-hold circuit and a subtraction circuit;
said detector circuit constructed to correlate emission of said radiation from a first input port with detection of radiation scattered and absorbed while migrating in the tissue, said detected radiation being stored as a first detection signal;
said detector circuit further constructed to correlate emission of said radiation from a second input port with detection of radiation scattered and absorbed while migrating in the tissue, said detected radiation being stored as a second detection signal;
said subtraction circuit constructed to subtract said detection signals;
and
a processor, connected to and receiving said processed data from said subtraction circuit, constructed to evaluate the examined tissue.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optical techniques for examination of biological tissue

Life of this patent

Optical techniques for examination of biological tissue

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32