Detecting human cancer through spectral optical imaging using key water absorption wavelengths

A minimally invasive method for enabling detection of cancerous tissues, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) performing spectral optical imaging of a tissue substantially at one or more key water absorption wavelengths to generate a water absorption image so as to enable an identification of any regions of the tissue which have at least one of:
• (i) less water content, and (ii) more water content, relative to other regions;
• (b) performing spectral optical imaging of the tissue at one or more wavelengths of low or negligible water absorption to generate a reference image so as to enable an identification of any regions of the tissue which have at least one of:
• (i) a lower water content, and (ii) a higher water content, relative to other regions;
• wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed simultaneously or successively in any order, thereby enabling a comparison of the images generated in steps (a) and (b) to identify any substantial difference in water content between a first region of the tissue and a second region of the tissue, such that, if a first region of tissue has a substantially lower water content than a second region of tissue, the first region of tissue is diagnosed as a cancerous or precancerous tissue region in an early stage of cancer and if the first region of tissue has a substantially higher water content than a second region of tissue, then the first region of tissue is diagnosed as a cancerous or precancerous region in a later stage of cancer.

A minimally invasive method for enabling detection of cancerous prostate tissues, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) performing spectral optical imaging of a tissue substantially at one or more key water absorption wavelengths including at least one of 980 nanometers (nm), 1195 nm, 1456 nm, 1944 nm, 2880 nm to 3360 nm, and 4720 nm, to generate a water absorption image so as to enable an identification of any regions of the tissue which have at least on of:
• (i) less water content, and (ii) more water content, relative to other regions;
• (b) performing spectral optical imaging of the tissue at one or more wavelengths of low or negligible water absorption in the range of 400 nm to 6000 nm, to generate a reference image so as to enable an identification of any regions of the tissue which have at least on of:
• (i) lower water content, and (ii) higher water content, relative to other regions;
• wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed simultaneously or successively in any order, thereby enabling a comparison of the images generated in steps (a) and (b) to identify any substantial difference in water content between a first region of the tissue and a second region of the tissue, such that, if a first region of tissue has a substantially lower water content than a second region of tissue, the first region of tissue is diagnosed as a cancerous or precancerous prostate tissue region in an early stage of cancer and if the first region of tissue has a substantially higher water content than a second region of tissue, then the first region of tissue is diagnosed as a cancerous or precancerous prostate region in a later stage of cancer.