Systems and methods for medical interventional optical monitoring with molecular filters

A system for optically evaluating the composition of a sample, comprising:

• at least two molecular absorption filters;
• each molecular absorption filter having an absorption spectrum at least substantially specific for a preselected atom or preselected compound;
• and
• the absorption spectrums of at least two of the molecular absorption filters being at least substantially specific for different atoms or compounds;
• a light distributing element configured to distribute at least part of a sample spectrum of light produced by illuminating a sample with a light source through each of the at least two molecular absorption filters;
• at least one detector configured to measure the intensity of light transmitted through each of the molecular absorption filters;
• and
• a processor operably linked to the detector and configured to determine, based on the amount that a molecular absorption filter reduces the intensity of light in the sample spectrum, (i) whether the atom or compound for that filter is present in the sample;
• or (ii) an extent to which the atom or compound for that filter is present in the sample;
• or (iii) both (i) and (ii).

A system for optically evaluating the composition of a sample, comprising:

• at least one molecular absorption filter having an absorption spectrum at least substantially specific for a preselected atom or preselected compound;
• at least one light intensity detector configured to measure the intensity transmitted through the at least one filter;
• and
• determining means for determining, based on the amount that a molecular absorption filter reduces the intensity of light in the sample spectrum, (i) whether the atom or compound for that filter is present in the sample;
• or (ii) an extent to which the atom or compound for that filter is present in the sample;
• or (iii) both (i) and (ii).

A system for optically evaluating the composition of a sample, comprising:

• at least two molecular absorption filters;
• each filter having an absorption spectrum at least substantially specific for a preselected atom or preselected compound;
• and
• the absorption spectrums of at least two of the filters being at least substantially specific for different atoms or compounds;
• means for distributing at least part of a sample spectrum produced by illuminating a sample with a light source through each of the at least two molecular absorption filters;
• at least one light intensity detector configured to measure the intensity of light transmitted through each of the filters;
• and
• determining means for determining, based on the amount that a molecular absorption filter reduces the intensity of light in the sample spectrum, (i) whether the atom or compound for that filter is present in the sample;
• or (ii) an extent to which the atom or compound for that filter is present in the sample;
• or (iii) both (i) and (ii).

A method for optically evaluating the composition of a sample, comprising the steps of:

• illuminating a sample with light from a light source to produce a resulting sample spectrum of light;
• directing at least part of the sample spectrum through at least one molecular absorption filter having an absorption spectrum at least substantially specific for a preselected atom or preselected compound;
• measuring the intensity of light transmitted through the at least one molecular absorption filter;
• and
• determining, based on the amount that a molecular absorption filter reduces the intensity of light in the sample spectrum, (i) whether the atom or compound for that filter is present in the sample;
• or (ii) an extent to which the atom or compound for that filter is present in the sample;
• or (iii) both (i) and (ii).

A method for optically evaluating the composition of a sample, comprising:

• illuminating a sample with light from a light source to produce a resulting sample spectrum of light;
• directing the sample spectrum through each of at least two molecular absorption filters;
• each molecular absorption filter having an absorption spectrum at least substantially specific for a preselected atom or preselected compound;
• and
• the absorption spectrums of at least two of the molecular absorption filters being at least substantially specific for different atoms or compounds;
• measuring the intensity of light transmitted through each of the molecular absorption filters;
• and
• for each of the molecular absorption filters, determining, based on the amount that the molecular absorption filter reduces the intensity of light in the sample spectrum, (i) whether the atom or compound for that filter is present in the sample;
• or (ii) an extent to which the atom or compound for that filter is present in the sample;
• or (iii) both (i) and (ii).

A method for optically evaluating the composition of a sample, comprising:

• illuminating a sample with light from a light source to produce a resulting sample spectrum of light;
• a step for directing the sample spectrum through at least one molecular absorption filter having an absorption spectrum at least substantially specific for a preselected atom or preselected compound;
• measuring the intensity of light transmitted through the at least one molecular absorption filter;
• and
• a step for determining, based on the amount that a molecular absorption filter reduces the intensity of light in the sample spectrum, (i) whether the atom or compound for that filter is present in the sample;
• or (ii) an extent to which the atom or compound for that filter is present in the sample;
• or (iii) both (i) and (ii).

A method for optically evaluating the composition of a sample, comprising:

• illuminating a sample with light from a light source to produce a resulting sample spectrum of light;
• a step for directing the sample spectrum through each of at least two molecular absorption filters;
• each filter having an absorption spectrum at least substantially specific for a preselected atom or preselected compound;
• and
• the absorption spectrums of at least two of the molecular absorption filters being at least substantially specific for different atoms or compounds;
• for each of the molecular absorption filters, measuring the intensity of light transmitted through the molecular absorption filter;
• and
• for each of the molecular absorption filters, a step for determining, based on the amount that the molecular absorption filter reduces the intensity of light in the sample spectrum, (i) whether the atom or compound for that filter is present in the sample;
• or (ii) an extent to which the atom or compound for that filter is present in the sample;
• or (iii) both (i) and (ii).