Optical detection of fluorescence

A device for quantifying fluorescence elicited from a substance or sample comprising:

• a control system comprising a processor and a memory component configured to store signal to noise ratio threshold values corresponding to the substance or sample, the processor programmed to undertake the steps of:
• recording an optical background noise power measurement,
• transmitting excitation light to the substance or sample for a first period of time,
• recording one or more optical fluorescence power measurements during the transmission of the excitation light,
• determining a SNR from one or more of the recorded power measurements and the optical fluorescence power,
• comparing the SNR to a threshold stored in the memory component, and
• determining a fluorescence quantification measure from the one or more optical fluorescence power measurements when the SNR meets or exceeds the threshold.

A system configured for quantifying fluorescence elicited on a substance or sample comprising:

• an excitation light source configured to direct light to an waveguide network, wherein the network comprises a probe tip adapted to transmit excitation light to the sample and receive fluorescence light elicited from the sample,
• a detector is configured to receive fluorescence light from the waveguide network and output a signal corresponding to the fluorescence light power, and
• a control system comprising a memory component configured to store signal to noise ratio threshold values, the control system configured to perform the steps of:
• recording an optical background noise power measurement,
• transmitting excitation light to the sample for a first period of time,
• recording one or more optical fluorescence power measurements during the transmission of the excitation light,
• determining a signal to noise ratio signal to noise ratio from one or more of the recorded power measurements,
• comparing the signal to noise ratio to a threshold value stored in the memory component, and
• determining a fluorescence quantification measure from the one or more optical fluorescence power measurements when the signal to noise ratio meets or exceeds the threshold.

A method for quantifying fluorescence elicited from a substance or sample comprising recording an optical background noise power measurement, and the steps of:

• transmitting excitation light to the substance or sample,
• measuring optical fluorescence power emitted from the substance or sample during the transmission of the excitation light,
• determining a SNR from one or more of the recorded power measurements and the optical fluorescence power at one or more intervals during the transmission of the excitation light,
• stopping the transmission of excitation light to the substance or sample when the SNR is determined to meet or exceed a SNR threshold, and
• determining a fluorescence quantification measure from the measured optical fluorescence power measurement.