Device and method for non-invasively evaluating a target of interest of a living subject

A method of non-invasively evaluating a target of interest of a living subject, comprising the steps of:

• (a) capturing at least one gross spatial image of a selected area of the target of interest;
• (b) based on the at least one captured gross spatial image, selectively capturing at least one confocal image corresponding to a first specific area within the selected area of the target of interest;
• (c) based on the at least one captured confocal image, selectively capturing Raman spectra corresponding to a second specific area within the first specific area of the target of interest;
• and
• (d) comparing the captured at least one confocal image and captured Raman spectra corresponding to the target of interest with known corresponding signatures for at least one known condition for a target area of interest.

A means for non-invasively evaluating a target of interest of a living subject, comprising:

• (a) means for capturing at least one gross spatial image of a selected area of the target of interest;
• (b) means for selectively capturing at least one confocal image corresponding to a first specific area within the selected area of the target of interest, based on the at least one captured gross spatial image;
• (c) means for selectively capturing Raman spectra corresponding to a second specific area within the first specific area of the target of interest, based on the at least one captured confocal image;
• and
• (d) means for comparing the captured at least one confocal image and captured Raman spectra corresponding to the target of interest with known corresponding signatures for at least one known condition for a target area of interest.

A method for diagnosing skin cancer, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a handheld integrated probe for confocal reflectance imaging, confocal Raman spectroscopy, and gross spatial imaging;
• (b) using the handheld integrated probe, performing the steps of:
• (1) capturing at least one gross spatial image of a selected area of the skin containing a lesion of interest;
• (2) based on the at least one captured gross spatial image, selectively capturing at least one confocal image corresponding to a first specific area of the lesion of interest, within the selected area of the skin;
• and
• (3) based on the at least one captured confocal image, selectively capturing Raman spectra corresponding to a specific site of interest within the first specific area of the lesion of interest;
• and
• (c) comparing the captured at least one confocal image and captured Raman spectra corresponding to the selected area of skin, with known corresponding signatures for normal skin tissue and malignant skin tissue.

An optical probe for non-invasively evaluating a target of interest of a living subject, comprising:

• (a) a casing with a first end and an opposite, second end;
• (b) a first optical port, a second optical port, and a third optical port, wherein the first and second optical ports are located at the first end of the casing and the third optical port is located at the second end of the casing such that the first and third optical ports define a first optical path therebetween and the second and third optical ports define a second optical path therebetween, respectively, wherein each of the first and second optical paths has a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the second portions of the first and second optical paths are substantially overlapped and proximal to the third optical port;
• (c) a collimation lens, a coupling lens, and an objective lens assembly;
• (d) a first mirror, a second mirror, and a third mirror;
• (e) a band pass filter;
• (f) a long pass filter;
• (g) a scanning member;
• (h) an electronic imaging device;
• and
• (i) a focus control device,
• wherein the collimation lens, the band pass filter, and the second mirror are placed at the first portion of the first optical path, the coupling lens, the long pass filter, and the first mirror are placed at the first portion of the second optical path, and wherein the third mirrors, the scanning member, and the objective assembly are placed at the overlapped second portion of the first and second optical paths.