Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for scanning and evaluating matter

US5735276A · kind A · utility

229Cited by
15References
83Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 21, 1995
Grant dateApr 7, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 21, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2018/20361
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system and method for analyzing matter by computer analysis of electrical signals generated by sensing radiation reflected from matter (i.e. tissue, cells, liquid, gaseous or solid particles in a liquid or gas) and/or generated due to fluorescence. In one embodiment, a short pulse of laser radiation is directed at matter also scanned by an electro-optical scanning means to generate image signals. Fluorescent radiation and reflected radiation generating image signals, generate respective variable electrical signals which are computer processed and analyzed to detect and determine the chemical and/or biological composition of the matter. A television camera scans the matter and generates video signals for computer processing and analysis. Simultaneously or sequentially, pulsed laser energy is directed against plural locations of scanned matter, wherein each of such pulses generates a short duration of fluorescent energy in different select portions of the matter under analysis. Fluorescing light is photoelectrically detected generating variable electrical signals for each portion of fluorescing matter, which signals are computer processed and analyzed along with signals output by t…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.