Fiberoptic interferometer and associated method for analyzing tissue
US5920390A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jul 6, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/0066
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The fiberoptic interferometer includes a broadband light source which is selected to illuminate tissue of predetermined organ with light having a wavelength within a predetermined range of wavelengths. Within the predetermined range of wavelengths, the attenuation characteristics of tissue of the predetermined organ define a region of minimum attenuation upon illumination with light having a first wavelength. As a result, the fiberoptic interferometer can precisely determine the optical properties of the tissue and can therefore identify the tissue by comparing the interferometric signal produced upon illumination of the tissue sample with predetermined interferometric signals corresponding to illumination of different types of tissue of the predetermined organ with light having the first wavelength. The fiberoptic interferometer can also include a light source which includes wavelength selection means for controllably selecting the predetermined wavelength of light emitted by the light source. Thus, the optical properties of the tissue can be analyzed at the different wavelengths emitted by the light source to individually determine the optimum wavelength of light for subsequent t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.