Imaging of objects in turbid media based upon the preservation of polarized luminescence emitted from contrast agents
US6091983A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 7, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jul 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 7, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/0059
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and system for imaging an object in a turbid medium. According to one embodiment, the method involves (a) making the object luminescent by adding to the object a contrast agent of the type that emits at least partially polarized light when appropriately excited with polarized radiation; (b) exciting the luminescent object through the turbid medium with polarized radiation so as to cause luminescent light to be emitted from the luminescent object, the luminescent light initially being at least partially polarized; (c) after the luminescent light has emerged from the turbid medium, the luminescent light consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component, detecting a pair of complementary polarization components of the luminescent light; and (d) forming an image of the object using the pair of complementary polarization components.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.