Patent · US Expired

Systems and methods for optical examination of samples

US6411838B1 · kind B1 · utility

82Cited by
144References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 22, 1999
Grant dateJun 25, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 22, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/0068
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for examining a sample using a substantially monostatic, substantially confocal optical system comprising transmitting optics that focus an illuminating light upon the sample and receiving optics that collect light emitted from the sample following illumination thereof. In certain embodiments, the receiving optics may be arranged circumferentially around the light path traversed by the illuminating light. In certain embodiments, video apparatus may be included to produce images or to align the system in proximity to the target tissue. The systems and methods of the present invention may be directed towards the examination of a body tissue to provide a medical diagnosis.

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