Dual mode real-time screening and rapid full-area, selective-spectral, remote imaging and analysis device and process
US6678398B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 12, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jan 13, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 12, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/00186
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention provides a device and process for real-time screening of areas that can be identified as suspicious either through image segmentation utilizing image processing techniques or through treatment with an exogenous fluorescent marker that selectively localizes in abnormal areas. If screening detects a suspicious area, then the invention allows acquiring of autofluorescence images at multiple selected narrow differentiating spectral bands so that a “virtual biopsy” can be obtained to differentiate abnormal areas from normal areas based on differentiating portions of autofluorescence spectra. Full spatial information is collected, but autofluorescence data is collected only at the selected narrow spectral bands, avoiding the collection of full spectral data, so that the speed of analysis is increased.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.