Biological tissue inspection method and system
US9999354B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 19, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jun 19, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/02475
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and system for inspecting biological tissue that has no applied coatings or treatments to improve reflectivity comprises an optical detection system with an exposed surface for inspection by an optical detection system; and a laser for exciting an ultrasonic wave within the tissue, which wave propagates within the tissue at least near the surface. The optical detection system includes: a laser to emit a pulsed detection laser beam onto the surface at a detection spot, the pulsed laser beam having a wavelength at which there is large scattering and little absorption by the tissue, and a pulse duration is chosen to correspond with ultrasonic propagation times associated with a range of depths of the scan, whereby the fluence of the detection laser is not applied unless ultrasonic information regarding a given depth is being obtained; and large étendue collection optics for collecting reflected and backscattered light from the detection spot; and a demodulator to extract information from the ultrasonic wave from the collected light.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.