Patent ID: 6118521
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: A61B,A61C,G01J,G01N

Abstract:
A method comprising the steps of:moving a probe in proximity to an object, wherein the probe provides light having a plurality of wavelengths to a surface of the object and receives light from the object, wherein light is provided from the probe by a light source and light is received by one or more light receivers, wherein the light source and at least one of the one or more light receivers define a critical height from the surface below which substantially no light from the light source that is specularly reflected from the object is received by the one or more light receivers;determining the intensity of light received by the one or more light receivers by coupling the received light to a plurality of sensors through a plurality of filters;measuring the optical characteristics including at least spectral characteristics of the object of the object, wherein the measurement produces data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object; anddetermining data indicative of whether a cable coupled between the probe and a unit for measuring the optical characteristics is under a condition of flex, wherein the data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object is adjusted based on the determined data.