Patent ID: 8263947
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of localising at least one fluorophore or at least one absorber in a scattering medium, with a pulse radiation source suited to emitting an excitation radiation of said fluorophore or said absorber and a detector suited to measuring a fluorescence signal emitted by said fluorophore or an emission signal emitted by said absorber, comprising: a) for at least 3 different pairs of positions of the pulse radiation source and detector, generating at least one excitation by a radiation pulse coming from the pulse radiation source, and performing at least one detection with said detector of an emitted signal corresponding to the fluorescence signal emitted by said fluorophore after said excitation, or to the emission signal emitted by said absorber, said emitted signal representing the number of photons detected, as a function of the time passed t in relation to each radiation pulse, b) calculating at least one characteristic parameter of said emitted signal, c) for each of said pairs, identifying, based at least on said at least one characteristic parameter of said emitted signal, a surface on which the fluorophore or the absorber is situated, or a volume comprising said surface and in which the fluorophore or the absorber is situated, d) estimating a localisation of the fluorophore or the absorber in said scattering medium, by calculating an intersection of the three surfaces, or a volume around said intersection.