Patent ID: 7899518
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of assessing a change in the structural matrix, cellular, or mitochondrial components of living tissue comprising: using a radiation source to expose living tissue to monochromatic radiation at about a first wavelength; using the radiation source to expose living tissue to monochromatic radiation at about a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; using a radiation detector to detect fluorescence emitted by the exposed living tissue in response to the radiation at about the first wavelength; using the radiation detector to detect fluorescence emitted by the exposed living tissue in response to the radiation at about the second wavelength; using a processing circuit to derive an indication representative of the change in the structural matrix of the living tissue based on the fluorescence detected; using the radiation source to expose living tissue to broadband radiation; using a scattering detector to detect scattering re-emitted from the exposed living tissue in response to the broadband radiation; and using the processing circuit to derive the indication representative of the change in the structural matrix of the living tissue based also on the scattering detected.