Patent ID: 7761139
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for identifying characteristics of tissue, comprising: a radiation source configured to perform an axial scan of the tissue using radiation; and an imaging system adapted to receive an axial scan radiation based on the axial scan, and to process data relating to the axial scan radiation to identify characteristics of the tissue, wherein the imaging system includes an interferometer adapted to direct a portion of the radiation emitted by the radiation source into a sample arm and detecting radiation reflected from the tissue back through the sample arm, wherein the imaging system identifies characteristics of the tissue by processing the axial scan radiation to provide the characteristics of the tissue, the axial scan radiation including radiation received from a reference arm and radiation received from the sample arm, and comparing the characteristics of the tissue with a database of characteristics of a plurality of tissue types, and wherein at least one of (i) the radiation source is a swept wavelength optical source or (ii) the radiation source is a broad bandwidth light source and the imaging system includes a spectrometer.