Patent ID: 7499153
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: A61B,G01J,G01N

Abstract:
1. An instrument for measuring a Raman signal of tissue, the instrument comprising a laser, a signal detection unit for measuring the Raman signal, and a fiber optic probe, wherein the fiber optic probe comprises one or more optical fibers for directing laser light onto the tissue and for collecting light that is scattered by the tissue and guiding the collected light away from the tissue towards the signal detection unit, the fiber or fibers comprising a core, a cladding and optionally a coating, and the fiber or fibers for collecting light having substantially no Raman signal in one or more parts of the 2500-3700 cm −1 spectral region, and wherein the detection unit records the Raman signal scattered by the tissue in said spectral region, the instrument further comprising a signal analysis unit which analyses the recorded Raman signal in one or more parts of the 2500-3700 cm −1 spectral region, the analysis comprising an algorithm which outputs data regarding the molecular composition of the tissue and/or the clinical diagnostic class to which the tissue belongs.