Patent ID: 8116853
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: A61B,A61C,G01B,G01N,G16H

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: an inflatable membrane having a surface including a fluorescent substance that fluoresces over a range of wavelengths; a supply of a medium that absorbs a first wavelength of light within the range of wavelengths more than a second wavelength of light within the range of wavelengths, the supply being coupled to the inflatable membrane to permit selective delivery of the medium into the inflatable membrane; a light source positioned within the inflatable membrane and capable of illuminating the surface of the inflatable membrane at an excitation wavelength for the fluorescent substance; a sensor positioned within the inflatable membrane to measure an intensity of the first wavelength and an intensity of the second wavelength in a direction of a location on the surface when illuminated by the light source; and a processor programmed to determine a thickness of the medium in the direction based upon a ratio of the intensity of the first wavelength and the intensity of the second wavelength, and the processor further programmed to construct a three-dimensional image of a region of interest of the surface based upon a plurality of thickness measurements.