Patent ID: 6058324
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: A61B,G01N

Abstract:
An optical system for in vivo, non-invasive examination of biological tissue, comprising:at least one light source constructed to emit light of a visible or infra-red wavelength for introduction into an examined tissue volume from at least one input port;at least one detector constructed to detect light of said wavelength that has migrated in the examined tissue volume from said at least one input port to at least one detection port;an optical array of said input and detection ports located in a selected geometrical pattern providing several average photon migration pathlengths in the examined tissue volume, each arrangement of said at least one input port and said at least one detection port providing one of said average pathlengths that is characteristic of the tissue between said input and detection ports;a radiation controller constructed to sequentially control light emitted from said at least one input port and constructed to control detection of said light of said wavelength to define a null plane in the tissue volume for two of said arrangements of said input and detection ports; anda processor, operatively connected to said radiation controller, constructed to examine the biological tissue based on data corresponding to said introduced and detected light for at least two of said average pathlengths and said defined location of said null plane.