Patent ID: 8403862
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for diagnosing a clinical state of a portion of a body of a subject, comprising: (1) causing the portion to enter a functional state, by directing toward the portion a first pulse of electromagnetic energy; (2) while the portion is in the functional state due to the first pulse of electromagnetic energy, directing toward the portion a second pulse of electromagnetic energy; (3) detecting with a detecting device, at a second-pulse time, energy of the second pulse of electromagnetic energy that is reflected from the portion; (4) while the portion is in a functional state due to the first and second pulses of electromagnetic energy, directing toward the portion a third pulse of electromagnetic energy; (5) detecting with the detecting device, at a third-pulse time, energy of the third pulse of electromagnetic energy that is reflected from the portion; (6) in response to detecting the energy of the second pulse of electromagnetic energy that is reflected from the portion at the second-pulse time and detecting the energy of the third pulse of electromagnetic energy that is reflected from the portion at the third-pulse time, (7) identifying a clinical state of the subject in response to quantifying the characteristic of the portion.