Patent ID: 6580086
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An optical probe for obtaining data from the tissue material of a living organism, comprising:an first housing element having a first support surface for supporting said tissue material, and a first aperture formed therein; a second housing element having a second support surface and a second aperture formed therein, said second housing element being located proximate to said first housing element and rotatably attached thereto so as to permit said tissue material to be positioned there between; a light energy source disposed within said first housing element, said light energy source being positioned such that at least a portion of the light energy emitted is transmitted through said first aperture; a light energy detector disposed within said second housing element, said light energy detector being positioned so as to receive at least a portion of said light energy transmitted by said light energy source through said tissue material and said second aperture; and a light shield mounted to at least one of said first and second housing elements and located proximate to said tissue material, said light shield attenuating at least a portion of ambient light energy incident on said tissue material, wherein at least one of the first support surface and the second support surface includes a first area having a first attenuation property and a second area having a second attenuation property substantially different from said first attenuation property.