Patent ID: 6196226
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: A61B,G06T,G16H

Abstract:
A physiologically non-invasive method for detecting optical changes indicative of neuronal activity or dysfunction in an area of interest in a human patient, comprising:(a) illuminating the area of interest with an illumination source emitting electromagnetic radiation (emr) having at least one wavelength of from about 450 nm to about 2500 nm;(b) detecting one or more optical properties of the area of interest when it is illuminated with the emr using a photon detector and acquiring and storing a control data set representing the one or more optical properties detected;(c) detecting one or more properties of the area of interest at a time different from acquisition of the control data set and acquiring a subsequent data set representing the one or more optical properties detected during the different time; and(d) comparing the subsequent data set with the control data set to produce a comparison data set that identifies changes in the one or more optical properties and thereby identifies areas of neuronal activity or dysfunction.