Patent ID: 6839586
Filing Date: 2005-01-04
Classification: A61B,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting disease within a particular tissue of a plant or animal comprising the steps of: activating the particular plant or animal tissue by application of radiation through at least one optical fiber under conditions effective to promote a simultaneous multiphoton excitation of the particular plant or animal tissue and to emit an intrinsic fluorescence characteristic, wherein said at least one optical fiber has a distal end provided with a terminal focusing lens; comparing the intrinsic fluorescence characteristic to fluorescence emitted by exciting healthy tissue of the particular plant or animal under the same conditions used to carry out said activating; and identifying the particular tissue of a plant or animal where the intrinsic fluorescence characteristic differs from the fluorescence, emitted by exciting healthy tissue of the particular plant or animal under the same conditions used to carry out said activating, as potentially diseased.