Patent ID: 8108022

Claim:
A probe device for use in a system for monitoring at least one parameter of a region of interest in a human body, the probe device comprising: a support structure carrying an arrangement of one or more light output ports of a light source assembly, one or more light input ports of a light detection assembly, and at least one acoustic output port of an acoustic unit, the arrangement of the light and acoustic ports within the support structure facilitating placement of the at least light output port, the at least one light input port, and the at least one acoustic output port with respect to the body, such that at least one operative light output port, at least one operative light input port, and at least one operative acoustic output port are selectable, so as to provide an operating condition, at which acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency range coming from said at least one selected acoustic output port and illuminating light coming from said at least one selected light output port overlap in a region within the region of interest in the body, thereby inducing tagging of light by said acoustic waves, the acoustic waves substantially do not overlap with illuminating light coming from said at least one selected light output port in a region outside the region of interest, the light outside the region of interest thereby substantially not being tagged by said acoustic waves, and said at least one selected light input port collects tagged light scattered from the overlapping region and substantially untagged light scattered from outside the region of interest; and a control unit configured to select the at least one operative light output port, the at least one operative light input port, and the at least one operative acoustic output port, so as to provide the operating condition.