Patent ID: 8804115

Claim:
A self-calibrating fiber optic probe comprising: a sensing channel for transmitting illumination light to a specimen and for collecting spectral data of the specimen, wherein the spectral data includes the illumination light diffusely reflected from the specimen at one or more wavelengths, wherein the sensing channel includes at least one illumination source fiber for transmitting the illumination light to the specimen and at least one detection fiber for collecting the illumination light diffusely reflected from the specimen; and a calibration channel for transmitting calibration light, wherein the calibration light and the illumination light are generated simultaneously from a common light source, and collecting calibration spectral data associated with the calibration light contemporaneously with the collection of the spectral data of the specimen, wherein the calibration channel includes at least one calibration source fiber for transmitting the calibration light and at least one calibration return fiber for receiving at least a portion of the calibration light from the at least one calibration source fiber and wherein the at least one calibration source fiber and the at least one illumination source fiber comprise separate fibers having identical numerical apertures.