Patent ID: 7711412

Claim:
A method of identifying structures proximal to an area of interest in the stomach, comprising: (a) using an endoscope to identify an area of interest in the mucosal lining of a patient's stomach; (b) scattering light from a light source into the mucosal lining of the stomach at a location adjacent to, and on a first side of, the identified area; (c) positioning a light detector on a second side of the identified area opposite to the first side; (d) directing light from the light source into the mucosal lining toward the second side of the identified area; (e) using the light detector positioned on the second side of the identified area to detect patterns of light representative of positional attributes of structures within the identified area that are created by light emanating from the light source on the first side of the identified area and scattered in its travel though the mucosal lining; and (f) using the detected light patterns to determine positional attributes of the structures within the identified area.