Patent ID: 7587236

Claim:
A method, comprising: illuminating a surface area of tissue with a first beam of light from a first substantially narrow spectral band source to produce an illuminated surface area, wherein said first beam of light is delivered from the distal end of an illumination transporting optic, including said distal end, wherein said distal end does not make contact with said tissue, wherein said illuminated surface area is larger than about 1.5 mm 2 , wherein said first beam of light induces a first autofluorescence emission from said surface area; illuminating at least part of said surface area with a second beam of light from a second substantially narrow spectral band source, wherein said second beam of light is delivered from said distal end, wherein said second beam of light induces a second autofluorescence emission from said surface area; detecting said first autofluorescence emission and said second autofluorescense emission; and comparing said first autofluorescence emission to said second autofluorescense emission to assess in real-time a property of said tissue.