Patent ID: 8227766

Claim:
A fluorescence detection system, comprising: a hand-held probe including: a housing comprising a handle and a columnar portion; a power source within the housing; a light emission source proximate the columnar portion and configured to fluoresce at least one of predetermined compounds and predetermined antibodies; an excitation switch proximate the handle to selectably activate the light emission source; a detector to receive fluorescent light emissions directed toward the columnar portion from at least one of the compounds and antibodies and convert the fluorescent light emissions to a corresponding emission electrical signal; a controller within the housing to receive the emission electrical signal from the detector and convert the emission electrical signal to a corresponding data signal; a squelch switch coupled to the controller which, when actuated, causes the controller to read and store in a memory portion a baseline emission electrical signal magnitude for comparison with subsequent emission electrical signals received by the controller from the detector, emission levels having a magnitude below the stored baseline being ignored by the controller; and a data port within the housing to receive the data signal from the controller, convert the data signal to a corresponding output signal, and transmit the output signal, the system further including a remotely-located console to receive the output signal and provide an indication corresponding to the fluorescent light emissions.