Patent Document ID: 20020037095
Application ID: 09778614
Patent Status: 0

Claim One:
1. An optical probe for an optical imaging system capable of generating images representing distribution of hemoglobins or their properties in target areas of a physiological medium, said optical probe including a plurality of wave sources and wave detectors, said wave sources configured to form optical coupling with said medium and to irradiate near-infrared electromagnetic waves thereinto and said wave detectors configured to detect said near-infrared electromagnetic waves and configured to generate output signals in response thereto, said optical probe comprising: a plurality of symmetrically disposed scanning units each of which including a first wave source, a second wave source, a first wave detector, and a second wave detector, said first wave source disposed closer to said first wave detector than said second wave detector and said second wave source disposed closer to said second wave detector than said first wave detector, wherein a first near-distance between said first wave source and said first wave detector is substantially similar to a second near-distance between said second wave source and said second wave detector, wherein a first far-distance between said first wave source and said second wave detector is substantially similar to a second far-distance between said second wave source and said first wave detector, and wherein said first and second wave detectors are configured to generate said output signals in response to said near-infrared electromagnetic waves irradiated by at least one of said first and second wave sources and detected thereby, said output signals representing optical interaction of said near-infrared electromagnetic waves with said hemoglobins in said target areas of said medium.