Robert wake time-resolved breast imaging device

Abstract

A photodetection circuit for use in a laser imaging apparatus comprises a photodetector adapted to respond to a laser pulse exiting from a breast being scanned; a multi-gain preamplifier circuit connected to the output of the photodetector; a switch connected to the output of the multi-gain preamplifier for sampling the output of the photodetector; an RC circuit for spreading the sampled signal; an amplifier connected to the output of the RC circuit; and an integrator for integrating each sample of the output. A time-gating circuit is operably connected to the switch to open and close the switch at regular intervals of time during the occurrence of the output. A laser pulse synchronization circuit is operably connected to the time-gating circuit to provide a signal to the time-gating circuit as to when the laser pulse is expected to arrive at the photodetector.

I claim:  
     
         1 . CANCELED.  
     
     
         2 . CANCELED.  
     
     
         3 . CANCELED.  
     
     
         4 . CANCELED.  
     
     
         5 . CANCELED.  
     
     
         6 . CANCELED.  
     
     
         7 . CANCELED.  
     
     
         8 . CANCELED.  
     
     
         9 . A detector assembly for use in a laser imaging apparatus, comprising: 
 a) a housing including a tubular opening therethrough with an open front end and a rear end; and    b) a fiber optic cable having first and second ends, said first end being operably associated with said rear end.    
     
     
         10 . A detector assembly as in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 a) a first lens disposed within said housing intermediate of said front and rear ends; and    b) a second lens operably associated with said fiber optic cable first end.    
     
     
         11 . A detector assembly as in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 a) said first lens is a plano-convex lens.    
     
     
         12 . A detector assembly as in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 a) said second lens is a ball lens.    
     
     
         13 . CANCELED.  
     
     
         14 . CANCELED.  
     
     
         15 . CANCELED.  
     
     
         16 . CANCELED.  
     
     
         17 . CANCELED.  
     
     
         18 . A laser for imaging human tissue in vivo, comprising: 
 a) said laser has a wavelength of about 800 nm, average power of 0.5 w, energy per pulse of about 100-500 μJ, repetition rate of about 1 kHz to 5 kHz and pulse width of less than 150 ps.    
     
     
         19 . CANCELED.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for determining the perimeter of an object being scanned, comprising: 
 a) a scanning chamber for receiving therein an object being scanned;    b) a source of laser beam disposed within said scanning chamber for impinging on the object being scanned, said laser beam being adapted to orbit around the object;    c) an array of sensors disposed within said chamber, each of said sensors being adapted to detect light reflecting from the surface of the object due to said laser beam exiting from the object;    d) each of said sensors being disposed such that only one of said sensors generates a peak response to light emanating from a point on the surface at a predetermined distance from a reference point, such that at each angular position of said laser beam in the orbit, a specific point at a distance from the reference is determined, thereby to generate a set of points representing the perimeter of the surface after a complete orbit.    
     
     
         21 . An apparatus as in claim  20 , wherein: 
 a) said sensors are CCD sensors.