Optical examination of biological tissue using non-contact irradiation and detection

Abstract

An optical system for examination of biological tissue includes a light source, a light detector, optics and electronics. The light source generates a light beam, transmitted to the biological tissue, spaced apart from the source. The light detector is located away (i.e., in a non-contact position) from the examined biological tissue and is constructed to detect light that has migrated in the examined tissue. The electronics controls the light source and the light detector, and a system separates the reflected photons (e.g., directly reflected or scattered from the surface or superficial photons) from the photons that have migrated in the examined tissue. The system prevents detection of the “noise” photons by the light detector or, after detection, eliminates the “noise” photons in the detected optical data used for tissue examination.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An optical system for examination of biological tissue, comprising:
 a light source for generating a light beam to be transmitted to the biological tissue spaced apart from said source;   a light detector located away from the examined biological tissue and constructed to detect light that has migrated in the examined biological tissue; and   a module constructed and arranged to deliver a chemical or pharmacological agent into the examined tissue   electronics for controlling said light source and said light detector and a system for separating reflected photons from photons that have migrated in the examined biological tissue to prevent detection of the reflected photons by the light detector.   
     
     
         15 . The optical system of  claim 14 , wherein said agent is a contract agent. 
     
     
         16 . The optical system of  claim 14 , wherein said contract agent is ICG. 
     
     
         17 . The optical system of  claim 14 , wherein said contract agent is fluorescent. 
     
     
         18 . The optical system of  claim 14 , wherein said agent is a pharmacological agent. 
     
     
         19 . An optical method for examination of biological tissue, comprising:
 generating a light beam from a light source and transmitting said light beam to the biological tissue spaced apart from said source;   detecting by a light detector, located away from the examined biological tissue, light that has migrated in the examined biological tissue;   controlling operation of said light source and said light detector; and   separating reflected photons from photons that have migrated in the examined biological tissue to prevent detection of the reflected photons by the light detector or eliminating after detection the reflected photons in the detected optical data used for tissue examination.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  including evaluating said detected light to determine brain tissue of a subject. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  including evaluating said detected light to determine breast tissue of a subject. 
     
     
         22 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19  further including introducing and detecting optical radiation to obtain “background” optical data. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 19  including performing functional imaging to monitor physiological processes in the examined tissue. 
     
     
         31 . An optical method for examination of biological tissue, comprising:
 generating a light beam from a light source and transmitting said light beam to the biological tissue;   detecting by a light detector light that has migrated in the examined biological tissue;   controlling operation of said light source and said light detector; and   performing molecular imaging for monitoring processes in cells located in the examined tissue.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said detecting includes performing confocal detection from a selected depth of the examined tissue. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said detecting includes detecting fluorescent light excited in and emanating from the examined tissue. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the examined tissue includes human tissue. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the examined tissue includes animal tissue. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , further including tracking medical processes associated with progress of diseases and treatment. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , further including evaluating a metabolite. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said metabolite is a metabolite of a chemical agent. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said metabolite is a metabolite of a pharmacological agent. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 19  including irradiation the tissue to be examined by scanning an irradiation beam over the tissue surface. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said scanning is performed by executing a low resolution scan followed by a high resolution scan. 
     
     
         42 . An optical method for examination of biological tissue, comprising:
 generating a light beam from a light source and transmitting said light beam to the biological tissue;   detecting by a light detector light that has migrated in the examined biological tissue;   controlling operation of said light source and said light detector; and   irradiation the tissue to be examined during cardiac surgery.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  including determining re-oxygenation of myoglobin. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42  including determining re-oxygenation of hemoglobin.