Handheld probe and system for imaging human tissue

Abstract

A diffuse-optical-spectroscopy system and method for scanning human tissue is provided. The system includes: (a) a handheld probe operable to emit electromagnetic radiation at one or more wavelengths corresponding to absorption associated with one or more human-tissue constituents, respectively, the handheld probe being operable to detect received electromagnetic radiation at each of the wavelengths; and (b) a processor operable to produce, in response to the received electromagnetic radiation, one or more cross-sectional images of the human tissue respectively associated with the wavelengths.The handheld probe includes first and second sources for emitting the electromagnetic radiation and one or more sensors for detecting the received electromagnetic radiation. The sensors are aligned along a first axis and face in an outward direction. The first and second sources are aligned along the first axis, face in the outward direction, and are disposed on either side of the sensors.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An-optical-spectroscopy system for scanning human tissue, the system comprising:
 a handheld probe having:
 at least one source configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at two or more wavelengths respectively corresponding to absorption associated with one or more human-tissue constituents, respectively, the handheld probe configured to detect reflected electromagnetic radiation at each of the two or more wavelengths; and 
 at least one detector configured to detect emitted electromagnetic radiation reflected from the one or more human-tissue constituents; and 
   a processor, coupled to the handheld probe, configured to produce, in response to the received electromagnetic radiation, one or more cross-sectional images of the human tissue respectively associated with one of the two or more wavelengths.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the handheld probe comprises a sensor for detecting received electromagnetic radiation, wherein the sensor is aligned along a first axis and facing in an outward direction. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the handheld probe comprises two sources for emitting the electromagnetic radiation, the sources being aligned along the first axis, facing in the outward direction, and disposed equidistant from the sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the handheld probe comprises three sources for emitting the electromagnetic radiation, each of the three sources facing in the outward direction and disposed about the sensor. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the one or more wavelengths comprise at least four wavelengths corresponding to absorption associated with at least four human-tissue constituents, each of the at least four wavelengths being in at least one of a visible region, a near-infrared region, and an infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, said at least four human-tissue constituents comprising deoxyhemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, water and fat. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the source comprises first, second, third and fourth light sources configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at least at first, second, third and fourth wavelengths, respectively, wherein each of the at least first, second, third and fourth light sources comprising a light source selected from the group consisting of a light-emitting diode, an encapsulated light-emitting diode, and a laser. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the handheld probe comprises a detector selected from the group consisting of a charge-coupled device and an array photodiode. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the one or more wavelengths further comprises wavelengths from the group comprising 600 nm to 1100 nm. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising at least a second detector configured to detect emitted electromagnetic radiation reflected from the one or more human-tissue constituents. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a sensor to detect a change in orientation of the axis with respect to the reflected electromagnetic radiation in relation to the one or more human-tissue constituents. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a sensor to detect pressure between the handheld probe and the at least one human-tissue constituent. 
     
     
         28 . A method of scanning human tissue by diffuse-optical-spectroscopy, the method comprising:
 emitting electromagnetic radiation by at least one emitter source at one or more wavelengths corresponding to absorption associated with one or more human-tissue constituents, respectively, by a handheld probe while being placed in proximity to the human tissue at an axis or orientation;   detecting by a detector housed in the handheld probe received electromagnetic radiation at each of the one or more wavelengths; and   in response to the received electromagnetic radiation, executing computer-readable instructions at a processor to generate one or more cross-sectional images of the human tissue respectively associated with the one or more wavelengths.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the detecting further comprises detecting the received electromagnetic radiation by one or more sensors of said handheld probe when said one or more sensors are aligned along a first axis and facing in an outward direction. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the emitting further comprises emitting electromagnetic radiation by first and second emitter sources when said first and second emitter sources are aligned along said first axis, facing in said outward direction, and disposed on either side of the detector. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  the emitting further comprises emitting the electromagnetic radiation at said one or more wavelengths comprising at least four wavelengths corresponding to absorption associated with at least four human-tissue constituents, each of said at least four wavelengths being in at least one of a visible region, a near-infrared region, and an infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, said at least four human-tissue constituents comprising deoxyhemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, water and fat. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28  the emitting comprises emitting said electromagnetic radiation by first, second, third and fourth emitter sources at first, second, third and fourth wavelengths, respectively, of the one or more wavelengths when each of the first, second, third and fourth light sources are selected from the group consisting of a light-emitting diode, an encapsulated light-emitting diode, and a laser. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28  the detecting further comprises detecting received electromagnetic radiation by at least one of a charge-coupled device and a photodiode array. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28  the emitting further comprises emitting continuous wave electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising:
 determining a first absorption coefficient associated with a first emitter source when the first emitter source is emitting first electromagnetic radiation, 
 determining a second absorption coefficient associated with a second emitter source when the second emitter source is emitting second electromagnetic radiation; and 
 determining a total absorption coefficient at an intersecting location within the human tissue by calculating a superposition value associated with the first absorption coefficient and the second absorption coefficient. 
 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising:
 detecting a pressure between the handheld probe and the one or more human-tissue constituents; and 
 detecting an orientation with respect to the axis between the handheld probe and the one or more human-tissue constituents.