Laser-induced differential normalized fluorescence method for cancer diagnosis
First Claim
1. An apparatus for performing a medical diagnosis comprising:
- means for radiating a tissue sample with a monochromatic excitation light having a predetermined wavelength;
means for producing a laser-induced fluorescence spectrum, having a plurality of wavelengths with an intensity at each of the plurality of wavelengths, from emission radiation generated by interaction of the excitation light with the tissue sample;
means for calculating an area under the laser-induced fluorescence spectrum to generate an integrated area;
means for dividing the intensity at each wavelength of the laser-induced fluorescence spectrum by the integrated area under the laser-induced fluorescence spectrum to produce a normalized spectrum; and
means for correlating the normalized spectrum to a specific condition of the tissue sample.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for cancer diagnosis are disclosed. The diagnostic method includes the steps of irradiating a tissue sample with monochromatic excitation light, producing a laser-induced fluorescence spectrum from emission radiation generated by interaction of the excitation light with the tissue sample, and dividing the intensity at each wavelength of the laser-induced fluorescence spectrum by the integrated area under the laser-induced fluorescence spectrum to produce a normalized spectrum. A mathematical difference between the normalized spectrum and an average value of a reference set of normalized spectra which correspond to normal tissues is calculated, which provides for amplifying small changes in weak signals from malignant tissues for improved analysis. The calculated differential normalized spectrum is correlated to a specific condition of a tissue sample.
129 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for performing a medical diagnosis comprising:
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means for radiating a tissue sample with a monochromatic excitation light having a predetermined wavelength; means for producing a laser-induced fluorescence spectrum, having a plurality of wavelengths with an intensity at each of the plurality of wavelengths, from emission radiation generated by interaction of the excitation light with the tissue sample; means for calculating an area under the laser-induced fluorescence spectrum to generate an integrated area; means for dividing the intensity at each wavelength of the laser-induced fluorescence spectrum by the integrated area under the laser-induced fluorescence spectrum to produce a normalized spectrum; and means for correlating the normalized spectrum to a specific condition of the tissue sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of performing a medical diagnosis comprising the steps of:
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exposing a tissue sample to a monochromatic excitation light having a predetermined wavelength; detecting emission radiation from the tissue sample generated in response to the monochromatic excitation light; producing a laser-induced fluorescence spectrum from the emission radiation, the laser-induced fluorescence spectrum having a plurality of wavelengths with an intensity at each of the plurality of wavelengths; integrating an area under the laser-induced fluorescence spectrum to produce an integrated area; dividing the intensity at each of the plurality of wavelengths of the laser-induced fluorescence spectrum by the integrated area to produce a normalized spectrum; calculating a mathematical difference between the normalized fluorescence spectrum and an average value of a reference set of normalized spectra which correspond to normal tissues; producing a differential normalized fluorescence spectrum from the mathematical difference; and correlating the differential normalized fluorescence spectrum to a specific condition of the tissue sample. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification