Apparatus and methods relating to optical systems for diagnosis of skin diseases
First Claim
1. An optical probe able to induce at least one of fluorescence light, reflectance light and Raman scattering in vivo in a target tissue, the optical probe comprising a proximal end, a distal end, at least one light emitting diode disposed at the distal end of the optical probe and operatively connected to a power source able to provide power to the light emitting diode such that the light emitting diode can emit excitation light able to induce at least one of fluorescence light, reflectance light and Raman scattering in the target tissue, and at least one collection fiber that transmits light from the distal end of the optical probe to the proximal end of the optical probe, the distal end of the optical probe comprising at least one of a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit different wavelengths of excitation light and a plurality of light filters that transmit different wavelengths of excitation light to provide a plurality of light sources, and an on and off switch to switch the light emitting diodes on and off such that the target tissue is illuminated sequentially by one of the light sources at a time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for diagnosis of a skin disease site using spectral analysis includes a light source for generating light to illuminate the disease site and a probe unit optically connected to the light source for exposing the disease site to light to generate fluorescence and reflectance light. The probe unit also collects the generated fluorescence and reflectance light and transmits this light to a spectrometer to be analyzed. The spectrometer generates and displays spectral measurements of the fluorescence light and the reflectance light which in together assist the user in diagnosing the disease site. The apparatus makes use of a conventional personal computer using a plug-in spectrometer card to provide a compact and low costs system. The system performs combined fluorescence and reflectance spectral analysis in a quick and efficient manner to provide a powerful tool for dermatologic diagnosis.
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Citations
21 Claims
- 1. An optical probe able to induce at least one of fluorescence light, reflectance light and Raman scattering in vivo in a target tissue, the optical probe comprising a proximal end, a distal end, at least one light emitting diode disposed at the distal end of the optical probe and operatively connected to a power source able to provide power to the light emitting diode such that the light emitting diode can emit excitation light able to induce at least one of fluorescence light, reflectance light and Raman scattering in the target tissue, and at least one collection fiber that transmits light from the distal end of the optical probe to the proximal end of the optical probe, the distal end of the optical probe comprising at least one of a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit different wavelengths of excitation light and a plurality of light filters that transmit different wavelengths of excitation light to provide a plurality of light sources, and an on and off switch to switch the light emitting diodes on and off such that the target tissue is illuminated sequentially by one of the light sources at a time.
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12. A method for diagnosis of a disease selected from the group consisting of actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, compound nevus and spider angioma at a skin disease site using spectral analysis comprising the steps of:
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illuminating the disease site with a light source to generate fluorescence and reflectance light at the disease site; collecting the generated fluorescence light; conducting a spectral analysis of the collected light using a spectrometer; determining spectral measurements of the fluorescence light and therefrom determining a 3-D spectrum of the fluorescence light; and examining the spectral measurements to make a diagnosis of the disease site. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification