Method of and apparatus for investigating tissue histology
First Claim
1. Apparatus for monitoring the presence of individual chromophores in a tissue sample, said apparatus comprising:
- a light source configured to illuminate an area of a tissue sample with different wavelengths of light;
a photo-receptor configured to receive light re-emitted by an area of a tissue sample illuminated by said light source; and
a spectroscopic analyzer configured to utilize the spectral characteristics of re-emitted light received by said photo-receptor and the spectral characteristics of light projected by said light source to identify the presence of said one or more chromophores within the area of the illuminated tissue sample from which re-emitted light is received by said photo-receptor, wherein said spectroscopic analyzer comprises;
records of the spectral characteristics of light re-emitted by reference samples of known structure containing identified chromophores;
said spectroscopic analyzer being configured to compare the spectral characteristics of re-emitted light received by said photo-receptor with said records to identify the record including spectral characteristics most closely matching the characteristics of said re-emitted light received by said photo-receptor and to output as an identification of individual chromophores present in the area of the illuminated tissue sample from which re-emitted light is received by said photo-receptor an identification of the chromophores associated with said spectral characteristics by said record.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for monitoring the presence of one or more chromophores in a tissue sample, comprises a light source for projecting light to illuminate an area of such tissue sample, a photo-receptor for receiving light remitted by the illuminated area of tissue, and spectroscopic analyzer means for monitoring the remitted light, a comparator having means for comparing variations in the intensity and spectral characteristics of the remitted light with respect to the intensity and spectral characteristics of the projected light at different wavelengths and with a record of the intensity and spectral characteristics of light remitted by a reference sample of such tissue and means for emitting a control signal in response to any such variations. Methods of analyzing tissue histology, especially skin histology, are discussed, and a mathematical model is proposed for the analysis and comparison of the remitted light with a reference sample.
29 Citations
39 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring the presence of individual chromophores in a tissue sample, said apparatus comprising:
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a light source configured to illuminate an area of a tissue sample with different wavelengths of light; a photo-receptor configured to receive light re-emitted by an area of a tissue sample illuminated by said light source; and a spectroscopic analyzer configured to utilize the spectral characteristics of re-emitted light received by said photo-receptor and the spectral characteristics of light projected by said light source to identify the presence of said one or more chromophores within the area of the illuminated tissue sample from which re-emitted light is received by said photo-receptor, wherein said spectroscopic analyzer comprises; records of the spectral characteristics of light re-emitted by reference samples of known structure containing identified chromophores; said spectroscopic analyzer being configured to compare the spectral characteristics of re-emitted light received by said photo-receptor with said records to identify the record including spectral characteristics most closely matching the characteristics of said re-emitted light received by said photo-receptor and to output as an identification of individual chromophores present in the area of the illuminated tissue sample from which re-emitted light is received by said photo-receptor an identification of the chromophores associated with said spectral characteristics by said record. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of monitoring the presence of individual chromophores in a tissue sample, comprising:
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illuminating an area of a tissue sample with different wavelengths of light using a light source; receiving light re-emitted by an area of a tissue sample illuminated by said light source with a photo-receptor; and operating a spectroscopic analyzer to utilize the spectral characteristics of re-emitted light received by said photo-receptor and the spectral characteristics of light projected by said light source to identify the presence of said chromophores within the area of the illuminated tissue sample from which re-emitted light is received by said photo-receptor, the operating of said spectroscopic analyzer including; recording the spectral characteristics of light re-emitted by reference samples of tissue of known structure containing identified chromophores, and arranging said spectroscopic analyzer to compare the spectral characteristics of re-emitted light received by said photo-receptor with said records to identify the record including spectral characteristics most closely matching the characteristics of said re-emitted light received by said photo-receptor and to output as an identification of individual chromophores present in the area of the illuminated tissue sample from which re-emitted light is received by said photo-receptor an identification of the chromophores associated with said spectral characteristics by said record; and deriving data relating to the presence, depth, and concentration of chromophores and creating and displaying a map thereof. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method of monitoring the presence of individual chromophores in a sample of tissue, comprising:
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storing records of the spectral characteristics of light re-emitted by reference samples of tissue of known structure containing identified chromophores; illuminating an area of a tissue sample with different wavelengths of light using a light source; receiving light re-emitted by the illuminated area of tissue at a photo-receptor; comparing the spectral characteristics of re-emitted light received by said photo-receptor with said records to identify the record including spectral characteristics most closely matching the characteristics of said re-emitted light received by said photo-receptor; and outputting as an identification of the individual chromophores present in the area of the illuminated tissue sample from which re-emitted light is received by said photo-receptor an identification of the chromophores associated with said spectral characteristics by said record. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification