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Spectroscope for recovering light from re-entrant zone of arterial wall

  • US 7,873,406 B2
  • Filed: 07/03/2007
  • Issued: 01/18/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A spectroscope for spectroscopic analysis of a sample of tissue within a blood vessel wall, the spectroscope comprising:

  • a catheter;

    a first optical fiber extending through the catheter;

    a second optical fiber extending through the catheter;

    a first optical system in optical communication with the first optical fiber for directing light form the first optical fiber to the illumination spot on the wall of a blood vessel; and

    a second optical system including at least one optical element with a finite focal length in optical communication with the second optical fiber,wherein the second optical system is configured to modify a field of view of the second optical fiber so that the modified field of view overlaps an annular re-entrant zone radially separated from the illumination spot by a specular zone predominantly made up of light specularly reflected from the wall, while avoiding the specular zone.

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