Fluorometers
First Claim
1. A method for producing and detecting fluorescence at or below a skin surface of a human or an animal, said method comprising:
- using a light source, directing fluorescence excitation light along a light path extending over said skin surface;
receiving the excitation light along a portion of said light path with a three-dimensionally curved reflector interface configured to a) reflect said light transversely with respect to said light path so as to focus said excitation light on an illumination zone at or below said surface for stimulation of fluorescence at said zone, b) collect fluorescence light emitted at said zone and c) reflect said fluorescent light transversely to pass back along said light path; and
using a detector, receiving said light emitted as fluorescence after reflection at said interface;
in which the whole of the light path from the light source to the reflector interface and the whole of the light path from the reflector interface to the detector extend over said skin surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In apparatus for the production and detection of fluorescence at a sample surface, the height of the apparatus above the sample surface is reduced, and loss of the emitted fluorescence due to reflection loss and light scattering is minimized. The apparatus comprises a three-dimensionally curved light reflecting surface (40) that directs light from a light source (32) transversely to its original path and focuses the light on to an illumination zone (30) at or below the sample surface. The reflecting surface (40) also collects, directs and at least partially collimates emitted fluorescence transversely to its original path and towards a detector (46).
323 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for producing and detecting fluorescence at or below a skin surface of a human or an animal, said method comprising:
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using a light source, directing fluorescence excitation light along a light path extending over said skin surface; receiving the excitation light along a portion of said light path with a three-dimensionally curved reflector interface configured to a) reflect said light transversely with respect to said light path so as to focus said excitation light on an illumination zone at or below said surface for stimulation of fluorescence at said zone, b) collect fluorescence light emitted at said zone and c) reflect said fluorescent light transversely to pass back along said light path; and using a detector, receiving said light emitted as fluorescence after reflection at said interface; in which the whole of the light path from the light source to the reflector interface and the whole of the light path from the reflector interface to the detector extend over said skin surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for producing and detecting fluorescence at or below a skin surface, said apparatus comprising:
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a light source to direct fluorescence excitation light along a light path extending over said skin surface; a fixed three-dimensionally curved reflector to reflect the excitation light transversely with respect to said skin surface and to focus light on to said skin surface for stimulation of fluorescence, to collect fluorescence light emitted, and to reflect said fluorescence light to pass back along the path extending over said skin surface; a detector to receive said fluorescence light; and a common housing in which said light source, reflector interface and detector are provided, wherein said common housing is configured to be mounted on a human or animal body. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification