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Catheter based mid-infrared reflectance and reflectance generated absorption spectroscopy

  • US 8,571,640 B2
  • Filed: 12/10/2004
  • Issued: 10/29/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of characterizing subsurface conditions in a tissue, comprising (a) providing a catheter that has a light source that emits light in selected wavenumbers within the range of mid-infrared (IR) spectrum;

  • (b) emitting light in said selected wavenumbers within the range of mid-IR spectrum and directing the light in said selected wavenumbers within the range of mid-IR spectrum from the catheter to an area of tissue at a subsurface location at or below the tunica intima of a blood vessel of a subject;

    (c) collecting light reflected from the subsurface location and generating a reflectance spectra; and

    (d) comparing said reflectance spectra to a reference spectra of normal tissue, whereby a subsurface location having an increased number of absorbance peaks at said selected wavenumbers indicates a subsurface tissue inside said blood vessel containing a physiological marker for atherosclerosis, wherein the comparing step comprises that increased numbers of absorbance peaks at said selected wavenumbers are within at least one range of mid-infrared wavenumbers selected from the group of;

    about 3800-3000 cm

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    , about 3500-3000 cm

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    , and about 3020-3000 cm

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    .

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