Method and apparatus for in vivo optical spectroscopic examination

Abstract

Methodology and apparatus for the clinical evaluation of biological matter, in particular human anatomy, examined in situ and in vivo, by selective spectral light transmissivity. An optical probe introduces selected light spectra into the examination subject at a first position and resulting light intensity at a second position located some distance from the infusion point is measured; also, light reception preferably occurs at at least one other location, and the effective distances between these locations and the infusion point are determined. The light energy received at the distant points is quantified and conditioned by use of the effective distances from the infusion point and/or from one another, and also by contrasting the data from the two differently-located reception points, such that the resulting data quantitatively characterizes intrinsic internal tissue characteristics in an absolute sense, devoid of particular individual characteristics and variations such as skin pigmentation, boundary composition or state, etc. The methodology is especially characterized by the selection and use of particularly-located first and second light-reception positions whose locations with respect to the point at which the light spectra are introduced define particular zones of interrogation and analysis, and whose location with respect to one another may be comparatively examined (e.g., differenced) to selectively define a particular internal volume whose structure or conditional state is to be examined, quantified, and/or analyzed, all of which is accomplished on a non-intrusive in vivo basis.