The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 06, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 26, 1997
Faramarz Farahi, Concord, NC (US);
Mohammad Yasin Raja, Charlotte, NC (US);
Robert Splinter, Charlotte, NC (US);
University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC (US);
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, Charlotte, NC (US);
Abstract
The fiberoptic interferometer includes a broadband light source which is selected to illuminate tissue of predetermined organ with light having a wavelength within a predetermined range of wavelengths. Within the predetermined range of wavelengths, the attenuation characteristics of tissue of the predetermined organ define a region of minimum attenuation upon illumination with light having a first wavelength. As a result, the fiberoptic interferometer can precisely determine the optical properties of the tissue and can therefore identify the tissue by comparing the interferometric signal produced upon illumination of the tissue sample with predetermined interferometric signals corresponding to illumination of different types of tissue of the predetermined organ with light having the first wavelength. The fiberoptic interferometer can also include a light source which includes wavelength selection means for controllably selecting the predetermined wavelength of light emitted by the light source. Thus, the optical properties of the tissue can be analyzed at the different wavelengths emitted by the light source to individually determine the optimum wavelength of light for subsequent treatment of the tissue.