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:
Oct. 05, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 06, 2001
Xuefeng Cheng, Milpitas, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to optical probes of optical imaging systems and methods thereof for providing two-or three-dimensional images of spatial or temporal distribution of chromophores and/or their properties in a physiological medium. More particularly, the present invention relates to optical probes of optical imaging systems equipped with optical sensors such as wave sources and wave detectors which are disposed on scanning surfaces of the optical probes in a symmetric fashion. A typical optical probe of the present invention includes at least two wave sources (a first wave source and a second wave source) as well as at least two wave detectors (a first wave detector and a second wave detector), where the first wave source is disposed closer to the first wave detector than the second wave detector, and where the second wave source is disposed closer to the second wave detector than the first wave detector. More particularly, the foregoing wave sources and detectors are arranged so that a first near-distance between the first wave source and the first wave detector is substantially similar or identical to a second near-distance between the second wave source and the second wave detector, and that a first far-distance between the first wave source and the second wave detector is substantially identical or similar to a second far-distance between the second wave source and the first wave detector. The near-distance is preferably one half of the far-distance but may be longer or shorter than the far-distance. Each pair of one of the wave sources and one of the wave detectors is arranged to generate the output signal.