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:
Nov. 30, 2004
Filed:
Jan. 11, 2000
Mark Modell, Natick, MA (US);
Ze'ev Hed, Nashua, NH (US);
David Bee, Groton, MA (US);
David Lipson, Newton, MA (US);
Jennie Kwo, Cambridge, MA (US);
Matthew Emans, Boston, MA (US);
Robert Nordstrom, Hanover, MA (US);
MediSpectra, Inc., Lexington, MA (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for determining a characteristic of a sample of a material by the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with the sample. The apparatus includes an optical assembly and a protective barrier. The optical assembly sequentially illuminates a plurality of volume elements in the sample with an intensity distribution in the sample that drops off substantially monotonically from a first region in a first optical path and collects electromagnetic radiation emanating from each of the volume elements. The optical assembly collects the electromagnetic radiation emanating from each of the volume elements with a collected distribution that drops off substantially monotonically from a second region in a second optical path. The first and second regions at least partially overlap in each of the volume elements. The optical assembly can be configured as a probe, to be directed to the evaluation of a sample of a biological material. A protective barrier can be disposed between the optical assembly and a body tissue, to prevent contamination of the optical assembly by said body tissue.