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:
Dec. 23, 2008
Filed:
Apr. 18, 2003
Perry S. Banks, Hollis, NH (US);
Chunsheng Jiang, Reading, MA (US);
Karen M. Twietmeyer, Tucson, AZ (US);
Richard M. Morrell, Upton, MA (US);
Charles C. Abele, Newton, MA (US);
Perry S. Banks, Hollis, NH (US);
Chunsheng Jiang, Reading, MA (US);
Karen M. Twietmeyer, Tucson, AZ (US);
Richard M. Morrell, Upton, MA (US);
Charles C. Abele, Newton, MA (US);
Other;
Abstract
The invention provides methods of focusing an instrument for the acquisition of optical data from a tissue sample. Methods of the invention allow rapid focusing in the context of a diagnostic procedure in which rapid data acquisition is desirable. For example, inventive methods allow a user to focus an optical instrument quickly enough to obtain data within an optimal window of time following application of a chemical agent to the tissue. In one embodiment, a user focuses an optical instrument by aligning laser spots projected onto a tissue sample within rings that are superimposed at predetermined locations within the user's visual field. Preferred methods of the invention further comprise automatic validation to detect whether the spots are sufficiently well-aligned.