Abstract: An intraoperative probe and a system for optically imaging a surgically significant volume of tissue or other scattering medium. An illumination source generates an illuminating beam that is conveyed to the vicinity of the tissue and a beam splitter, that may be no more than an optical phase reference, splits the illuminating beam into a sample beam along a sample beam path and a reference beam along a reference beam path. A scanning mechanism scans a portion of the sample beam across a section of the scattering medium, while a detector detects return beams from both the reference beam path and the sample beam path and generates an interference signal. A processor computationally moves an effective focus of the sample beam without physical variation of focus of the sample beam. The probe may have a sterilizable fairing that may be detachable.

Abstract: An intraoperative probe and a system for optically imaging a surgically significant volume of tissue or other scattering medium. An illumination source generates an illuminating beam that is conveyed to the vicinity of the tissue and a beam splitter, that may be no more than an optical phase reference, splits the illuminating beam into a sample beam along a sample beam path and a reference beam along a reference beam path. A scanning mechanism scans a portion of the sample beam across a section of the scattering medium, while a detector detects return beams from both the reference beam path and the sample beam path and generates an interference signal. A processor computationally moves an effective focus of the sample beam without physical variation of focus of the sample beam. The probe may have a sterilizable fairing that may be detachable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to probe apparatuses and component combinations thereof that are used to recognize possibly abnormal living tissue using a detected early increase in microvascular blood supply and corresponding applications. In one embodiment there is disclosed an apparatus that emits broadband light obtained from a light source onto microvasculature of tissue disposed within a human body and receives interacted light that is obtained from interaction of the broadband light with the microvasculature for transmission to a receiver. Different further embodiments include combinations of optical fibers, polarizers and lenses that assist in the selection of a predetermined depth profile of interacted light. In another embodiment, a kit apparatus is described that has various probe tips and/or light transmission elements that provide for various combinations of predetermined depth profiles of interacted light.