Abstract: Optical sensors, systems and methods of use thereof are provided. Aspects of the subject systems include a sensor having a sensing surface and a configuration that directs a first optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a first incident angle, and directs a second optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a second incident angle. The subject sensors, systems and methods find use, e.g., in the diagnosis of dry eye disease.

Abstract: Optical sensors, systems and methods of use thereof are provided. Aspects of the subject systems include a sensor having a sensing surface and a configuration that directs a first optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a first incident angle, and directs a second optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a second incident angle. The subject sensors, systems and methods find use, e.g., in the diagnosis of dry eye disease.

Abstract: Optical sensors, systems and methods of use thereof are provided. Aspects of the subject systems include a sensor having a sensing surface and a configuration that directs a first optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a first incident angle, and directs a second optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a second incident angle. The subject sensors, systems and methods find use, e.g., in the diagnosis of dry eye disease.

Abstract: Optical sensors, systems and methods of use thereof are provided. Aspects of the subject systems include a sensor having a sensing surface and a configuration that directs a first optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a first incident angle, and directs a second optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a second incident angle. The subject sensors, systems and methods find use, e.g., in the diagnosis of dry eye disease.

Abstract: A device for stimulating the Meissner's Corpuscles along the front plantar portion of the foot or feet of a person is provided. The device has a platform disposed upon motion guides for movement up and down with respect to a base. The platform has a shaped surface for ease of placement of at least the front plantar portion of at least one foot of a person seated in front of the device in which the back or heel portion of the foot is disposed away from the device. One or more inertial actuators are attached to the platform underneath its surface. A controller controls operation of the actuator(s), via signals to a driver, to move the platform with respect to the base in a sinusoidally varying motion at a user selectable stimulation level. The stimulation level may be set wirelessly via an external device, or by manually tilting the device.

Abstract: Optical sensors, systems and methods of use thereof are provided. Aspects of the subject systems include a sensor having a sensing surface and a configuration that directs a first optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a first incident angle, and directs a second optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a second incident angle. The subject sensors, systems and methods find use, e.g., in the diagnosis of dry eye disease.

Abstract: Optical sensors, systems and methods of use thereof are provided. Aspects of the subject systems include a sensor having a sensing surface and a configuration that directs a first optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a first incident angle, and directs a second optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a second incident angle. The subject sensors, systems and methods find use, e.g., in the diagnosis of dry eye disease.

Abstract: A device for stimulating the Meissner's Corpuscles along the front plantar portion of the foot or feet of a person is provided. The device has a platform disposed upon motion guides for movement up and down with respect to a base. The platform has a shaped surface for ease of placement of at least the front plantar portion of at least one foot of a person seated in front of the device in which the back or heel portion of the foot is disposed away from the device. One or more inertial actuators are attached to the platform underneath its surface. A controller controls operation of the actuator(s), via signals to a driver, to move the platform with respect to the base in a sinusoidally varying motion at a user selectable stimulation level. The stimulation level may be set wirelessly via an external device, or by manually tilting the device.

Abstract: A device for stimulating the Meissner's Corpuscles along the front plantar portion of the foot or feet of a person is provided. The device has a platform disposed upon motion guides for movement up and down with respect to a base. The platform has a shaped surface for ease of placement of at least the front plantar portion of at least one foot of a person seated in front of the device in which the back or heel portion of the foot is disposed away from the device. One or more inertial actuators are attached to the platform underneath its surface. A controller controls operation of the actuator(s), via signals to a driver, to move the platform with respect to the base in a sinusoidally varying motion at a user selectable stimulation level. The stimulation level may be set wirelessly via an external device, or by manually tilting the device.

Abstract: A cassette for retaining a specimen of surgically exposed tissue from a patient in an orientation that facilitates optical sectioning of the tissue by a confocal microscopic or other optical imaging microscope. The cassette includes a base member having a rigid optically transparent window upon which a tissue specimen is situated, a pliable membrane locatable over a substantial portion of the base member including the window, and an upper member, having an aperture therethrough, which can cover the base member to provide an enclosed cavity between the membrane and the window sealing the tissue specimen therein. The edges of the tissue specimen may be positioned planar against the window and retained in that position by bonds formed between the membrane and window at multiple points or locations around the tissue specimen. The specimen retained in the cavity is imagable by a microscope through the window of the base member.

Abstract: A device for stimulating the Meissner's Corpuscles along the front plantar portion of the foot or feet of a person is provided. The device has a platform disposed upon motion guides for movement up and down with respect to a base. The platform has a shaped surface for ease of placement of at least the front plantar portion of at least one foot of a person seated in front of the device in which the back or heel portion of the foot is disposed away from the device. One or more inertial actuators are attached to the platform underneath its surface. A controller controls operation of the actuator(s), via signals to a driver, to move the platform with respect to the base in a sinusoidally varying motion at a user selectable stimulation level. The stimulation level may be set wirelessly via an external device, or by manually tilting the device.

Abstract: A cassette for retaining a specimen of surgically exposed tissue from a patient in an orientation that facilitates optical sectioning of the tissue by a confocal microscopic or other optical imaging microscope. The cassette includes a base member having a rigid optically transparent window upon which a tissue specimen is situated, a pliable membrane locatable over a substantial portion of the base member including the window, and an upper member, having an aperture therethrough, which can cover the base member to provide an enclosed cavity between the membrane and the window sealing the tissue specimen therein. The edges of the tissue specimen may be positioned planar against the window and retained in that position by bonds formed between the membrane and window at multiple points or locations around the tissue specimen. The specimen retained in the cavity is imagible by a microscope through the window of the base member.

Abstract: A cassette for retaining a specimen of surgically exposed tissue from a patient in an orientation that facilitates optical sectioning of the tissue by a confocal microscopic or other optical imaging microscope. The cassette includes a base member having a rigid optically transparent window upon which a tissue specimen is situated, a pliable membrane locatable over a substantial portion of the base member including the window, and an upper member, having an aperture therethrough, which can cover the base member to provide an enclosed cavity between the membrane and the window sealing the tissue specimen therein. The edges of the tissue specimen may be positioned planar against the window and retained in that position by bonds formed between the membrane and window at multiple points or locations around the tissue specimen. The specimen retained in the cavity is imagible by a microscope through the window of the base member.

Abstract: A cassette for retaining a specimen of surgically exposed tissue from a patient in an orientation that facilitates optical sectioning of the tissue by a confocal microscopic or other optical imaging microscope. The cassette includes a base member having a rigid optically transparent window upon which a tissue specimen is situated, a pliable membrane locatable over a substantial portion of the base member including the window, and an upper member, having an aperture therethrough, which can cover the base member to provide an enclosed cavity between the membrane and the window sealing the tissue specimen therein. The edges of the tissue specimen may be positioned planar against the window and retained in that position by bonds formed between the membrane and window at multiple points or locations around the tissue specimen. The specimen retained in the cavity is imagible a microscope through the window of the base member.

Abstract: A cassette for retaining a specimen of surgically exposed tissue from a patient in an orientation that facilitates optical sectioning of the tissue by a confocal microscopic or other optical imaging microscope. The cassette includes a base member having an optically transparent window upon which a tissue specimen is situated, a membrane locatable over a substantial portion of the base member including the window, and an upper member which can cover the base member to provide an enclosed cavity between the membrane and the window sealing the tissue specimen therein. The edges of the tissue specimen may then be positioned planar against the window and retained in that position by bonds formed between the membrane and window around the tissue specimen. The cassette may be part of a confocal imaging system to produce microscopic images of sections of the tissue specimen useful for Mohs surgery.

Abstract: A system for macroscopic and confocal imaging of tissue having a macroscopic imager for capturing a macroscopic image of the tissue's surface, a confocal imager for capturing one or more optically formed sectional microscopic images on or within tissue, a computer for receiving images from such imagers, and a tissue attachment device in which the macroscopic imager and confocal imager are each individually presented to the tissue utilizing the tissue attachment device in a predefined alignment, such that imaging locations of the confocal imager with respect to the tissue surface spatially correlate with macroscopic image. A user interface is operable on the computer to enable display of the macroscopic image on a display coupled to the computer, and to indicate a region within the macroscopic image associated with the field of view of the tissue imagable by the confocal imager.

Abstract: A handheld confocal imaging system for in vivo observation of dermal and subdermal tissue allows diagnosis of conditions substantially beneath the surface of the skin. A confocal head has optics which scan the tissue so as to provide images of vertical sections of the tissue. Both two and three dimensional imaging may be provided for diagnosis and location of basal cell carcinomas and melanomas, and so as to enable visualization of tumor borders prior to excision.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing images of ex-vivo or in-vivo tissue produced by confocal microscopy, optical coherence tomography, two-photon microscopy, or ultrasound, is provided by applying to the tissue a solution or gel having an effective concentration of citric or other alpha-hydroxy acid which enhances tissue structures, such as cellular nuclei, in such images. Such concentration may be 3-20% acid, and preferably 5% acid.

Abstract: A system using cross polarization effects and an enhancement agent having citric or other similar alpha hydroxy acid to enhance confocal microscope reflectance images and particularly images of the nuclei of BCCs (basal cell carcinomas) and SCCs (squamous cell carcinomas) in the confocal reflectance images of excised tumor slices obtained during Mohs surgery by illuminating the tissue being imaged (a tumor slice) using polarized light. The reflected illumination is passed to a polarization analyzer, which passes the polarization component which is crossed with respect to the polarization of the illuminating light. The light from the analyzer is passed through the confocal aperture and detected. The section of the tissue either at the surface or within the tissue is scanned and the reflectance image is produced with enhanced visualization of the cellular or nuclear structure thereof thereby enabling determination of the extent of the tumor (cancerous cells) in the section.