Abstract: A connector part (1) for an optical plug-in connection comprises a pin holder (2) and at least two pin sleeves (3, 3?) accommodated in the pin holder, wherein a connector pin (4, 4?) having an optical waveguide is fixed in each of said pin sleeves. The connector part also comprises a connector housing (8), which is connected to the pin holder and completely or partially surrounds the connector pins and which has latching means (9) for creating a latching connection to a mating connector part. An unlocking carriage (11) displaceably mounted on the connector housing is provided to release the latching connection to the mating connector part. The pin holder consists of two half shells (12, 12?) which can be or are latched to one another and the connector housing also can be or is latched to the pin holder. A connector part of this kind can be installed fitted and removed without tools even in difficult field conditions, resulting in a significant time saving for optical plug-in connections.

Abstract: A self-calibrating hybrid spectrophotometer comprises a receptacle for receiving the cuvette, first and second optodes that are configured to permit light to enter the cuvette, third and fourth optodes that are configured to permit light to leave the cuvette, and a controller that is configured to control delivery of light to one of the first and second optodes. Light entering one of the first and second optodes is received at the third and fourth optodes after having interacted with the turbid sample along different paths having different lengths. Measurements made at the third and fourth optodes in response to having illuminated both the first and second source optodes provide two slopes of optical transmittance as a function of path length. The spectrophotometer uses these slopes to identify a slope that is indicative of the absorption coefficient and the reduced scattering coefficient of the sample.

Abstract: A method for inferring characteristics of a physiological system includes measuring one or more physiological signals in the physiological system and inferring characteristics of the physiological system from the one or more measured physiological signals using a multiple vascular compartment hemodynamic model, the multiple vascular compartment hemodynamic model defining a relationship between the one or more measured physiological signals and the characteristics of the physiological system. When the one or more measured physiological signals include coherent oscillations at a plurality of frequencies, the method is termed coherent hemodynamics spectroscopy. The multiple vascular compartment hemodynamic model is based on an average time spent by blood in one or more of said vascular compartments and a rate constant of oxygen diffusion.

Abstract: An apparatus for earning out near-infrared spectroscopy using intensity-modulated near-infrared radiation or pulsed near-infrared radiation includes sources and detectors. For each source, there exists first and second distances. The first distance is a distance between the source and a first detector. The second distance is a distance between the source and the second detector. For each source, the difference between these two distances is the same. Additionally, wherein, for each source, the detector at a shorter distance is the same detector that is at a longer distance for the other source. A processor derives, from signals received by the detectors, a parameter indicative of two matched slopes. Tins parameter is either phase of the intensity-modulated near-infrared radiation or mean time-of-flight data for the pulsed near-infrared radiation. The processor then provides output data based on an average of the matched slopes.

Abstract: A method for determining a hemoglobin saturation of a volume-oscillating vascular compartment in tissue includes receiving data representing measurements of a number of oscillating hemoglobin concentrations from the tissue and determining the hemoglobin saturation of the volume-oscillating vascular compartment to exclude an effect of an oscillating rate of supply of oxygenated blood to a portion of the tissue including removing a first contribution on one or more of the oscillating hemoglobin concentration measurements from at least one of the measurements, the first contribution being phase offset relative to said measurements.

Abstract: A connector part (1) for an optical plug-in connection comprises a pin holder (2) and at least two pin sleeves (3, 3?) accommodated in the pin holder, wherein a connector pin (4, 4?) having an optical waveguide is fixed in each of said pin sleeves. The connector part also comprises a connector housing (8), which is connected to the pin holder and completely or partially surrounds the connector pins and which has latching means (9) for creating a latching connection to a mating connector part. An unlocking carriage (11) displaceably mounted on the connector housing is provided to release the latching connection to the mating connector part. The pin holder consists of two half shells (12, 12?) which can be or are latched to one another and the connector housing also can be or is latched to the pin holder. A connector part of this kind can be installed fitted and removed without tools even in difficult field conditions, resulting in a significant time saving for optical plug-in connections.

Abstract: A device (1) for cleaning an optical waveguide end (2) comprises a guide portion (3) for receiving the optical waveguide end (2) in a stable position and a rotatably mounted spool (4) onto which a flexible cleaning element (5) is wound. The guide portion (3) and the spool (4) are positioned relative to one another such that an optical waveguide end (2) received by the guide portion (3) is able to be pressed against the wound cleaning element (5). The cleaning element (5) is able to be unwound from the spool (4) such that different portions of the cleaning element (5) are able to be applied to the optical waveguide end (2) during unwinding.

Abstract: A method for determining a hemoglobin saturation of a volume-oscillating vascular compartment in tissue includes receiving data representing measurements of a number of oscillating hemoglobin concentrations from the tissue and determining the hemoglobin saturation of the volume-oscillating vascular compartment to exclude an effect of an oscillating rate of supply of oxygenated blood to a portion of the tissue including removing a first contribution on one or more of the oscillating hemoglobin concentration measurements from at least one of the measurements, the first contribution being phase offset relative to said measurements.

Abstract: A device (1) for cleaning an optical waveguide end (2) comprises a guide portion (3) for receiving the optical waveguide end (2) in a stable position and a rotatably mounted spool (4) onto which a flexible cleaning element (5) is wound. The guide portion (3) and the spool (4) are positioned relative to one another such that an optical waveguide end (2) received by the guide portion (3) is able to be pressed against the wound cleaning element (5). The cleaning element (5) is able to be unwound from the spool (4) such that different portions of the cleaning element (5) are able to be applied to the optical waveguide end (2) during unwinding.

Abstract: A method for inferring characteristics of a physiological system includes measuring one or more physiological signals in the physiological system and inferring characteristics of the physiological system from the one or more measured physiological signals using a multiple vascular compartment hemodynamic model, the multiple vascular compartment hemodynamic model defining a relationship between the one or more measured physiological signals and the characteristics of the physiological system. When the one or more measured physiological signals include coherent oscillations at a plurality of frequencies, the method is termed coherent hemodynamics spectroscopy. The multiple vascular compartment hemodynamic model is based on an average time spent by blood in one or more of said vascular compartments and a rate constant of oxygen diffusion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting at least one region of a sample having an absorption level different from a background level of absorption in the sample by obtaining thicknesses of the sample and intensities of light transmitted through the sample at a plurality of locations. The system includes glass plates (10) for compressing the tissue, distance sensors (20, 30), illuminations fibers (40) connected to a light source (70), and collection fibers (50) connected to spectrograph (110). Spatial second derivatives are calculated from products of the thicknesses of the sample and the intensities of the transmitted light for the locations. The data points are compared to detect the region of the sample having an absorption level different from the background level of absorption within the sample. The new systems and method can be used to optically image, detect, and characterize tissue, lesions, such as cancer.

Abstract: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is employed to examine the neuronal activity and vascular response of a peripheral nerve for research or clinical purposes. An embodiment for implementing this approach has: a nerve stimulator; a tissue spectrometer; a stimulation probe adapted to apply a stimulation from the nerve stimulator to a peripheral nerve; at least one illumination optical fiber, where each illumination optical fiber is adapted to transmit a near-infrared source light to the peripheral nerve after the stimulation is applied; and a detection optical fiber adapted to collect and deliver to the tissue spectrometer a returning light from the peripheral nerve after each source light is transmitted to the peripheral nerve. The returning light has a returning intensity, and the tissue spectrometer can determine the returning intensity to provide readings of optical diffuse reflectance of the peripheral nerve after the stimulation is applied.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting at least one region of a sample having an absorption level different from a background level of absorption in the sample by obtaining thicknesses of the sample and intensities of light transmitted through the sample at a plurality of locations. The system includes glass plates (10) for compressing the tissue, distance sensors (20, 30), illuminations fibers (40) connected to a light source (70), and collection fibers (50) connected to spectrograph (110). Spatial second derivatives are calculated from products of the thicknesses of the sample and the intensities of the transmitted light for the locations. The data points are compared to detect the region of the sample having an absorption level different from the background level of absorption within the sample. The new systems and method can be used to optically image, detect, and characterize tissue, lesions, such as cancer.

Abstract: A method for measuring venous oxygen saturation levels has steps of measuring optical absorption oscillation data at the respiratory frequency at a plurality of wavelengths (2). A reduced scattering coefficient and an absorption coefficient are determined for the tissue, with the result that an effective path length can be determined (6). Data processing is performed to calculate amplitudes for the absorption oscillation data that are translated into oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentrations for the venous compartment (8). A method of the invention does not required mechanical ventilation devices or venous perturbation. Additional method steps may entail verifying that the measured absorption oscillation data results from the venous compartment.

Abstract: A method for measuring venous oxygen saturation levels has steps of measuring optical absorption oscillation data at the respiratory frequency at a plurality of wavelengths (2). A reduced scattering coefficient and an absorption coefficient are determined for the tissue, with the result that an effective path length can be determined (6). Data processing is performed to calculate amplitudes for the absorption oscillation data that are translated into oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentrations for the venous compartment (8). A method of the invention does not required mechanical ventilation devices or venous perturbation. Additional method steps may entail verifying that the measured absorption oscillation data results from the venous compartment.

Abstract: The present invention involves a time-resolved measurement method for the real time, non-invasive, simultaneous measurement of time-varying and other hemoglobin compartment saturation. This capability achieves absolute pulse oximetry and oximetry for tissue, without calibration based on a population of healthy people. Calculations conducted by the invention use quantitative measurement of tissue absorption spectrum for tissue saturation, and an amplitude of absorption oscillations for the time-varying hemoglobin compartments at various wavelengths. The invention illuminates tissue and senses light at predetermined distances apart on the tissue to be measured. Intensity and phase data are acquired from source-detector pairs to calculate absolute tissue optical properties from time-resolved measurement data, namely, a reduced scattering coefficient and an absorption coefficient.

Abstract: The quantitative determination of various materials in highly scattering media such as living tissue may be determined in an external, photometric manner by the use of a plurality of light sources positioned at differing distances from a sensor. The light from said sources is amplitude modulated, and, in accordance with conventional frequency domain fluorometry or phosphorimetry techniques, the gain of the sensor is modulated at a frequency different from the frequency of the light modulation. Data may be acquired from each of the light sources at differing distances at a frequency which is the difference between the two frequencies described above. From these sets of data from each individual light source, curves may be constructed, and the slopes used to quantitatively determine the amount of certain materials present, for example glucose, oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin in living tissue.

Abstract: The quantitative determination of various materials in highly scattering media such as living tissue may be determined in an external, photometric manner by the use of a plurality of light sources positioned at differing distances from a sensor. The light from said sources is amplitude modulated, and, in accordance with conventional frequency domain fluorometry or phosphorimetry techniques, the gain of the sensor is modulated at a frequency different from the frequency of the light modulation. Data may be acquired from each of the light sources at differing distances at a frequency which is the difference between the two frequencies described above. From these sets of data from each individual light source, curves may be constructed, and the slopes used to quantitatively determine the amount of certain materials present, for example glucose, oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin in living tissue.

Abstract: The quantitative determination of various materials in highly scattering media such as living tissue may be determined in an external, photometric manner by the use of a plurality of light sources positioned at differing distances from a sensor. The light from said sources is amplitude modulated, and, in accordance with conventional frequency domain fluorometry or phosphorimetry techniques, the gain of the sensor is modulated at a frequency different from the frequency of the light modulation. Data may be acquired from each of the light sources at differing distances at a frequency which is the difference between the two frequencies described above. From these sets of data from each individual light source, curves may be constructed, and the slopes used to quantitatively determine the amount of certain materials present, for example oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin in living tissue.

Abstract: The relative concentration of a material such as glucose in a turbid medium such as living tissue may determining the scattering coefficient of the light that has passed through the turbid medium; and comparing the scattering coefficient with a previous scattering coefficient determined with respect to the turbid medium.