Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for visualizing a sub-dermal structure. The method involves illuminating an imaged area of interest (AOI) including sub-dermal regions thereof with near-infrared (NIR) light. The NIR light is passed through a first optical system for controlling at least one of spectral and polarization properties thereof prior to illuminating the imaged AOI. One or more desired optical components of an optical signal reflected back from the imaged area of interest is detected, which represent specific portions of the sub-dermal regions where specific anatomical structure of interest is present. The desired optical components represent a vein visualization signal representing only a portion of the reflected optical signal that falls within a sub-range of intensities, relative to intensities of a remainder of the reflected optical signal. The sub-range of intensities assist in visualizing a vascular structure below a skin layer of a patient.

Abstract: A sub-dermal structure visualization system and method is disclosed. The system may use an illumination module including: a near-infrared (NIR) light source adapted to substantially uniformly illuminate an imaged area including sub-dermal regions thereof with NIR light; and a first optical system including at least one optical element for controlling at least one of spectral and polarization properties of the NIR light prior to illuminating the imaged area. An imaging module rejects unwanted signals from an imaged area while passing desired optical signals that are to be received by an image acquisition module. The desired optical signals can comprise a vein visualization signal to assist in visualizing a vascular structure below a skin layer of a patient.

Abstract: A hand holdable, portable apparatus for imaging a portion of an anatomy of a person, without physical contact with the anatomy. The apparatus has a housing, a touchscreen display mounted in the housing, and a plurality of illumination modules disposed on the housing and configured to provide illumination beams at different wavelengths and having different polarizations. A camera is supported on the housing and forms an imaging subsystem for capturing a plurality of acquired images produced by illumination from the illumination modules. A processing subsystem analyzes the acquired images and generates a new image which has enhanced contrast of features associated with at least one of a surface biometric trait of the portion of the anatomy, and/or a subsurface biometric trait of the portion of the anatomy. This image(s) can be used for verification of the person's identity by software incorporated in the portable apparatus or by transmitting information generated by the images to a remote data base.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for non-contact detection and/or imaging and/or monitoring target subsurface tissue of at least one of human or animal anatomy. The system applies a first optical excitation signal to an outer tissue surface at a first location on the anatomy, which excites the target subsurface tissue to produce acoustic signals which are transmitted to an outer tissue surface of the anatomy. A gel-like, impedance matching and signal converting (IMASC) material layer is applied to the outer tissue surface at a second location on the anatomy. The IMASC material layer contains material elements which are able to influence characteristics of an optical signal impinging and reflected from the IMASC material, in accordance with acoustic signals that have been reflected from the target subsurface tissue, and which propagate into the IMASC material.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for analyzing a thin tissue sample and adapted to be supported on a slide. The tissue sample may be placed on a slide and exposed to one or more different exogenous fluorophores excitable in a range of about 300 nm-200 nm, and having a useful emission band from about 350 nm-900 nm, and including one or more fluorescent dyes or fluorescently labeled molecular probes that accumulate in tissue or cellular components. The fluorophores may be excited with a first wavelength of UV light between about 200 nm-290 nm. An optical system collects emissions from the fluorophores at a second wavelength, different from the first wavelength, which are generated in response to the first wavelength of UV light, to produce an image for analysis.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for analyzing a thin tissue sample and adapted to be supported on a slide. The tissue sample may be placed on a slide and exposed to one or more different exogenous fluorophores excitable in a range of about 300 nm-200 nm, and having a useful emission band from about 350 nm-900 nm, and including one or more fluorescent dyes or fluorescently labeled molecular probes that accumulate in tissue or cellular components. The fluorophores may be excited with a first wavelength of UV light between about 200 nm-290 nm. An optical system collects emissions from the fluorophores at a second wavelength, different from the first wavelength, which are generated in response to the first wavelength of UV light, to produce an image for analysis.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for obtaining at least a pair of biometric traits of a person and without contact with the person. In one embodiment a system is disclosed which makes use of a plurality of illumination modules and an imaging module, where a single image is acquired with a color encoded imaging sensor. Parallel and orthogonally polarized images are obtained by at least one sensor of the imaging module from illuminations produced by the illumination modules. A processing subsystem uses mathematical applied operations between the acquired images to selectively produce at least one image of at least one specific biometric trait, such as a finger print, a palm print, a finger-vein, a palm vein, or hand geometry. The biometric trait can be subsequently used for biometric verification and identification.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for analyzing tissue specimens. In one implementation the method involves obtaining a tissue sample and exposing the sample to one or more fluorophores as contrast agents to enhance contrast of subcellular compartments of the tissue sample. The tissue sample is illuminated by an ultraviolet (UV) light having a wavelength between about 200 nm to about 400 nm, with the wavelength being selected to result in penetration to only a specified depth below a surface of the tissue sample. Inter-image operations between images acquired under different imaging parameters allow for improvement of the image quality via removal of unwanted image components. A microscope may be used to image the tissue sample and provide the image to an image acquisition system that makes use of a camera. The image acquisition system may create a corresponding image that is transmitted to a display system for processing and display.

Abstract: A sub-dermal structure visualization system and method is disclosed. The system may use an illumination module including: a near-infrared (NIR) light source adapted to substantially uniformly illuminate an imaged area including sub-dermal regions thereof with NIR light; and a first optical system including at least one optical element for controlling at least one of spectral and polarization properties of the NIR light prior to illuminating the imaged area. An imaging module rejects unwanted signals from an imaged area while passing desired optical signals that are to be received by an image acquisition module. The desired optical signals can comprise a vein visualization signal to assist in visualizing a vascular structure below a skin layer of a patient.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for non-contact detection and/or imaging and/or monitoring target subsurface tissue of at least one of human or animal anatomy. The system applies a first optical excitation signal to an outer tissue surface at a first location on the anatomy, which excites the target subsurface tissue to produce acoustic signals which are transmitted to an outer tissue surface of the anatomy. A gel-like, impedance matching and signal converting (IMASC) material layer is applied to the outer tissue surface at a second location on the anatomy. The IMASC material layer contains material elements which are able to influence characteristics of an optical signal impinging and reflected from the IMASC material, in accordance with acoustic signals that have been reflected from the target subsurface tissue, and which propagate into the IMASC material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for analyzing tissue specimens. In one implementation the method involves obtaining a tissue sample and exposing the sample to one or more fluorophores as contrast agents to enhance contrast of subcellular compartments of the tissue sample. The tissue sample is illuminated by an ultraviolet (UV) light having a wavelength between about 200 nm to about 400 nm, with the wavelength being selected to result in penetration to only a specified depth below a surface of the tissue sample. Inter-image operations between images acquired under different imaging parameters allow for improvement of the image quality via removal of unwanted image components. A microscope may be used to image the tissue sample and provide the image to an image acquisition system that makes use of a camera. The image acquisition system may create a corresponding image that is transmitted to a display system for processing and display.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for obtaining at least a pair of biometric traits of a person and without contact with the person. In one embodiment a system is disclosed which makes use of a plurality of illumination modules and an imaging module, where a single image is acquired with a color encoded imaging sensor. Parallel and orthogonally polarized images are obtained by at least one sensor of the imaging module from illuminations produced by the illumination modules. A processing subsystem uses mathematical applied operations between the acquired images to selectively produce at least one image of at least one specific biometric trait, such as a finger print, a palm print, a finger-vein, a palm vein, or hand geometry. The biometric trait can be subsequently used for biometric verification and identification.

Abstract: A hand holdable, portable apparatus for imaging a portion of an anatomy of a person, without physical contact with the anatomy. The apparatus has a housing, a touchscreen display mounted in the housing, and a plurality of illumination modules disposed on the housing and configured to provide illumination beams at different wavelengths and having different polarizations. A camera is supported on the housing and forms an imaging subsystem for capturing a plurality of acquired images produced by illumination from the illumination modules. A processing subsystem analyzes the acquired images and generates a new image which has enhanced contrast of features associated with at least one of a surface biometric trait of the portion of the anatomy, and/or a subsurface biometric trait of the portion of the anatomy. This image(s) can be used for verification of the person's identity by software incorporated in the portable apparatus or by transmitting information generated by the images to a remote data base.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for substantially cutting and cauterizing tissue during a surgical procedure. The method involves using a first laser beam to irradiate a first area. The first laser beam is configured in intensity and duration to cut the tissue within the first area, and further causes a temporary increase in an absorptivity of tissue in a second area in proximity to the first area. A second laser beam is used to irradiate the second area while the temporary increase in absorptivity is occurring. The second laser beam has a different intensity than the first laser beam and cauterizes tissue within the second area substantially simultaneously with the cutting of the tissue in the first area.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for enhancing the visibility of objects located below the surface of a scattering medium such as tissue, water and smoke. Examples of such an object include a vein located below the skin, a mine located below the surface of the sea and a human in a location covered by smoke. The enhancement of the image contrast of a subsurface structure is based on the utilization of structured illumination. In the specific application of this invention to image the veins in the arm or other part of the body, the issue of how to control the intensity of the image of a metal object (such as a needle) that must be inserted into the vein is also addressed.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for enhancing the visibility of objects located below the surface of a scattering medium such as tissue, water and smoke. Examples of such an object include a vein located below the skin, a mine located below the surface of the sea and a human in a location covered by smoke. The enhancement of the image contrast of a subsurface structure is based on the utilization of structured illumination. In the specific application of this invention to image the veins in the arm or other part of the body, the issue of how to control the intensity of the image of a metal object (such as a needle) that must be inserted into the vein is also addressed.

Abstract: An optical method and apparatus is utilized to quantify ischemic tissue and/or organ injury. Such a method and apparatus is non-invasive, non-traumatic, portable, and can make measurements in a matter of seconds. Moreover, such a method and apparatus can be realized through optical fiber probes, making it possible to take measurements of target organs deep within a patient's body. Such a technology provides a means of detecting and quantifying tissue injury in its early stages, before it is clinically apparent and before irreversible damage has occurred.

Abstract: Optical breakdown by predetermined laser pulses in transparent dielectrics produces an ionized region of dense plasma confined within the bulk of the material. Such an ionized region is responsible for broadband radiation that accompanies a desired breakdown process. Spectroscopic monitoring of the accompanying light in real-time is utilized to ascertain the morphology of the radiated interaction volume. Such a method and apparatus as presented herein, provides commercial realization of rapid prototyping of optoelectronic devices, optical three-dimensional data storage devices, and waveguide writing.

Abstract: Near infrared imaging using elastic light scattering and tissue autofluorescence and utilizing interior examination techniques and equipment are explored for medical applications. The approach involves imaging using cross-polarized elastic light scattering and/or tissue autofluorescence in the Near Infra-Red (NIR) coupled with image processing and inter-image operations to differentiate human tissue components.

Abstract: Optical breakdown by predetermined laser pulses in transparent dielectrics produces an ionized region of dense plasma confined within the bulk of the material. Such an ionized region is responsible for broadband radiation that accompanies a desired breakdown process. Spectroscopic monitoring of the accompanying light in real-time is utilized to ascertain the morphology of the radiated interaction volume. Such a method and apparatus as presented herein, provides commercial realization of rapid prototyping of optoelectronic devices, optical three-dimensional data storage devices, and waveguide writing.