Abstract: An optical examination technique employs an optical system for in vivo non-invasive transcranial examination of brain tissue of a subject. The optical system includes an optical module arranged for placement on the exterior of the head, a controller and a processor. The optical module includes an array of optical input ports and optical detection ports located in a selected geometrical pattern to provide a multiplicity of photon migration paths inside the biological tissue. Each optical input port is constructed to introduce into the examined tissue visible or infrared light emitted from a light source. Each optical detection port is constructed to provide light from the tissue to a light detector. The controller is constructed and arranged to activate one or several light sources and light detectors so that the light detector detects light that has migrated over at least one of the photon migration paths.

Abstract: This invention is a scheme for monitoring a solute in a biological system comprising the steps of delivering light into a biological system (12) containing a solute, the light having a wavelength selected to be in a range wherein the solute is substantially non-absorbing; detecting at least first and second portions of the delivered light, the first portion having traveled through the biological system along one or more paths characterized by a first average path length, and the second portion having traveled through the biological system along one or more paths characterized by a second average path length that is greater than the first average path length; and comparing the first and second portions of the delivered light to monitor concentration of the solute in the biological system.

Abstract: An interactive drug delivery system includes a drug delivery module, an optical probe, a local controller, and an optional central controller. The drug delivery module is constructed and arranged to deliver selected amounts of a drug into a subject. The optical probe is constructed and arranged to detect in a selected tissue region of the subject a manifestation caused by the delivered drug. The local controller is constructed and arranged to receive data from or transmit data to the optical probe and the drug delivery module. The local controller is arranged to correlate optical data, received from the optical probe, to selected data and provide signals to the drug delivery module for adjusting the amounts of the drug to be delivered into the subject.

Abstract: A pathlength corrected spectrophotometer for tissue examination includes an oscillator for generating a carrier waveform of a selected frequency, an LED light source for generating light of a selected wavelength that is intensity modulated at the selected frequency introduced to a subject, and a photodiode detector for detecting light that has migrated in the tissue of the subject. The spectrophotometer also includes a phase detector for measuring a phase shift between the introduced and detected light, a magnitude detector for determination of light attenuation in the examined tissue, and a processor adapted to calculate the photon migration pathlength and determine a physiological property of the examined tissue based on the pathlength and on the attenuation data.

Abstract: As part of an examination device, an input or output optical coupler device for transmitting photons between an optical source or detector and an examined body part includes an array of optical fibers with end portions freely protruding as cantilevers from a support. The optical fibers have the end portions fabricated, sized and distributed to penetrate freely extending hair when the support is placed on the head or other surface of a subject to make optical contact directly over an array of points with the surface of the scalp or skin below the free hair.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus using the principles of time-resolved spectroscopy are disclosed. The present invention employs incident light pulses of sufficiently short duration to permit the rate of the rise and decay of such pulses to be measured. Consequently, the rate of decay, u, permits a determination of the concentration of an absorptive pigment, such as hemoglobin. The present invention also allows the precise path length the photons travel to be determined. Using this path length information and by measuring changes in optical density using known continuous light (CW) spectrophotometry systems, the methods and apparatus disclosed allow changes in the concentration of an absorptive pigment to be correctly be measured. From these data, the oxygenation state of a tissue region, such as the brain, can be accurately determined in real time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transcranial examination of brain activity. Electromagnetic radiation of a selected wavelength is introduced into the brain from an input port located on an exterior of the subject's head. Radiation that has migrated through the subject's head is detected at a detection port to generate detected signals. While introducing and detecting the electromagnetic radiation, stimulation of brain activity is induced. The detected radiation signals are processed, and the processed signals are analyzed to determine a characteristic of the brain activity by correlating the processed signals with the stimulation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described that examine tissue positioned between input ports and a detection port. At lease one source of a visible or infrared wavelength is provided that introduces electromagnetic radiation into the subject. The detection port is optically coupled to a detector that is connected to a detector circuit. Radiation intensities are selected for introduction at the input ports to define a null plane in the tissue. The detection port is positioned relative to the null plane. Radiation is introduced into the subject at the first input port and the radiation that migrates through the tissue is detected. The detector circuit stores a first detector signal corresponding to the first detected radiation. Radiation is introduced at the second input port and is detected. The first detector signal is subtracted from a second detector signal corresponding to the second detected radiation to obtain processed data.

Abstract: An optical system and method for transcranial in vivo examination of brain tissue includes a spectrophotometer coupled to an array of optical fibers and a processor. The array of optical fibers is constructed to transmit optical radiation of a visible to infra-red wavelength. The optical fibers have distal ends projected through the hair into contact with a surface of the scalp and arranged over a selected geometrical pattern. The spectrophotometer includes at least one light source constructed to emit optical radiation of the visible or infra-red wavelength and at least one light detector constructed to detect radiation that has migrated from a first of said distal ends within the brain tissue to a second of the distal ends. A sequencer is constructed to control introduction of radiation from a first distal end and constructed to control detection of radiation after arriving at a second distal end using a transmission/reception algorithm over the geometrical pattern.

Abstract: This invention is a scheme for monitoring a solute in a biological system comprising the steps of delivering light into a biological system (12) containing a solute, the light having a wavelength selected to be in a range wherein the solute is substantially non-absorbing; detecting at least first and second portions of the delivered light (16, 18, 20), the first portion having traveled through the biological system along one or more paths characterized by a first average path length, and the second portion having traveled through the biological system along one or more as characterized by a second average path length that is greater than the first average path length; and comparing the first and second portions of the delivered light to monitor concentration of the solute in the biological system.

Abstract: An optical system for in vivo, non-invasive imaging of tissue change includes an optical module with an array of input ports and detection ports located in a selected geometrical pattern to provide a multiplicity of arrayed single source, single detector pairs engaged directly with the subject; a spectrophotometer including a light source constructed to introduce electromagnetic radiation of visible or infra-red wavelength into the examined tissue successively at the input ports, the wavelength being sensitive to a constituent of the imaged tissue; a detector constructed to detect, at the detection ports, radiation of the selected wavelength that has migrated in the tissue from respective input ports; and a processor receiving signals of the detected radiation from the detector, and constructed and arranged to create a defined spatial image of the tissue by effectively producing from signals from the multiplicity of arrayed single source, single detector pairs, a succession of data sets representing, from a s

Abstract: A spectroscopic method and system for examination of biological tissue includes multiple input ports optically connected to at least one light source, multiple detection ports optically connected to at least one detector, a radiation pattern controller coupled to the light source and detector, and a processor. The multiple input ports are arranged to introduce light at input locations into biological tissue and the multiple detection ports are arranged to collect light from detection locations of the biological tissue. The radiation pattern controller is constructed to control patterns of light introduced from the multiple input ports and constructed to control detection of light migrating to the multiple detection ports. The processor is operatively connected to the radiation pattern controller and connected to receive detector signals from the detector, and is constructed to examine a tissue region based on the introduced and detected light patterns.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus using the principles of time-resolved spectroscopy are disclosed. The present invention employs incident light pulses of sufficiently short duration to permit the rate of the rise and decay of such pulses to be measured. Consequently, the rate of decay, u, permits a determination of the concentration of an absorptive pigment, such as hemoglobin. The present invention also allows the precise path length the photons travel to be determined. Using this path length information and by measuring changes in optical density using known continuous light (CW) spectrophotometry systems, the methods and apparatus disclosed allow changes in the concentration of an absorptive pigment to be correctly be measured. From these data, the oxygenation state of a tissue region, such as the brain, can be accurately determined in real time.

Abstract: The present invention provides in various embodiments novel, wearable systems for determining the metabolic condition of an aerobically stressed portion of tissue such as the muscle tissue of an exercising person. Generally, the systems comprise lightweight rugged detectors, worn adjacent the tissue being monitored. The system of the present invention thus minimizes any performance impairment. In preferred systems a wearable power pack and a wearable display means are provided for displaying information indicative of the aerobic metabolic condition of the region being monitored. In a preferred embodiment intended for use while running or engaged in similar athletic activities, the display is worn on the wrist and displays information from a leg-mounted detector. In another embodiment, intended to provide information to coaches, a telemetry system is employed to transmit a signal carrying the data from the detector to a remote location, for processing and display.

Abstract: Optical methods and systems for in vivo, non-invasive examination of biological tissue include at least one light source constructed to emit light of a visible or infra-red wavelength for introduction into an examined tissue volume from at least one input port, and at least one detector constructed to detect light of the visible or infra-red wavelength that has migrated in the examined tissue volume from at least one input port to at least one detection port. The optical systems also include an optical array, a radiation controller, and a processor. The optical array includes the input and detection ports located in a selected geometrical pattern providing several average photon migration pathlengths in the examined tissue volume. Each arrangement of least one input port and at least one detection port provides one of the average pathlengths, wherein the average pathlength is characteristic of the tissue between one input port and one detection port.

Abstract: For in vivo examination using a spectrophotometer that generates optical radiation and characterizes biological tissue by detecting photons that have migrated in the tissue, an array of optical fibers that transmit radiation between the spectrophotometer and biological tissue, the fibers including distal ends freely protruding from a support in the manner of bristles from a hairbrush, forming an array of optical ports to couple photons to a contiguous tissue region or to collect photons from the tissue region, the optical fibers including proximal ends arranged to optically couple the radiation with the spectrophotometer.

Abstract: Systems are shown that utilize differential measurement of radiation that has migrated through migration paths between two source-detector pairs placed on the head in a manner that each path is localized in a portion of one hemisphere of the brain. Various spectrophotometer systems are also shown for in vivo examination of tissue of a human by measuring changes in electromagnetic radiation scattered and absorbed in a migration path in the tissue. Generally, the spectrophotometer systems comprise a light source for introducing the radiation into the tissue, a detector for detecting radiation that has migrated in the tissue, a processor for processing signals of the detected radiation to create processed data, and a system for determining physiological or pathophysiological changes in the tissue of interest such as bleeding or tumor.

Abstract: A method of breast tissue examination using time-resolved spectroscopy includes the following steps. A support that includes an input port and an output port separated by a selected distance is positioned relative to the examined breast. Locations of the input and output ports are selected to examine a tissue region of the breast. Light pulses of a selected wavelength and duration less than a nanosecond are introduced into the breast tissue at the input port and detected over time at the detection port. Signals corresponding to photons of detected modified pulses are accumulated over time. Values of a scattering coefficient or an absorption coefficient of the examined breast tissue are calculated based on the shape of the modified pulses. The examined breast tissue is characterized based on the values of the scattering coefficient or the absorption coefficient. Absorbing or fluorescing contrast agents may be introduced into the examined tissue.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes differential measurement of radiation that migrated into two migration paths between two source-detector pairs placed on the head in a manner that each path is localized in a portion of one hemisphere of the brain. The present invention also provides various embodiments of spectrophotometer systems for in vivo examination of tissue of a human by measuring changes in electromagnetic radiation scattered and absorbed in a migration path in the tissue. Generally, the spectrophotometer systems comprise a light source for introducing the radiation into the tissue, a detector for detecting radiation that has migrated in the tissue, a processor for processing signals of the detected radiation to create processed data, and a system for determining physiological or pathophysiological changes in the tissue of interest. The present invention also provides for determining the metabolic condition of an aerobically stressed portion of tissue such as the muscle tissue of an exercising person.

Abstract: An optical system for in vivo, non-invasive imaging of tissue change including an optical module, a spectrophotometer, and a processor. The optical module includes an array of input ports and detection ports located in a selected geometrical pattern to provide a multiplicity of arrayed source-detector pairs engaged directly with the subject. The spectrophotometer includes at least one light source constructed to introduce electromagnetic radiation of visible or infra-red wavelength into the examined tissue successively at the input ports, wherein the wavelength is sensitive to a constituent of the imaged tissue, and at least one detector constructed to detect, at the detection ports, radiation of the selected wavelength that has migrated in the tissue from respective input ports.