Abstract: An apparatus or handheld probe for intraoperative nerve identification and/or visualization of a target of interest of a living subject includes a light source for emitting a beam of light to illuminate a target of interest; a light delivering means for delivering the beam of light emitted from the light source onto the target of interest so as to illuminate the target of interest therewith; and an imaging head positioned over the target of interest for acquiring polarized diffuse reflectance spectral images of light from the illuminated target of interest responsive to the illumination, for identifying and/or visualizing one or more nerves in the target of interest.

Abstract: Devices and methods for visibly highlighting areas of a region including an imager configured to image the region with a sensitivity to at least one of wavelength, light level, or contrast greater than the human eye, an overlay element configured to visibly highlight areas of the region and registered to the imager to produce alignment of imaged features with highlighted features at the same location on the region, and at least one of a controller executing a program or logic configured to process acquired images from the imager to identify areas of the region determined not visible to the human eye, and control the overlay element to visibly highlight those areas on the region.

Abstract: Devices and methods for visibly highlighting areas of a region including an imager configured to image the region with a sensitivity to at least one of wavelength, light level, or contrast greater than the human eye, an overlay element configured to visibly highlight areas of the region and registered to the imager to produce alignment of imaged features with highlighted features at the same location on the region, and at least one of a controller executing a program or logic configured to process acquired images from the imager to identify areas of the region determined not visible to the human eye, and control the overlay element to visibly highlight those areas on the region.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a method for intraoperative assessment of parathyroid gland viability in a surgery. The method includes diffusing a beam of light onto a tissue surface of a parathyroid gland of a patient to illuminate the tissue surface; acquiring images of the illuminated tissue surface, where each of the acquired images includes a speckle pattern; and processing the acquired images to obtain speckle contrast images for the intraoperative assessment of parathyroid gland viability.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for identification and discrimination of bacteria and/or mutant bacterial strains in a biological fluid. The method includes illuminating the biological fluid with a beam of light; obtaining Raman data from light scattered from the illuminated biological fluid; and finding Raman signatures corresponding to each type of bacteria and/or mutant bacterial strains from the obtained Raman data, so as to identify and discriminate each type of bacteria and/or mutant bacterial strains in the biological fluid from the Raman signatures.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a surgical margin of tumor tissues of a living subject includes acquiring images of a specimen of the tumor tissues; calculating a three-dimensional (3D) morphological surface of the specimen from the acquired images and displaying the 3D morphological surface; obtaining, from the 3D morphological surface, a plurality of specimen locations to cover a surface of the specimen; acquiring optical data at each specimen location; evaluating a margin status of the specimen at each specimen location to either positive or negative based on the acquired optical data; and displaying the margin status of the specimen on the 3D morphological surface of the specimen with morphological orientations.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a process for intra-operatively providing anatomical guidance in endocrine surgery. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of illuminating tissues in the neck area of a living subject with a beam of light having a predetermined wavelength, obtaining Raman data from light scattered from the illuminated tissues, finding Raman signatures corresponding to thyroid or parathyroid tissues from the obtained Raman data, and identifying the thyroid or parathyroid tissues from the corresponding Raman signatures.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a surgical margin of tumor tissues of a living subject includes acquiring images of a specimen of the tumor tissues; calculating a three-dimensional (3D) morphological surface of the specimen from the acquired images and displaying the 3D morphological surface; obtaining, from the 3D morphological surface, a plurality of specimen locations to cover a surface of the specimen; acquiring optical data at each specimen location; evaluating a margin status of the specimen at each specimen location to either positive or negative based on the acquired optical data; and displaying the margin status of the specimen on the 3D morphological surface of the specimen with morphological orientations.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a system evaluating a surgical margin of tumor tissues of a living subject. In one embodiment, the system includes a light source configured to emit a source light; at least one optical probe; a scanner; a spectrometer; and a controller coupled with the scanner and the spectrometer for operably controlling the scanner and the spectrometer. In operation, a working end of the optical probe is positioned proximate to a surface of a specimen of the tumor tissues. A source channel of the optical probe deliver the source light emitted by the light source from the working end to the surface of the specimen, and a plurality of collection channels collect from the working end diffused/reflected light generated from interaction of the source light with the specimen. The spectrometer receives the collected diffused/reflected light to evaluate a margin status of the specimen.

Abstract: Devices and methods for visibly highlighting areas of a region including an imager configured to image the region with a sensitivity to at least one of wavelength, light level, or contrast greater than the human eye, an overlay element configured to visibly highlight areas of the region and registered to the imager to produce alignment of imaged features with highlighted features at the same location on the region, and at least one of a controller executing a program or logic configured to process acquired images from the imager to identify areas of the region determined not visible to the human eye, and control the overlay element to visibly highlight those areas on the region.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a process for intra-operatively providing anatomical guidance in endocrine surgery. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of illuminating tissues in the neck area of a living subject with a beam of light having a predetermined wavelength, obtaining Raman data from light scattered from the illuminated tissues, finding Raman signatures corresponding to thyroid or parathyroid tissues from the obtained Raman data, and identifying the thyroid or parathyroid tissues from the corresponding Raman signatures.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a process for intra-operatively providing anatomical guidance in endocrine surgery. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of illuminating tissues in the neck area of a living subject with a beam of light having a predetermined wavelength, obtaining Raman data from light scattered from the illuminated tissues, finding Raman signatures corresponding to thyroid or parathyroid tissues from the obtained Raman data, and identifying the thyroid or parathyroid tissues from the corresponding Raman signatures.

Abstract: Devices and methods for producing a highlighted overlay of a region, including an illumination source configured to illuminate the region at a bandwidth containing a first wavelength at a working distance, an imager at a working distance configured to image the illuminated region at a bandwidth containing a second wavelength, where the first and second bandwidths and wavelengths are not visible, a visible light projector configured to illuminate the region and registered to the imager to produce alignment of imaged feature with projected features at the same location on the region, and a controller executing a program configured to filter acquired images from the imager to identify areas of the region of a predetermined light intensity, and control the projector to visibly highlight those areas on the region.

Abstract: The invention in one aspect relates to a method for discriminating soft biological tissues. The method includes illuminating soft biological tissues at at least one first spot with light; collecting Raman scattering light scattered from the soft biological tissues at at least second spot in response to illumination by the light, wherein the at least second spot is away from the at least one first spot so as to define a source-detection (S-D) offset distance therebetween; obtaining a spatially offset Raman spectrum from the collected light, wherein the spatially offset Raman spectrum is associated with a depth of the soft biological tissues at which the Raman light is scattered; identifying tissue signatures from the spatially offset Raman spectrum; and determining whether the soft biological tissues have a layered structure from the tissue signatures from the spectrum.

Abstract: The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a system for stimulating neural tissue of a living subject. The system comprises an energy source capable of generating optical energy, a connector having a first end and a second end capable of transmitting optical energy, and a probe operably coupled to the second end of the connector and having an end portion for delivering optical energy to a target neural tissue. In one embodiment, the energy source comprises a tunable laser.

Abstract: The invention in one aspect relates to a method for discriminating soft biological tissues. The method includes illuminating soft biological tissues at at least one first spot with light; collecting Raman scattering light scattered from the soft biological tissues at least second spot in response to illumination by the light, wherein the at least second spot is away from the at least one first spot so as to define a source-detection (S-D) offset distance therebetween; obtaining a spatially offset Raman spectrum from the collected light, wherein the spatially offset Raman spectrum is associated with a depth of the soft biological tissues at which the Raman light is scattered; identifying tissue signatures from the spatially offset Raman spectrum; and determining whether the soft biological tissues have a layered structure from the tissue signatures from the spectrum.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a method of applying infrared neural stimulation (INS) to the central nervous system (CNS) of a target. The methods includes applying a pulsed infrared laser at a stimulation site in the CNS; and evoking responses from a region of interest of the CNS that is at or adjacent to the stimulation site by the pulsed infrared laser. In the method, the pulsed infrared laser penetrates a predetermined penetration depth of the stimulation site. Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an apparatus for applying INS to the CNS of a target. The apparatus includes a generator generating a pulsed infrared laser, which penetrates a predetermined penetration depth of a stimulation site to evoke a response from the CNS, and an optical medium adapted for delivering the pulsed infrared laser at the stimulation site of the CNS.

Abstract: The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a system for stimulating neural tissue of a living subject. The system comprises an energy source capable of generating optical energy, a connector having a first end and a second end capable of transmitting optical energy, and a probe operably coupled to the second end of the connector and having an end portion for delivering optical energy to a target neural tissue. In one embodiment, the energy source comprises a tunable laser.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a system evaluating a surgical margin of tumor tissues of a living subject. In one embodiment, the system includes a light source configured to emit a source light; at least one optical probe; a scanner; a spectrometer; and a controller coupled with the scanner and the spectrometer for operably controlling the scanner and the spectrometer. In operation, a working end of the optical probe is positioned proximate to a surface of a specimen of the tumor tissues. A source channel of the optical probe deliver the source light emitted by the light source from the working end to the surface of the specimen, and a plurality of collection channels collect from the working end diffused/reflected light generated from interaction of the source light with the specimen. The spectrometer receives the collected diffused/reflected light to evaluate a margin status of the specimen.

Abstract: The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a system for stimulating neural tissue of a living subject. The system comprises an energy source capable of generating optical energy, a connector having a first end and a second end capable of transmitting optical energy, and a probe operably coupled to the second end of the connector and having an end portion for delivering optical energy to a target neural tissue. In one embodiment, the energy source comprises a tunable laser.