Abstract: The present disclosure, according to one embodiment, relates to an optical device for direct visualization, imaging, and spectroscopic measurements of tissue abnormalities at various anatomical sites. Such sites include, but are not limited to, the oral cavity, the cervix, and the skin. In one embodiment, the device comprises: a frame; at least one light-emitting diode light source mounted on the frame for illuminating a tissue, wherein the at least one light-emitting diode light source is chosen from a fluorescent light source, a polarized white light source, and an unpolarized white light source; at least one loupe mounted on the frame for visually observing the tissue; at least one filter disposed between the tissue and the loupe for filtering light reflected from the tissue; and an energy source operably connected to the at least one light-emitting diode light source.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for depth-resolved spectroscopy. A ball lens may be used to redirect light from a fiber-optic probe so that the light intersects the detection region of a collection probe in a specific depth layer of the specimen. A fiber-optic probe may comprise a collection fiber proximal to a central axis of a ball lens and a pair of illumination fibers distal to the central axis.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing fluorescence and spatially resolved reflectance spectroscopy on a sample. A sample is irradiated with a fluorescence excitation fiber and radiation is collected from the sample with a fluorescence collection fiber and detected to form fluorescence spectra. The sample is also illuminated with a reflectance illumination fiber and reflected light from the sample is collected at a plurality of collection positions and detected to form spatially resolved reflectance spectra. The fibers may form a probe arranged in concentric sections. The spectra are analyzed by pre-processing and reducing the dimensionality of the spectral data.