Abstract: A specialized spectrometer comprises a light source to generate a monochromatic light beam to generate resonance Raman peaks or resonance near infrared absorption peaks from a region of the subject and a reference light source to illuminate the region with a reference light beam. The light energy from the resonance Raman peaks can be measured with a detector coupled to an optical wavelength separator. A portion of the reference beam scattered from the region can be measured with a reference detector. An amount of the constituent can be determined with a processor in response to the resonance Raman peaks measured with the detector and the portion of the reference beam measured with the reference detector. The illumination of the region with reference beam with the monochromatic beam allows accurate determination of the amount of the constituent, and the amount may comprise a concentration, such as an amount per unit volume.

Abstract: A specialized spectrometer comprises a light source to generate a monochromatic light beam to generate resonance Raman peaks or resonance near infrared absorption peaks from a region of the subject and a reference light source to illuminate the region with a reference light beam. The light energy from the resonance Raman peaks can be measured with a detector coupled to an optical wavelength separator. A portion of the reference beam scattered from the region can be measured with a reference detector. An amount of the constituent can be determined with a processor in response to the resonance Raman peaks measured with the detector and the portion of the reference beam measured with the reference detector. The illumination of the region with reference beam with the monochromatic beam allows accurate determination of the amount of the constituent, and the amount may comprise a concentration, such as an amount per unit volume.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for imaging diseases in tissue are presented. The apparatus employs a light source for producing excitation light to excite the tissue to generate autofluorescence light and for producing illumination light to generate reflected and back scattered light (remittance light) from the tissue. Optical sensors are used to receive the autofluorescence light and the remittance light to collect an autofluorescence light image and a remittance light image. A filter acts to integrate the autofluorescence image over a range of wavelengths in which the autofluorescence intensity for normal tissue is substantially different from the autofluorescence intensity for diseased tissue to establish an integrated autofluorescence image of the tissue. The remittance light image provides a background image to normalize the autofluorescence image to account for image non-uniformity due to changes in distance, angle and illumination intensity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for imaging diseases in tissue are presented. The apparatus employs a light source for producing excitation light to excite the tissue to generate autofluorescence light and for producing illumination light to generate reflected and back scattered light (remittance light) from the tissue. Optical sensors are used to receive the autofluorescence light and the remittance light to collect an autofluorescence light image and a remittance light image. A filter acts to integrate the autofluorescence image over a range of wavelengths in which the autofluorescence intensity for normal tissue is substantially different from the autofluorescence intensity for diseased tissue to establish an integrated autofluorescence image of the tissue. The remittance light image provides a background image to normalize the autofluorescence image to account for image non-uniformity due to changes in distance, angle and illumination intensity.

Abstract: Apparatus for imaging diseases in tissue comprising a light source for generating excitation light that includes wavelengths capable of generating characteristic autofluorescence for abnormal and normal tissue. A fibreoptic illuminating light guide is used to illuminate tissue with light that includes at least the excitation light thereby exciting the tissue to emit the characteristic autofluorescence. An imaging bundle collects emitted autofluorescence light from the tissue. The autofluorescence light is filtered into spectral bands in which the autofluorescence intensity for abnormal tissue is substantially different from normal tissue and the autofluorescence intensity for abnormal tissue is substantially similar to normal tissue. An optical system is used to intercept the filtered autofluorescence light to acquire at least two filtered emitted autofluorescence images of the tissue.

Abstract: A solid state microscope for viewing and scanning microscopic objects. The solid state microscope has a light source with a condensor and diffusion filter. A moveable stage is provided to allow X, Y, Z plane displacements in order to scan objects under the microscope. There is an objective to magnify the image of the object and project this image onto a two dimensional solid state image sensor. The solid state image sensor sends signals to an analog-to-digital converter where the signals are digitized and sent to a frame memory. A monitor is used to display the image of the object as stored in frame memory. The present invention can be interfaced with a computer to allow for automatic focusing and scanning of an image. The computer also houses storage means to store images. Methods of scanning an object are also described. A prism element can be used to obtain spectral scans of an object. In another scanning method, a first edge row of pixels is used to detect an object of interest in the scanned image.

Abstract: An image scanner for microscopic objects. The image scanner has a microscope with a high precision computer controlled motor driven stage to provide X,Y plane displacements in order to scan microscopic objects under the microscope. There is an image sensor and a digitizer in association with the microscope to sense a horizontal image line or a two dimensional image and provide a digital representation of the line or image. A digital signal processor processes digitized signals from the sensor. There is a computer to control the mechanical and electronic scanning and to store and display information from the digital signal processor. Methods of scanning a microscopic object are also described. The methods comprise positioning the object on a motorized stage of a microscope having an image sensor in a focal plane. The object is scanned and signals received from the sensor during scanning are digitized.