Abstract: A trans-oral surgery device has a scaffold insertable into the vicinity of the larynx or hypopharynx of a subject. A support is arranged for holding a flexible optical fiber for delivering light to the subject. A plurality of tendons is connected to the support, and slidably anchors the support to the scaffold. The tendons are adjustable to move the support relative to the scaffold. The scaffold is provided at the front end of a blade, and the blade is non-straight.

Abstract: An apparatus for illuminating an object with electro-magnetic radiation comprising spectrally distinct features, the apparatus comprising: a) a probe for illuminating the object and having a proximal end and a distal end; b) a receiver for receiving reflected light from the object; and c) a processor operatively connected to the receiver for processing the reflected light, wherein the probe comprises a bundle of waveguides, each of which waveguides transmits light of a particular wavelength, wavelength band or spectrum.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that characterizes a biological sample by analyzing light emissions from the biological sample in response to an excitation. The system first radiates the biological sample with a laser impulse to cause the biological sample to produce a responsive light emission. Next, the system uses a wavelength splitting device to split the responsive light emission into a set of spectral bands of different central wavelengths. The system applies temporal delays to the set of spectral bands so that each spectral band arrives at an optical detector at a different time, thereby allowing the optical detector to temporally resolve the responsive light emission for each spectral band separately. Next, the system captures the delayed spectral bands within a single detection window of the optical detector. The system then processes the captured spectral bands.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that characterizes a biological sample by analyzing light emissions from the biological sample in response to an excitation. The system first radiates the biological sample with a laser impulse to cause the biological sample to produce a responsive light emission. Next, the system uses a wavelength splitting device to split the responsive light emission into a set of spectral bands of different central wavelengths. The system applies temporal delays to the set of spectral bands so that each spectral band arrives at an optical detector at a different time, thereby allowing the optical detector to temporally resolve the responsive light emission for each spectral band separately. Next, the system captures the delayed spectral bands within a single detection window of the optical detector. The system then processes the captured spectral bands.