Abstract: An optical detection method is provided, wherein a body part (5) comprising at least one joint is irradiated with light. Local attenuation of the light by the body part (5) is detected as attenuation measurements (2) at the position of the at least one joint and at the position of at least one other portion of the body part (5); and wherein blood flow to and/or from the body part (5) is temporarily at least partially blocked and thereafter enabled again (3). Distinct local attenuation measurements for the at least one joint and for at least one other portion of the body part (5) are performed for at least two of the times before (I), during (II), and after (III) the blocking of blood flow.

Abstract: An optical detection method and device are provided, wherein a body part comprising at least one joint is irradiated with light. Local attenuation of the light by the body part is detected as attenuation measurements at the position of the at least one joint and at the position of at least one other portion of the body part; and wherein blood flow to and/or from the body part is temporarily at least partially blocked and thereafter enabled again. Distinct local attenuation measurements for the at least one joint and for at least one other portion of the body part are performed for at least two of the times before (I), during (II), and after (III) the blocking of blood flow.

Abstract: A system for accurately detecting a patient's movement during imaging procedures includes a camera for providing a stream of camera images of a part of a patient's exterior and a fiducial element mountable on part of the patient's exterior. The fiducial element is detectable in the stream of images. An image processor is configured to detect a displacement of the fiducial element based on consecutive images including in at least the stream of images and to generate an output signal indicative of the displacement. The fiducial element has an in-plane stiffness which is substantially larger than an in-plane stiffness of the part of the patient's exterior. In addition, the fiducial element and the part of the patient's exterior are provided with substantially equal outer in-plane dimensions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a device for optical imaging of a turbid medium. This method comprises a reference measurement of reference intensities of light emanating from the turbid medium at a reference blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) in the turbid medium and a reference imaging step for reconstructing a reference image of the turbid medium from the measured reference intensities. Furthermore the method comprises a contrast measurement of the contrast intensity of the light emanating from the turbid medium at a contrast blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) level in the turbid medium and a contrast imaging step for reconstructing a contrast image of the turbid medium from the measured contrast intensities. A comparison is made between the contrast image to the reference image of the turbid medium.

Abstract: A spectroscopic system for determining a property of a fluid flowing through a volume of interest underneath the surface of the skin of a patient is described. The spectroscopic system comprises: a probe head having an objective for directing an excitation beam into the volume of interest and for collecting return radiation from the volume of interest; a base station having a spectroscopic analysis unit and a power supply; and a cable connecting the probe head and the base station for transmission of the return radiation from the probe head to the base station and for providing the probe head with power from the power supply of the base station.

Abstract: The invention provides a system (102) for accurately detecting a patient's (114) movement during imaging procedures. The system comprises a camera (126) for providing a stream of camera images of a part of a patient's exterior (206). The system (102) furthermore comprises a fiducial element (116), which fiducial element (116) is mountable on said part of the patient's exterior (206), and which fiducial element (116) is detectable in the stream of camera images, and an image processor (128) for detecting a displacement of the fiducial element based on consecutive camera images comprised in at least the stream of camera images and for generating an output signal (129) indicative for said displacement. Herein, the fiducial element (116) has an in-plane stiffness which is substantially larger than an in-plane stiffness of said part of the patient's exterior. In addition, the fiducial element (116) and said part of the patient's exterior are provided with substantially equal outer in-plane dimensions.

Abstract: A system (120) and/or corresponding method introduces a minor change to a given set of parameters (110) that affect an ambiance (130) associated with an environment, and collects the user's response to the change. Based on the user's response, the system learns which changes to which parameters lead to an improved effect. By repeating the change-feedback sessions, the system approaches an optimal setting for achieving the desired ambiance in the given environment. Preferably, the change-feedback session is non-obtrusive, and occurs, for example, each time a light is turned on, and the feedback is collected when the light is turned off, using a multiple switch arrangement. If the light is turned off using one switch, the feedback is positive; if the light is turned off using an alternative switch, the feedback is negative. Alternatively, the system can be placed in a rapid-learning mode, wherein the change-feedback cycles occur more frequently.

Abstract: An optical detection method is provided, wherein a body part (5) comprising at least one joint is irradiated with light. Local attenuation of the light by the body part (5) is detected as attenuation measurements (2) at the position of the at least one joint and at the position of at least one other portion of the body part (5); and wherein blood flow to and/or from the body part (5) is temporarily at least partially blocked and thereafter enabled again (3). Distinct local attenuation measurements for the at least one joint and for at least one other portion of the body part (5) are performed for at least two of the times before (I), during (II), and after (III) the blocking of blood flow.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spectroscopic system as well as a method of autonomous tuning of a spectroscopic system and a corresponding computer program product. By detecting the position of return radiation in a transverse plane of an aperture of a spectroscopic analysis unit, a control signal can be generated that allows to drive servo driven translation or tilting stages of optical components. In this way a transverse misalignment of a spectroscopic system can be effectively detected. Generally, a plurality of different detection schemes are realizable allowing for an autonomous tuning of the spectroscopic system and for autonomous elimination of misalignment of a spectroscopic system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device (30, 125) for imaging an interior of an optically turbid medium (40). Light from a light source (35) is coupled into the turbid medium (40). Detection light emanating from the turbid medium (40) as a result of coupling (5) light from the light source (35) into the turbid medium (40) is collected. A first characteristic and a second characteristic of collected detection light are measured simultaneously. Next, the ratio of a first linear combination of the measured characteristics and a second linear combination of the measured characteristics is taken based on the recognition that the noise in both linear combinations is correlated.

Abstract: A measurement head has an objective for imaging of a target area such as including a capillary vessel in the skin. The measurement head does not require a lateral shifting of the optical axis of the objective. Transverse relative movements between the objective and a capillary vessel in the skin are performed by mechanically shifting the skin with respect to the objective of the measurement head. Moreover, the measurement head is adapted to host one or more pressure sensors for measuring the contact pressure between the measurement head and the skin. Pressure information may be exploited in order to calibrate a spectroscopic analyzer, and/or to regulate the contact pressure within predefined margins specifying an optimum range of contact pressure for spectroscopic examination of capillary vessels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device (1) for imaging an interior of a turbid medium (55). A turbid medium (55) inside a measurement volume (15) is irradiated from a plurality of source positions (25a) with light from a light source (5), and light emanating from the measurement volume (15) is detected from a plurality of detection positions (25b). An image of the interior of the turbid medium (55) is reconstructed from the detected light. In both the method and the device (1), detector signals can be amplified for each source position-detection position pair by a multi-gain amplification unit comprising an amplifier circuit (60). The amplification factor is selected from a number of possible amplification factors based on detected signal strength in the prior art. According to the invention, however, the method and device are adapted such that the amplification factor is selected for at least one source position-detection position pair on the basis of an estimate of expected electrical signal strength.

Abstract: A system is provided that may be used for locating and diagnosing lesions in the human body in vivo. In some embodiments, once the exact position of a lesion is found, a biopsy may be taken from the lesion using e.g. ultra sound techniques for guidance of the biopsy needle. Use of the system drastically reduces the negative biopsy samples compared to currently used “blind sampling” techniques. This reduces patient discomfort and minimizes infections as the number of biopsy samples is reduced. A method and computer-readable medium is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical analysis system for determining an amplitude of a principal component of an optical signal. The principal component is indicative of the concentration of a particular compound or various compounds of a substance that is subject to spectroscopic analysis. The optical signal is subject to wavelength selective weighting and wavelength selective spatial separation specified by a weighting function. The optical signal is preferably separated into two parts that corresponding to a positive and negative spectral band of the weighting function, respectively. The separation provides separate detection of the separated parts of the optical signal without significant loss of intensity, thereby providing an improved signal to noise ratio of the determined principal component. Separation and weighting of the optical signal is realized by two multivariate optical elements.

Abstract: An autofocus mechanism for a spectroscopic system determines a time varying optical property of a volume of interest. The mechanism measures the fluctuations of the optical property of the volume of interest for determining the position of the volume of interest. The spectroscopic system focuses an excitation beam into the determined volume of interest and collects return radiation emanating from the volume of interest for spectroscopic analysis. Preferably, inelastically scattered radiation of an excitation beam is separated from elastically scattered radiation for spectroscopic analysis. The elastically scattered radiation of the excitation beam is measured for fluctuations of the optical property of the volume of interest. A control loop maximizes the amplitude and/or intensity of the fluctuations and specifies the position of a volume of interest e.g. the center of a capillary vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system, a medical image acquisition system, and a method for imaging an interior of a turbid medium (25). The invention also relates to a marker (60) for use in the method for imaging an interior of a turbid medium (25). The system, the medical image acquisition system, and the method may be used for obtaining an image of an interior of a turbid medium (25) by: accommodation of a turbid medium (25) inside a receiving volume (20); irradiation of the receiving volume (20) with light from a light source; detection of light emanating from the receiving volume (20) as a result of irradiating the receiving volume (20) with light from the light source through the use of a photodetector unit. The detected light is then used to reconstruct an image of an interior of the turbid medium (25).

Abstract: A system for imaging of prostate cancer in a prostate in vivo is provided. The system utilizes Diffuse Optical Tomography (DOT) for creating a 3D image for the detection of suspicious prostate tissue. The DOT image may be used to guide the biopsy, thereby reducing the number of false negatives. A method, computer-readable medium and use are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to imaging of a turbid medium, for example in connection with optical mammography. A device for imaging a turbid medium (20) is disclosed, the device comprising: a holder (20) arranged for receiving the turbid medium and a matching fluid (21); one or more radiation sources (24) and one or more photodetectors (25). The matching fluid is a vapor with one or more optical properties of the matching fluid substantially matching the corresponding one or more optical properties of the turbid medium. In an embodiment, the matching fluid (21) is a composite vapor comprising at least two components.

Abstract: This application describes a medical device (230) for obtaining optical tissue properties of a target material. The medical device (230) comprises an elongated body (231) having a longitudinal axis (232) and an optical fiber being integrated within the elongated body (231). The optical fiber has a second fiber end (242, 242a, 242b), which is arranged at a side wall (233) of the elongated body (231) and which provides a lateral field of view with respect to the longitudinal axis (232). According to an embodiment many optical fibers are integrated each having an optical outlet (242, 242a, 242b) around the elongated body (231). Using the outlets (242, 242a, 242b) to do diffuse optical tomography and also use optical fibers to do an optical inspection, one can get information on the presence of tumors in a volume around the medical device (230) and a tissue characterization in the vicinity of the medical device (230). Thereby, an optical biopsy may be carried out, wherein no real tissue is removed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for imaging an interior of a turbid medium (55) comprising a receptacle (20) with the receptacle (20) comprising a measurement volume (15) for receiving the turbid medium (55). The device (1) is adapted such that the inner surface of the receptacle (20), including at least part of the optical channels (70) is covered with a layer (80).