Abstract: The present invention relates to an analysis apparatus, in particular a spectroscopic analysis apparatus, for analyzing an object, such as blood of a patient, and a corresponding analysis method. To aim the confocal detection volume inside a blood vessel orthogonal polarized spectral imaging (OPSI) is used to locate blood capillaries in the skin. An imaging system (img) with slightly shifted imaging planes (i1, i2) for OPS imaging of blood vessels is proposed to provide auto-focusing. The confocal Raman detection plane (dp) is located in between these two imaging planes (i1, i2). Based on measured amount of defocus for the imaging planes (i1, i2), the focusing of the imaging system (img), the excitation system (exs) for exciting the target region and the detection plane (dp) is located inside the blood vessel (V). Thus, continuous auto-focusing with high accuracy can be achieved. The invention relates also to an optical tracking system for continuously tracking a point of a moving object (obj).

Abstract: The present invention provides a spectroscopic system for non invasive spectral analysis of substances or biological structures (114, 116) that are located in a plurality of various volumes of interest (110, 112). The inventive spectroscopic system makes use of a multiplicity of various probe heads (106, 108) that are connected to a base station (100) providing a spectroscopic light source (104) and spectroscopic analysis means (102) . By additionally implementing a coupling unit (132) the present invention allows to realize a spectroscopic analysis environment that makes spectroscopic analysis available in a variety of different locations, e.g. various rooms of a hospital.

Abstract: A spectroscopic system which determines a property of a biological structure in a volume of interest of a person includes a low cost objective lens for directing an excitation beam into a volume of interest and for collecting return radiation from the volume of interest. After detection of the return radiation and generation of spectroscopic signals, a correction unit performs a compensation for aberrations of the spectroscopic signals introduced by the low cost objective lens. Since the aberrations of the objective lens strongly depend on the lateral distance of the volume of interest from the optical axis of the objective lens, the correction unit uses a correction table providing an assignment between correction values and various lateral positions of the volume of interest.

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 device (1) further comprises a further receptacle (60), arranged to be inserted into the receptacle (20), with the further receptacle (60) comprising a restricted measurement volume (75) for receiving the turbid medium (55).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catheter head comprising: means (104, 108; 306, 304; 320; 322; 326; 338) for directing of radiation to a blood detection volume (220; 310), means (104, 108; 306, 304; 320; 322; 326; 332, 334, 330; 338) for receiving of return radiation from the blood detection volume, means (104; 306; 330) for transmitting of the return radiation to means (122) for analysis of the return radiation for determination of at least one property of the blood.

Abstract: The optical analysis system (20) is arranged to determine an amplitude of a principal component of an optical signal. The optical analysis system (20) comprises a multivariate optical element (5, 6) for weighing the optical signal by a spectral weighing function and a detector (7, 8) for detecting the weighed optical signal. The optical signal comprises the principal component and a further component which was not accounted for when designing the spectral weighing function. Therefore, the detected weighed optical signal comprises a part relating to the amplitude of the principal component and a further part relating to a further amplitude of the further component. The optical analysis system (20) further comprises a modulator element (13) for modulating the detected weighed optical signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of imaging an interior of a turbid medium (45) comprising the following steps: accommodation of the turbid medium (45) inside a receiving volume (20); coupling transmission input light (65) from a transmission light source into the receiving volume (12), with said transmission input light (65) being chosen such that it is capable of propagating through the turbid medium (45) and with at least a part of said transmission input light (65) passing through a matching medium (50) in the receiving volume (12), said matching medium (50) being chosen to reduce optical boundary effects at an interface between the turbid medium (45) and its surroundings; detection of transmission output light emanating from the receiving volume as a result of coupling transmission input light (65) from the transmission light source into the receiving volume (12) through use of a transmission photodetector unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of imaging an interior of a turbid medium (45) comprising the following steps: accommodation of the turbid medium (45) inside a receiving volume; coupling transmission input light (65) from a transmission light source into the receiving volume, with said transmission input light (65) being chosen such that it is capable of propagating through the turbid medium (45); detection of transmission output light emanating from the receiving volume as a result of coupling transmission input light from the light source into the receiving volume through use of a transmission photodetector unit. The invention also relates to a system for imaging an interior of a turbid medium (45) and to a medical image acquisition system both using the method. The method, system, and medical image acquisition system are adapted such that an improved way of obtaining data relating to the exterior of the turbid medium (45) is realized.

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: 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: The invention relates to a personal identification method and to a corresponding apparatus. Their elements are mainly a light source emitting a beam of light towards a target, a first imaging module receiving a return beam coming back from said target and displaying an image of the target of a first type, and a second imaging module also receiving said return beam and displaying an image of the target of a second type. An identification module allows to combine the information given by said image of a first type and said image of a second type and to identify, or not, a person according to a similarity criterion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for imaging an interior of a turbid medium (25). The device (1) may be used to accommodate a turbid medium (25) inside a measurement volume (20) and irradiate the turbid medium (25) with light from a light source (5), after which light emanating from the measurement volume (20) is detected and used to determine an image of the interior of the turbid medium (25). The device (1) is adapted such that additional means are introduced for irradiating the turbid medium (25) with light causing fluorescent emission in a contrast agent present in the turbid medium (25), for detecting the fluorescent emission in at least two spectral regions, and for calculating an image reconstruction for the at least two spectral regions detected. By detecting the fluorescent emission spectroscopically, that is as a function of wavelength, information can be obtained from which the concentration of a predetermined component present inside the turbid medium can be determined.

Abstract: A property of a fluid is determined spectroscopically, such as for the purposes of in vivo blood analysis. First the position of a volume of interest through which the fluid flows is determined by an optical detection step by making use of an objective. Preferably the optical detection step is an imaging step. Next the objective is moved to bring the focal point of the objective into coincidence with the volume of interest. In this position an optical spectroscopic step is performed. This has the advantage that the measurement beam for performing the optical spectroscopy travels along the optical axis for optimum efficiency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for imaging an interior of a turbid medium. Said device (1) comprises a measurement volume (15) for accommodating the turbid medium. Said measurement volume (15) comprises a number of sources capable of communicating light, said sources comprising a preferred source, capable of communicating preferred light and a further source, capable of communicating further light. Said device (1) further comprises a detection unit capable of detecting composed light comprising a preferred component comprising at least a part of the preferred light and a further component comprising at least a part of the further light. The device is adapted such that the negative effect said further component in the composed light may have on detecting the preferred component also present in the composed light is counteracted.

Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient approach of attaching and fixing a measurement head for a spectroscopic system to a variety of different parts of the skin of a patient. The measurement head preferably features a compact design providing a flexible handling and offering a huge variety of application areas taking into account the plurality of properties of various portions of the skin. Furthermore, the measurement head features a robust and uncomplicated optical design not requiring a lateral shifting of the optical axis of the objective. Such transverse relative movements between the objective and a capillary vessel in the skin are preferably 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 measuring the contact pressure between the measurement head and the skin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protection mechanism for a spectroscopic analysis system being adapted to determine a property of a biological structure in a volume of interest of a patient. The spectroscopic system preferably makes use of high power radiation, and provides a protection mechanism for preventing an accidental exposure of light sensitive tissue of a body. The invention provides a variety of approaches to detect whether a measurement head of the spectroscopic system is in a measurement position. The measurement position of the measurement head can effectively be determined by making use of e.g. a pressure sensor, a sensor measuring the electric resistance of the skin of the patient, or even by optical means analyzing the intensity or the spatial structure of a monitoring beam providing a visual image of the volume of interest.

Abstract: The optical analysis system (20) for determining an amplitude of a principal component of an optical signal comprises a multivariate optical element (10) for reflecting the optical signal and thereby weighing the optical signal by a spectral weighing function, and a detector (9, 9P, 9N) for detecting the weighed optical signal. The optical analysis system (20) may further comprise a dispersive element (2) for spectrally dispersing the optical signal, the multivariate optical element being arranged to receive the dispersed optical signal. The blood analysis system (40) comprises the optical analysis system (20) according to the invention.

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 present invention provides an autonomous calibration of a multivariate based spectroscopic system that is preferably implemented as a multivariate based spectrometer. The spectroscopic system is based on a multivariate optical element that provides a spectral weighting of an incident optical signal. Spectral weighting is performed on the basis of spatial separation of spectral components and subsequent spatial filtering by means of a spatial light modulator. Calibration of the spectroscopic system is based on a dedicated calibration segment of the spatial light modulator, whose position corresponds to a characteristic calibration or reference wavelength of the incident optical signal. Preferably, the calibration or reference wavelength is given by the wavelength of the excitation radiation generated by the optical source that serves to induce scattering processes in a volume of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spectroscopic system for non invasive spectral analysis of substances or biological structures (114, 116) that are located in a plurality of various volumes of interest (110, 112). The inventive spectroscopic system makes use of a multiplicity of various probe heads (106, 108) that are connected to a base station (100) providing a spectroscopic light source (104) and spectroscopic analysis means (102) . By additionally implementing a coupling unit (132) the present invention allows to realize a spectroscopic analysis environment that makes spectroscopic analysis available in a variety of different locations, e.g. various rooms of a hospital.