Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining the presence of solid tumor tissue, for identifying and mapping the margins of solid tumors during surgical or diagnostic procedures, and for grading and characterizing tumor tissue by detecting changes in the optical properties of an area of interest suspected to contain tumor tissue.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for distinguishing neuronal tissue from surrounding tissue, for distinguishing functional neuronal tissue from dysfunctional tissue, and for imaging of functional neuronal areas in cerebral cortex by detecting changes in the optical properties of the neuronal tissue following stimulation of neuronal activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for distinguishing neuronal tissue from surrounding tissue, for distinguishing functional neuronal tissue from dysfunctional tissue, and for imaging of functional neuronal areas in cerebral cortex by detecting changes in the optical properties of the neuronal tissue following stimulation of neuronal activity.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for real-time imaging of cortical intrinsic signals or imaging tumor tissue or the margins, dimensions and grade of tumor tissue, comprising, a means for obtaining analog video images and a means for processing the analog video signals into either an averaged control frame or a subsequent frame, a means for acquiring and analyzing a plurality of subsequent frames and averaged control frame to provide a difference image, wherein the difference image is processed to account for movement and noise and amplify the changes across a dynamic range of the apparatus, and a means for displaying the difference image alone or superimposed over an analog video image.

Abstract: Methods for optically imaging blood flow changes, blood flow characteristics and changes in the oxygenation of blood in an area of interest are disclosed. The area of interest is illuminated with electromagnetic radiation(emr) in the visible or infrared regions of the spectrum, and a control image representative of the emr absorption of the area of interest is acquired. A subsequent image representative of the emr absorption is compared to the control image to detect changes in the emr absorption that are indicative of changes in blood flow, changes in blood flow characteristics, or changes in blood oxygenation in the area of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the presence of solid tumor tissue, for identifying and mapping the margins of solid tumors during surgical or diagnostic procedures, and for grading and characterizing tumor tissue by detecting changes in the optical properties of an area of interest suspected to contain tumor tissue.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for imaging tumor tissue adjacent to nerve tissue to aid in selective resection of tumor tissue without destroying nerve tissue, comprising the steps of illuminating an area of interest with a source of electromagnetic radiation (emr) containing wavelengths absorbed by a dye, obtaining a video signal of the area of interest as a series of frames and processing the series of frames into an averaged control image, stimulating the nerve with an appropriate paradigm to activate the nerve, obtaining a nerve subsequent series of frames at the time of stimulation and processing the nerve subsequent series of frames into a nerve subsequent averaged image, obtaining a nerve difference image by subtracting the averaged control image from the nerve subsequent averaged image to image the active nerve, administering the dye into vasculature perfusing the area of interest, obtaining a subsequent series of frames and processing the tumor subsequent series of frames into a tumor subsequent average

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for imaging margins, grade and dimensions of solid tumor tissue located in an area of interest, comprising illuminating the area of interest with high intensity, emr (electromagnetic radiation) containing the wavelength of emr absorbed by a dye, obtaining a video signal of the area of interest as an averaged control image and processing the averaged control image into the averaged control frame, administering the dye by bolus injection into a vein circulating to the area of interest, obtaining a series of video images of the area of interest over time as subsequent images and processing each subsequent image as a subsequent frame, comparing each subsequent frame with the processed averaged control frame to obtain a series of difference images, and comparing each difference image for initial evidence of changed absorption within the area of interest which is the outline of solid tumor tissue, whereby tumor tissue is characterized by faster absorption of emr as a result o