Abstract: A method for monitoring a biological tissue includes illuminating the tissue, including a fluorophore, with a wavelength of light, the wavelength selected for exciting the fluorophore, determining a fluorescent emission of the fluorophore, the emission indicating the presence of the fluorophore, and correlating an emission of the fluorophore to an extent and degree of damage to the tissue. Damage to the tissue includes a breakdown of the fluorophore, resulting in a reduced level of emission. The fluorophore can include one of collagen and elastin. The fluorophore can include tryptophan, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, flavin and porphyrin. Correlating the emission of the fluorophore to the extent and degree of damage further includes processing a correlation of the emission over time, controlling the power of a laser welder based on the processed correlation, and preventing overheating of the tissue by the laser welder.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a biological tissue includes illuminating the tissue, including a fluorophore, with a wavelength of light, the wavelength selected for exciting the fluorophore, determining a fluorescent emission of the fluorophore, the emission indicating the presence of the fluorophore, and correlating an emission of the fluorophore to an extent and degree of damage to the tissue. Damage to the tissue includes a breakdown of the fluorophore, resulting in a reduced level of emission. The fluorophore can include one of collagen and elastin. The fluorophore can include tryptophan, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, flavin and porphyrin. Correlating the emission of the fluorophore to the extent and degree of damage further includes processing a correlation of the emission over time, controlling the power of a laser welder based on the processed correlation, and preventing overheating of the tissue by the laser welder.

Abstract: Remote-controllable, micro-scale, robotic device for use in diagnosing and/or treating abnormalities inside a human body in vivo. The device has a length from 0.1 mm to 10 mm and can be introduced into the body either from natural body openings or by injection into the blood stream. Once inside the body, the device can be guided to different locations in the body by an outside operator using radio controls and computer software. 2-dimensional image information and spectroscopic information (e.g., fluorescence, absorption, elastic scattering, Raman, etc.) gathered by the device inside the body are transmitted by video and radio signals to a computer located externally relative to the body. The transmitted information is processed, analyzed and displayed by the external computer for use by the outside operator. The outside operator can then make a diagnosis and, if applicable, instruct the device to render a treatment on the examined area.

Abstract: An apparatus utilizing non-linear optical signals for use in constructing a three-dimensional tomographic map of an in vivo biological tissue for medical disease detection purposes. In one embodiment, said apparatus comprises a stage for supporting the in vivo biological tissue; a laser for illuminating the in vivo biological tissue with a focused beam of laser light, the light emerging from the in vivo biological tissue comprising fundamental light, harmonic wave light, and fluorescence due to multi-photon excitation; a filter for selectively passing only at least one of the harmonic wave light and the fluorescence; one or more detectors for individually detecting each of the harmonic wave light and the fluorescence selectively passed; and a mechanism for moving the laser relative to the stage in x, y and z directions.

Abstract: A method for amplifying a signal pulse of laser light. Preferably, the method is used to amplify 1.3 .mu.m and/or 1.55 .mu.m signal pulses emitted from any 1.3 .mu.m or 1.55 .mu.m signal source, the method comprising providing an amplifying medium, the amplifying medium comprising an elongated core and a light-retaining outer structure surrounding the elongated core. The elongated core preferably comprises a plurality of Cr.sup.4+ -doped crystalline particles capable of lasing at 1.3 .mu.m and/or 1.55 .mu.m and preferably having a size of approximately 0.05 .mu.m to 500 .mu.m. The crystalline particles are dispersed within a non-gaseous medium, the non-gaseous medium having an index of refraction that substantially matches that of the crystalline particles.