Inventors:
Wang Lifan - College Station TX, US
Carl R. Pennypacker - El Cerrito CA, US
William Sheehan - Willmar MN, US
Michael Piontek - Chicago IL, US
International Classification:
A61B 6/00, A61B 1/06, G01N 21/64, A61B 18/18, G01N 21/27, G01J 3/00
US Classification:
600431, 356 73, 356 51, 2504591, 2504581, 606 2, 600178, 600476
Abstract:
A method and apparatus are disclosed for utilizing light, including ultraviolet, optical and/or infrared, for detecting a body in an object, such as biomaterial or tissue, animal and/or human tissue. The body or object may be made fluorescent by the use of dyes or agent. Light is used to illuminate the body and object and the scattered light, fluorescent and/or emitted light, reflected light and transmitted light are detected and used to reconstruct the body and/or object using an iterative analysis. Further, the method and apparatus may be extended to endoscopic applications to make subcutaneous images of internal tissue above, on, in or beyond endoscopic pathways such as esophagus, stomach, colon, bronchial tubes and/or other openings, cavities and spaces animate or inanimate, and in man-made or industrial materials as carbon/resin structures.