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Abstract

A method and apparatus for in vivo detection of abnormal tissue in patients by irradiating a diagnostic region simultaneously with at least two wavelengths of incident light, and detecting the resulting fluorescence of normal and abnormal tissue. The patient is provided with a photosensitizer which preferentially collects in abnormal tissue, and beams of light--preferably at about 612 and 632.8 nm--are directed to the diagnostic region. The beams of light are chopped at 90 and 135 Hz, respectively. Fluorescent light from the diagnostic region is then detected, and an electronic signal is generated relating to the intensity of the fluorescence. Because of the chopping of the incident beams, the fluorescent light and the resulting electronic signal area also chopped. The electronic signal is provided as input to phase-locked amplifier circuitry, which differentiates between the contribution to the signal resulting from each of the 612 and 632.8 nm incident beams. A difference signal is provided as output to headphones, and the operator of the apparatus is notified of presence of abnormal tissue by changes in pitch of the difference signal. The source for the light may be lasers or an arc lamp, and there may be three or more incident wavelengths used.

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