Importance

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Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus suitable for determining properties of in vivo tissue from spectral information collected from various tissue sites. An illumination system provides light at a plurality of broadband ranges, which are communicated to an optical probe. The optical probe can be a flexible probe in some embodiments, allowing ease of application. Light homogenizers and mode scramblers can be employed to improve the performance in some embodiments. The optical probe in some embodiments physically contacts the tissue, and in some embodiments does not physically contact the tissue. The optical probe receives light from the illumination system and transmits it to tissue, and receives light diffusely reflected in response to the broadband light, emitted from the in vivo tissue by fluorescence thereof in response to the broadband light, or a combination thereof. The optical probe can communicate the light to a spectrograph which produces a signal representative of the spectral properties of the light. An analysis system determines a property of the in vivo tissue from the spectral properties.

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First Claim