Optical local and superficial probing of tissues for in vivo diagnosis

Abstract

An optical tissue diagnosis technique, often called "optical biopsy", has been developed, It is based on the simultaneous determination of the optical properties of tissues such as the reduced scattering coefficient µ s ' and the absorption coefficient µ a . These data are obtained by applying a small diameter probe (ø 2mm) on tissues, through the working channel of usual endoscopes. The simultaneous determination of µ a and µ s ' with a local probe was made possible by the consideration of the first two moments of the phase function and a proven model of light propagation in tissues at propagation length comparable to the scattering mean free path. Non-invasive measurements of the optical coefficients of superficial tissues have been obtained in vivo at different wavelength

Diagnosis of Vulvar Lesions by Non-Invasive Optical Analysis: A Pilot Study

“…The optical mini-probe set-up, and the theory of the method used to collect reflectance signals and to derive optical coefficients, have been previously described. 17 , 19 , 21 , 22 Briefly, the tip of the hand-held optical probe was applied on the vulvar epithelium. Once in place, a 400 msec pulse of white-light (wavelength range 480–950 nm) provided by a halogen lamp (Ocean Optics LS-1) was delivered through the source fiber of the probe.…”