Abstract:
A measurement system comprising one or more semiconductor diodes configured to penetrate tissue comprising skin. The detection system comprising a camera, which may also include a direct or indirect time-of-flight sensor. The detection system synchronized to the pulsing of the semiconductor diodes, and the camera further coupled to a processor. The detection system non-invasively measuring blood within the skin, measuring hemoglobin absorption between 700 to 1300 nm, and the processor deriving physiological parameters and comparing properties between different spatial locations and variation over time. The semiconductor diodes may comprise vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, and the detection system may comprise single photon avalanche photodiodes. The measurement system may be used to observe eye parameters and differential blood flow. The system may be used with photo-bio-modulation therapy, or it may be used in advanced driver monitoring systems for multiple functions including head pose, eye tracking, facial authentication, and smart restraint control systems.
Abstract:
An active remote sensing system is provided with an array of laser diodes that generate light directed to an object having one or more optical wavelengths that include at least one near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers. One of the laser diodes pulses with pulse duration of approximately 0.5 to 2 nanoseconds at repetition rate between one kilohertz and about 100 megahertz. A beam splitter receives the laser light, separates the light into a plurality of spatially separated lights and directs the lights to the object. A detection system includes a photodiode array synchronized to the array of laser diodes and performs a time-of-flight measurement by measuring a temporal distribution of photons received from the object. The time-of-flight measurement is combined with images from a camera system, and the remote sensing system is configured to be coupled to a wearable device, a smart phone or a tablet.
Abstract:
A spectroscopy system includes a light source having an input light source, including semiconductor diodes generating an input beam with a wavelength shorter than 2.5 microns. Cladding-pumped fiber amplifiers receive the input beam and form an amplified optical beam having a spectral width. A nonlinear element broadens the spectral width of the amplified optical beam to 100 nm or more through a nonlinear effect forming an output beam that is pulsed. A filter is coupled to at least one of a lens and a mirror that receives the output beam and delivers the filtered output beam to a sample. A detection system includes detectors configured to receive the output beam reflected or transmitted from the sample. The detection system is configured to use a lock-in technique with the pulsed output beam and the spectroscopy system is adapted to detect chemicals in the sample.
Abstract:
A system and method for selectively processing target tissue material in a patient include a laser subsystem for generating an output laser beam and a catheter assembly including an optical fiber for guiding the output laser beam. The beam has a predetermined selected wavelength between 900 nm and 2600 nm. The catheter assembly is sized to extend through an opening in a first part of the patient to a tissue material processing site within the patient. A beam delivery and focusing subsystem includes a focal distance, which may be adjustable, that positions the beam into at least one focused spot on the target tissue material disposed within a second part of the patient for a duration sufficient to allow laser energy to be absorbed by the target tissue material and converted to heat to produce a desired physical change in the target tissue material without causing undesirable changes to adjacent non-target material.
Abstract:
A wearable device includes a measurement device having light emitting diodes (LEDs) measuring a physiological parameter. The measurement device modulates the LEDs to generate an optical beam having a near-infrared wavelength between 700-2500 nanometers. Lenses receive and deliver the optical beam to tissue, which reflects the optical beam to a receiver having spatially separated detectors coupled to analog-to-digital converters configured to generate receiver outputs. The receiver captures light while the LEDs are off, and reflected light from the tissue while the LEDs are on, to generate first and second signals, respectively. Signal-to-noise ratio is improved by differencing the first and second signals and by differencing the receiver outputs. The measurement device further improves signal-to-noise ratio of the reflected optical beam by increasing light intensity of the LEDs relative to an initial light intensity. The measurement device generates an output signal representing a non-invasive measurement on blood contained within the tissue.
Abstract:
A system and method for using near-infrared or short-wave infrared (SWIR) sources such as lamps, thermal sources, LED's, laser diodes, super-luminescent laser diodes, and super-continuum light sources for early detection of dental caries measure transmission and/or reflectance. In the SWIR wavelength range, solid, intact teeth may have a low reflectance or high transmission with very few spectral features while a carious region exhibits more scattering, so the reflectance increases in amplitude. The spectral dependence of the transmitted or reflected light from the tooth may be used to detect and quantify the degree of caries. Instruments for applying SWIR light to one or more teeth may include a C-clamp design, a mouth guard design, or hand-held devices that may augment other dental tools. The measurement device may communicate with a smart phone or tablet, which may transmit a related signal to the cloud, where additional value-added services are performed.
Abstract:
Focused infrared light may be used in a non-invasive varicose vein treatment procedure with infrared light from a plurality of laser diodes that are combined in a multiplexer and coupled to a multi-mode fiber coupled to another fiber or fiber bundle that delivers the light to a lens/mirror assembly for application in the non-invasive procedures. The wavelength of light may be selected near 980 nm, 1210 nm, or 1720 nm to achieve a desired penetration depth and/or for absorption in a particular tissue type or water. Wavelengths near approximately 1100 nm, 1310 nm or 1650 nm may be advantageous for non-invasive procedures through the skin. The light may be focused with lower intensity on the skin or outer tissue to reduce collateral damage and higher intensity at a desired depth to induce thermal coagulation or occlusion at depths of about 1-2 mm or more. Surface cooling techniques, such as cryogenic sprays or contact cooling may be provided.
Abstract:
An optical system measures one or more physiological parameters with a wearable device that includes a light emitting diode (LED) source including a driver and a plurality of semiconductor sources that generate an output optical light. One or more lenses deliver a lens output light to tissue of a user. A detection system receives at least a portion of the lens output light reflected from the tissue and generates an output signal having a signal-to-noise ratio. The detection system comprises a plurality of spatially separated detectors and an analog to digital converter. The detection system increases the signal-to-noised ratio by comparing a first signal with the LEDs off to a second signal with the LEDs on. An imaging system including a Bragg reflector is pulsed and has a near infrared wavelength. A beam splitter splits the light into a sample arm and a reference arm to measure time-of-flight.
Abstract:
A diagnostic system includes a light source having semiconductor sources, optical amplifiers, and fibers configured to deliver a first optical beam to a nonlinear element configured to broaden a spectrum of the first optical beam to at least 10 nanometers through a nonlinear effect in the nonlinear element, wherein a broadened-spectrum output beam comprises a near-infrared wavelength between 600-1000 nanometers. An interface device, having a cap with fiber leads configured to couple to the light source and to a receiver having one or more detectors, delivers the output optical beam to a tissue sample. The receiver is configured to receive a diffuse spectroscopy output beam resulting from light diffusion of the output optical beam into a top two (2) millimeters of the sample and to process the diffuse spectroscopy output beam to generate an output signal that monitors absorption or scattering features of the tissue sample.
Abstract:
A diagnostic system is provided with a plurality of semiconductor light emitters, each configured to generate an optical beam, and a beam combiner to generate a multiplexed optical beam. An optical fiber or waveguide communicates at least a portion of the multiplexed optical beam to form an output beam, wherein the output beam is pulsed. A filter, coupled to at least one of a lens and a mirror to receive at least a portion of the output beam, forms an output light. A beam splitter splits the light into a sample arm and a reference arm and directs at least a portion of the sample arm light to a sample. A detection system is configured to receive from the sample at least a portion of reflected sample light, to generate a sample detector output, and to use a lock-in technique with the pulsed output beam.