US7231243B2
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US
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Optical methods for tissue analysis
Assignee: General Hospital Corp
•
Filing: 2001-10-30
•
Granted: 2007-06-12
•
Expires: 2021-10-30
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to methods and systems to optically analyze samples such as tissue based on speckle patterns of microscopic motion, such as Brownian motion.
Inventors
- 👤 Guillermo J. Tearney
- 👤 Brett E. Bouma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6885; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00082; A61B1/06; A61B1/0615; A61B1/07; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0084; A61B5/02; A61B5/02007; A61B5/72; A61B5/7203; A61B5/7207; G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/49; A61B5/0062; A61B5/0066; A61B5/0068; A61B5/0075; A61B5/7235; A61B5/7253; A61B5/7257
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 67
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of analyzing tissue, the method comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion of objects within the tissue, wherein the tissue is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue; and compensating for macroscopic motion to isolate the microscopic motion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of analyzing tissue, the method comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion of objects within the tissue, wherein the tissue is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue; and compensating for macroscopic motion to isolate the microscopic motion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the microscopic motion is Brownian motion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the microscopic motion is motion of cells or cellular organelles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the illuminating step comprises providing an invasive device coupled to a light source, passing the device into a patient, placing the device in proximity to the tissue, and shining coherent or partially coherent light from the light source onto the tissue.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the invasive device is selected from the group consisting of a catheter, an endoscope, and a laparoscope.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the placing step includes placing the device in direct contact with the tissue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the coherent light comprises laser light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein a detector is located farther than one wavelength of light from the tissue and detects far field speckle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein a detector is located within one wavelength of light from the tissue and detects near field speckle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing step comprises comparing each of the series of speckle patterns to a series of reference speckle patterns, and quantifying the temporal correlation differences between the speckle patterns and the reference patterns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the analyzing step comprises digitizing each of the speckle patterns, and the quantifying step comprises evaluating a cross-correlation between the speckle patterns and the reference patterns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the analyzing step further comprises determining a decorrelation rate for the speckle patterns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the analyzing step comprises digitizing each of the speckle patterns, and the quantifying step comprises evaluating a maximum cross-correlation between the speckle patterns and the reference patterns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing step further comprises analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern to deduce structural characteristics of the tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the illuminating step comprises illuminating multiple locations of the tissue in succession, the receiving step comprises forming a separate series of speckle patterns for each respective section of the tissue, and the analyzing step comprises analyzing each separate series of speckle patterns and comparing the separate series to deduce structural differences between the respective locations of the tissue.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing step further comprises analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern to deduce biomechanical characteristics of the tissue.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the compensating for the macroscopic motion comprises performing the receiving step during a diastole of a heartbeat.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the macroscopic motion comprises a patient motion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the macroscopic motion is peristalsis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving step comprises gathering reflected light at a light receptor and transmitting the gathered light to a detector, and wherein compensating for macroscopic motion includes coupling the receptor to the tissue.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the compensating for the macroscopic motion includes excluding changes in the speckle patterns caused by non-random motion during the analysis step.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue comprises an atherosclerotic plaque.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of analyzing tissue, the method comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by a microscopic motion of objects within the tissue; and compensating for a macroscopic motion to isolate the microscopic motion, wherein the macroscopic motion results from a motion or the deformation of the tissue.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of analyzing tissue, the method comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by a microscopic motion of objects within the tissue; and compensating for a macroscopic motion to isolate the microscopic motion, wherein the macroscopic motion results from a motion or the deformation of the tissue.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of analyzing a tissue structure, the method comprising: illuminating the tissue structure with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue structure at a detector and forming a series of speckle patterns; gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within the tissue structure or adjacent tissue; and assessing the tissue structure by analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern data to deduce structural or biomechanical characteristics of the tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue structure; wherein the spatial characteristics are analyzed by assessing a thickness of the tissue structure; and wherein the tissue structure thickness is assessed by; (i) measuring the decorrelation time constant r as a function of r=(x 0 2 +y 0 2 ) 1/2 ; (ii) measuring optical properties of the tissue structure; and (iii) comparing the measured optical properties and τ(r) to a mathematical simulation that models light remittance as a function of tissue structure thickness.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of analyzing a tissue structure, the method comprising: illuminating the tissue structure with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue structure at a detector and forming a series of speckle patterns; gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within the tissue structure or adjacent tissue; and assessing the tissue structure by analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern data to deduce structural or biomechanical characteristics of the tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue structure; wherein the spatial characteristics are analyzed by assessing a thickness of the tissue structure; and wherein the tissue structure thickness is assessed by; (i) measuring the decorrelation time constant r as a function of r=(x 0 2 +y 0 2 ) 1/2 ; (ii) measuring optical properties of the tissue structure; and (iii) comparing the measured optical properties and τ(r) to a mathematical simulation that models light remittance as a function of tissue structure thickness.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the optical properties are measured by computing first and second order statistics of a speckle probability distribution function or by using diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the mathematical simulation is a Monte Carlo simulation or diffusion theory simulation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the tissue structure comprises an atherosclerotic plaque.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of analyzing tissue which comprises an atherosclerotic plague, the method comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion of objects within the tissue, wherein the tissue is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue; and gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within a lipid pool within the atherosclerotic plaque; and assessing the atherosclerotic plaque's vulnerability to rupture from the amount of microscopic motion.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of analyzing tissue which comprises an atherosclerotic plague, the method comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion of objects within the tissue, wherein the tissue is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue; and gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within a lipid pool within the atherosclerotic plaque; and assessing the atherosclerotic plaque's vulnerability to rupture from the amount of microscopic motion.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 28 , further comprising analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern data to deduce structural characteristics of the plaque.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein analyzing comprises assessing the thickness of the fibrous cap.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein cap thickness is assessed by (i) measuring the decorrelation time constant τ as a function of r=(x 0 2 +y 0 2 ) 1/2 ; (ii) measuring optical properties of the cap; and (iii) comparing the measured optical properties and τ(r) to a mathematical simulation that models light remittance as a function of cap layer thickness.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the optical properties are measured by computing first and second order statistics of a speckle probability distribution function or by using diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the mathematical simulation is a Monte Carlo simulation or diffusion theory simulation.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein a plaque is considered vulnerable to rupture if the thickness of the fibrous cap is less than about 60 microns.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein thickness of the fibrous cap is assessed by analyzing variation of τ as a function of distance from a center of the speckle pattern as a function of (x 0 2 +y 0 2 ) 1/2 .
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein analyzing comprises assessing the viscosity of the lipid pool.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein the microscopic motion is Brownian motion or cellular motion.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of analyzing tissue, the method comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light, wherein the tissue comprises an atherosclerotic plaque; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; and analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion within a lipid pool within the atherosclerotic plaque; and assessing the atherosclerotic plaque's vulnerability to rupture from the amount of microscopic motion, wherein the plaque is considered vulnerable to rupture if the viscosity of the lipid pool has a time constant of less than about 200 milliseconds.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of analyzing tissue, the method comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light, wherein the tissue comprises an atherosclerotic plaque; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; and analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion within a lipid pool within the atherosclerotic plaque; and assessing the atherosclerotic plaque's vulnerability to rupture from the amount of microscopic motion, wherein the plaque is considered vulnerable to rupture if the viscosity of the lipid pool has a time constant of less than about 200 milliseconds.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of analyzing tissue, the method comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light, wherein the tissue comprises an atherosclerotic plaque; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; and analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion within a lipid pool within the atherosclerotic plaque; and assessing the atherosclerotic plaque's vulnerability to rupture from the amount of microscopic motion, wherein the plaque is considered likely to rupture if the viscosity of the lipid pool has a time constant of less than about 100 milliseconds.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of analyzing tissue, the method comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light, wherein the tissue comprises an atherosclerotic plaque; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; and analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion within a lipid pool within the atherosclerotic plaque; and assessing the atherosclerotic plaque's vulnerability to rupture from the amount of microscopic motion, wherein the plaque is considered likely to rupture if the viscosity of the lipid pool has a time constant of less than about 100 milliseconds.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
139 words
A The method of analyzing a tissue structure of which comprises an atherosclerotic plaque, the method comprising: illuminating the tissue structure with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue structure at a detector and forming a series of speckle patterns; gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within the tissue structure or adjacent tissue; and assessing the tissue structure by analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern data to deduce structural or biomechanical characteristics of the tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue structure, wherein tissue structure thickness is assessed by analyzing variation of τ as a function of distance from a center of the speckle pattern as a function of (x 0 2 +y 0 2 ) 1/2 .
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
139 words
A The method of analyzing a tissue structure of which comprises an atherosclerotic plaque, the method comprising: illuminating the tissue structure with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue structure at a detector and forming a series of speckle patterns; gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within the tissue structure or adjacent tissue; and assessing the tissue structure by analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern data to deduce structural or biomechanical characteristics of the tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue structure, wherein tissue structure thickness is assessed by analyzing variation of τ as a function of distance from a center of the speckle pattern as a function of (x 0 2 +y 0 2 ) 1/2 .
Claim 48
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of analyzing tissue, comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; and analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion of objects within the tissue, wherein the tissue is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue, wherein the analyzing step comprises measuring biomechanical properties of the tissue in three dimensions.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of analyzing tissue, comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; and analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion of objects within the tissue, wherein the tissue is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue, wherein the analyzing step comprises measuring biomechanical properties of the tissue in three dimensions.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of analyzing a tissue structure, comprising: illuminating the tissue structure with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue structure at a detector and forming a series of speckle patterns; gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within the tissue structure or adjacent tissue; and assessing the tissue structure by analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern data to deduce structural or biomechanical characteristics of the tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue structure, wherein the analysis of the special characteristics includes a measurement of biomechanical properties of the tissue in three dimensions.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of analyzing a tissue structure, comprising: illuminating the tissue structure with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue structure at a detector and forming a series of speckle patterns; gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within the tissue structure or adjacent tissue; and assessing the tissue structure by analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern data to deduce structural or biomechanical characteristics of the tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue structure, wherein the analysis of the special characteristics includes a measurement of biomechanical properties of the tissue in three dimensions.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of analyzing tissue, comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; and analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion of objects within the tissue, wherein the tissue is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue, wherein the analyzing step comprises determining a collagen content of the tissue.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of analyzing tissue, comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; and analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion of objects within the tissue, wherein the tissue is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue, wherein the analyzing step comprises determining a collagen content of the tissue.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of analyzing tissue, comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; and analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion of objects within the tissue, wherein the tissue is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue, wherein the analyzing step comprises determining a viscosity of a lipid pool within the tissue.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of analyzing tissue, comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; and analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion of objects within the tissue, wherein the tissue is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue, wherein the analyzing step comprises determining a viscosity of a lipid pool within the tissue.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of analyzing a tissue structure, comprising: illuminating the tissue structure with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue structure at a detector and forming a series of speckle patterns; gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within the tissue structure or adjacent tissue; and assessing the tissue structure by analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern data to deduce structural or biomechanical characteristics of the tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue structure, wherein the analysis of the special characteristics includes a determination of collagen content of the tissue.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of analyzing a tissue structure, comprising: illuminating the tissue structure with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue structure at a detector and forming a series of speckle patterns; gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within the tissue structure or adjacent tissue; and assessing the tissue structure by analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern data to deduce structural or biomechanical characteristics of the tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue structure, wherein the analysis of the special characteristics includes a determination of collagen content of the tissue.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of analyzing a tissue structure, comprising: illuminating the tissue structure with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue structure at a detector and forming a series of speckle patterns; gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within the tissue structure or adjacent tissue; and assessing the tissue structure by analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern data to deduce structural or biomechanical characteristics of the tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue structure, wherein the analysis of the special characteristics includes a determination of analyzing comprises determining a viscosity of a lipid pool within the tissue.
Claim 59
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of analyzing a tissue structure, comprising: illuminating the tissue structure with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue structure at a detector and forming a series of speckle patterns; gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within the tissue structure or adjacent tissue; and assessing the tissue structure by analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern data to deduce structural or biomechanical characteristics of the tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue structure, wherein the analysis of the special characteristics includes a determination of analyzing comprises determining a viscosity of a lipid pool within the tissue.
Claim 60
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of analyzing tissue, the method comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion of objects within the tissue; and at least partially replacing blood provided in or adjacent to the tissue with at least partially transparent solution.
Claim 61
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of analyzing tissue, the method comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion of objects within the tissue; and at least partially replacing blood provided in or adjacent to the tissue with at least partially transparent solution.
Claim 62
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of analyzing tissue, the method comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion of objects within the tissue; compensating for a macroscopic motion to isolate the microscopic motion, wherein the macroscopic motion results from a motion or the deformation of the tissue; and at least partially replacing blood provided in or adjacent to the tissue with at least partially transparent solution.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of analyzing tissue, the method comprising: illuminating a tissue with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue at a detector and forming series of speckle patterns; analyzing changes in the speckle patterns at time intervals sufficient to measure changes caused by microscopic motion of objects within the tissue; compensating for a macroscopic motion to isolate the microscopic motion, wherein the macroscopic motion results from a motion or the deformation of the tissue; and at least partially replacing blood provided in or adjacent to the tissue with at least partially transparent solution.
Claim 64
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of analyzing a tissue structure, comprising: illuminating the tissue structure with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue structure at a detector and forming a series of speckle patterns; gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within the tissue structure or adjacent tissue; assessing the tissue structure by analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern data to deduce structural or biomechanical characteristics of the tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue structure; and compensating for macroscopic motion to isolate the microscopic motion.
Claim 65
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of analyzing a tissue structure, comprising: illuminating the tissue structure with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue structure at a detector and forming a series of speckle patterns; gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within the tissue structure or adjacent tissue; assessing the tissue structure by analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern data to deduce structural or biomechanical characteristics of the tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue structure; and compensating for macroscopic motion to isolate the microscopic motion.
Claim 66
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of analyzing a tissue structure, comprising: illuminating the tissue structure with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue structure at a detector and forming a series of speckle patterns; gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within the tissue structure or adjacent tissue; assessing the tissue structure by analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern data to deduce structural or biomechanical characteristics of the tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure comprises an atherosclerotic plaque; and gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within a lipid pool within the atherosclerotic plaque; and assessing the atherosclerotic plaque's vulnerability to rupture from the amount of microscopic motion.
Claim 67
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of analyzing a tissue structure, comprising: illuminating the tissue structure with coherent or partially coherent light; receiving light reflected from the tissue structure at a detector and forming a series of speckle patterns; gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within the tissue structure or adjacent tissue; assessing the tissue structure by analyzing spatial characteristics of the speckle pattern data to deduce structural or biomechanical characteristics of the tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure is at least one of in vivo or an internal tissue structure, wherein the tissue structure comprises an atherosclerotic plaque; and gathering speckle pattern data at time intervals sufficient to measure microscopic motion within a lipid pool within the atherosclerotic plaque; and assessing the atherosclerotic plaque's vulnerability to rupture from the amount of microscopic motion.
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