Method and system for characterization and mapping of tissue lesions

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for the in vivo, non-invasive, early detection of alterations and mapping of the grade of these alterations, caused in the biochemical and / or in the functional characteristics of epithelial tissues during the development of tissue atypias, dysplasias, neoplasias and cancers. The method is based, at least in part, on the simultaneous measurement of the spatial, temporal and spectral alterations in the characteristics of the light that is re-emitted from the tissue under examination, as a result of a combined tissue excitation with light and special chemical agents. The topical or systematic administration of these agents result in an evanescent contrast enhancement between normal and abnormal areas of tissue. The apparatus enables the capturing of temporally successive imaging in one or more spectral bands simultaneously. Based on the measured data, the characteristic curves that express the agent-tissue interaction kinetics, as well as numerical parameters derived from these data, are determined in any spatial point of the examined area. Mapping and characterization of the lesion, are based on these parameters.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 10 / 346,338, filed on Jan. 16, 2003, pending, which is a continuation of 09 / 739,089, filed on Dec. 15, 2000, pending, which in turn claims priority to Greek National Application Serial No. 20000 / 00102 filed on Mar. 28, 2000 and U.S. provisional Application No. ______, entitled “Method And Apparatus For Amplifying Pathological Features In Tissues”, filed on Dec. 15, 1999. The contents of all of the aforementioned application(s) are hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for the in vivo, non invasive detection and mapping of the biochemical and / or functional pathologic alterations of human tissues. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Cancer precursors signs are the so called pre-cancerous states, which are curable if they are detected at an early stage. In the opposite case the lesion can progress in depth,...

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