OPTICAL HISTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS, IN VIVO DETECTION AND REAL-TIME GUIDANCE FOR ABLATION OF ABNORMAL TISSUES USING A RAMAN SPECTROSCOPIC DETECTION SYSTEM

摘要

A method and apparatus for diagnosis and treatment of abnormal tissues (14) is described in which a catheter (10) with one or more optical fibers (16) is either introduced into a body cavity (12) or through an intervening body medium with the distal end positioned opposite the treatment area (14) and wherein the proximal end (18) of the catheter (10) and optical fibers (16) are coupled to a source of optical radiation (20) as well as to a method for photoelectronically sensing a particular optical characteristic of the tissue within the treatment area. Specifically, the diagnostic system and guidance is based upon sensing inelastically scattered Raman radiation in a manner which permits rapid tissue diagnosis through a computerized process of pattern recognition. Tissues which may be diagnosed encompass both normal as well as abnormal conditions including vascular occlusive diseases, in situ tumors or neoplastic conditions, lithiasis and calculi or any other abnormal tissue.