| abstract |
An apparatus and method for localizing cancer tumors on or near the tissue surface based on the use of long wavelength visible or near infrared excitation of intravenously injected porphyrins and monitoring the resultant infrared fluorescence. The device generally comprises: an optical excitation means (22) for generating longwavelength visible or near infrared light; a delivery means (24) for directing the excitation light onto biological tissue; a return guide means (26) for collecting light emitted by said biological tissue; and an optical detector means (28, 30) and a signal processing means (32) for detecting infrared fluorescence emitted by tumor-specific markers. |