| US 7,469,160 B2 | ||
| Methods and apparatus for evaluating image focus | ||
| Perry S. Banks, 62 Ridge Rd., P.O. Box 742, Hollis, N.H. 03049 (US); Chunsheng Jiang, 28 Benton Cir., Reading, Mass. 01867 (US); Karen M. Twietmeyer, 5640 N. Camino Arturo, Tucson, Ariz. 85718 (US); Richard M. Morrell, 165 South St., Upton, Mass. 01568 (US); and Charles C. Abele, 79 Dickerman Rd., Newton, Mass. 02461 (US) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 18, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/419,181. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2004/0206882 A1, Oct. 21, 2004 | ||
| Int. Cl. A61B 6/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 600—476 [600/473; 600/123; 600/125; 600/163; 600/167] | 30 Claims |
| 1. A method of focusing an optical instrument on a tissue sample, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) projecting a plurality of light spots onto a tissue sample;
(b) superimposing a plurality of graphical focusing elements in a visual field comprising said tissue sample; and
(c) aligning a subset of said light spots substantially within said graphical focusing elements, thereby focusing said optical
instrument on said tissue sample; and
(d) acquiring diagnostic optical data with said optical instrument following said aligning step.
|