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Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for determining one or more parameters regarding a content and/or property of biomolecules, in particular metabolites, in a biological tissue (11). The device comprises at least one irradiation unit (1) configured to irradiate the tissue (11) with electromagnetic radiation (2) exhibiting one or more wavelengths or wavelength ranges, in particular in the mid-infrared, near-infrared and/or visible spectral range, at least one detection unit (8, 12) configured to detect, in a spatially resolved manner, first signals corresponding to optical and/or optoacoustic and/or optothermal signals emanating from the tissue (11) in response to irradiating the tissue (11) with electromagnetic radiation (2), in particular in the near-infrared and/or visible spectral range, wherein the at least one irradiation unit (1) and the at least one detection unit (8, 12) are located in the same half space above and/or adjacent to the irradiated tissue (11), and a processing unit (14) configured i) to localize, based on the detected first signals, a location or region of interest on and/or within the tissue (11), at which at least one biomolecule of interest is present or expected, ii) to control the at least one irradiation unit (1) to irradiate the location or region of interest on and/or within the tissue (11) with electromagnetic radiation (2) exhibiting a time-varying intensity and one or more wavelengths or wavelength ranges in the mid-infrared spectral range, iii) to control the at least one detection unit (8, 12) to detect second signals corresponding to optoacoustic and/or optothermal signals emanating from the irradiated location or region of interest on and/or within the tissue (11) in response to irradiating the location or region of interest on and/or within the tissue (11) with the electromagnetic radiation (2) in the mid-infrared spectral range, and iv) to determine, based on the detected second signals, one or more parameters regarding a content and/or property of the at least one biomolecule, in particular metabolite, of interest at the location or region of interest on and/or within in the tissue (11).

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First Claim