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Abstract

Disclosed are a method and apparatus for determining whether one or more organic substances, namely, proteins (42) and associated cancer cells (40'), are present in a sample (4a). The method comprises a step of deploying a plurality of fluorescent materials (40) in the tissue sample, individual ones of the plurality of fluorescent materials (40) being selected for coupling to a specific type of substance (42) of interest. The fluorescent materials (40) generally emit characteristic wavelengths in response to being illuminated with excitation light (14a'-14c') having predetermined excitation wavelengths. A next step includes illuminating the sample (4a) with the excitation light (14a'-14c'). The excitation light (14a'-14c') causes any of the fluorescent materials (40) that are disposed within the illuminated portion of the sample (4a), and which are responsive to the excitation wavelengths, to emit their characteristic wavelengths. Further steps include simultaneously detecting the presence of the emitted characteristic wavelengths, and, in response to detecting the presence of the emitted characteristic wavelengths, indicating that at least one of the substances (42) is present within the sample (4a). The invention enables the sample (4a) to be analyzed for the presence of multiple types of proteins (42) and associated cancer cells (40') simultaneously, using either a narrow band or broad band of excitation wavelengths. The invention also enables the proteins (42) and cancer cells (40') to be identified using a spectral and temporal analysis. These identifications are made regardless of whether or not the fluorescent materials (40) emit similar or different wavelengths.

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First Claim