# How to Take 3D Pictures Inside Human Tissue Using Near-Infrared Light > A system that uses flexible fiber optic cables to map the inside of complex body parts by shining light through them and measuring how it scatters. - **Patent:** US RE38800 - **Original title:** USRE38800E1 - NIR clinical opti-scan system - **Owner:** Research Foundation of the State University of New York - **Granted:** 2005 - **Status:** Public domain (expired) - **Times cited:** 25 - **Field:** biotech, medical_devices, consumer_electronics ## What it does This patent describes a way to create 3D images of internal body structures by shining near-infrared light into tissue and collecting the light that bounces back out. It uses an adjustable support structure, like a flexible frame, that holds a large array of fiber optic cables against the uneven surface of a body part. These fibers act as both the light source and the light collector, allowing the system to capture data from many different points simultaneously. A detector then measures this scattered light, and a computer uses that data to calculate what the internal tissue looks like in three dimensions. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover imaging techniques that rely on X-rays or ionizing radiation. - Does not cover systems that lack the specific adjustable fiber-holding assembly for irregular surfaces. - Does not cover ultrasound or MRI-based imaging methods. - Does not cover imaging that requires invasive surgical entry into the body. ## The clever bit The innovation lies in the adjustable fiber array that physically conforms to the non-uniform, curved surface of a body part, ensuring consistent contact and data collection across complex shapes. ## Real-world examples 1. Optical breast imaging systems 2. Near-infrared diffuse optical tomography (DOT) scanners 3. Non-invasive tissue diagnostic devices ## Why it matters This technology is significant because it provides a non-invasive way to look inside soft tissue, which is often difficult to image clearly with traditional methods. By using near-infrared light, it can detect differences in how light is absorbed or scattered by different types of tissue, potentially helping to identify tumors or other abnormalities without exposing the patient to harmful radiation. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How to Take 3D Pictures Inside Human Tissue Using Near-Infrared Light cover? A system that uses flexible fiber optic cables to map the inside of complex body parts by shining light through them and measuring how it scatters. ### Who owns patent US RE38800? Research Foundation of the State University of New York owns this patent, granted in 2005. ### When does this patent expire? This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely. ### What is patent US RE38800 cited by? This patent has been cited by 25 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This technology is significant because it provides a non-invasive way to look inside soft tissue, which is often difficult to image clearly with traditional methods. By using near-infrared light, it can detect differences in how light is absorbed or scattered by different types of tissue, potentially helping to identify tumors or other abnormalities without exposing the patient to harmful radiation. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover imaging techniques that rely on X-rays or ionizing radiation. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE38800/digital-video-recorder-dvr **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/USRE38800 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Seeing Blood Flow Deep Inside Tissue Without Touching It](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9861319/noncontact-three-dimensional-diffuse-optical-imaging-of-deep-tissue-blood-flow-d) — This patent describes a way to create 3D images of blood flow up to 1.5 cm deep inside body tissue using near-infrared light, all without any physical contact with the skin. - [How Early CT Scans Created Detailed Body Images](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3778614/ct-scanner-hounsfield) — This 1973 patent describes a method for using X-rays from many angles to build a detailed 2D image of the inside of a body, like a slice of a CT scan. - [How to Create Wide-Field Images of Tissue Using OCT Scanners](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9677869/autonomous-spaceport-drone-ship-asds) — A method for stitching together multiple high-resolution medical images of uneven tissue samples to create a single, wide-field view for better diagnostic clarity. - [Fixing Blurry Tomography Scans from Patient Movement](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10307129/apparatus-and-method-for-reconstructing-tomography-images-using-motion-informati) — This patent describes a method for creating clearer 3D medical scans by using two different X-ray scans to detect and correct for patient movement during the imaging process. - [Using Different Light Colors to Detect Touches on Screens](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20110234542/methods-and-systems-utilizing-multiple-wavelengths-for-position-detection) — This 2011 patent describes a system that uses two different colors of light to accurately detect where an object, like a finger, touches a screen or surface.