Methods, systems, arrangements and computer-accessible medium for providing micro-optical coherence tomography procedures

• US 10,241,028 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2012
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rowe, Steven M., Tearney, Guillermo J., Bouma, Brett Eugene, Liu, Linbo, Sorscher, Eric J., Chu, Kengyeh Ken, Diephuis, Bradford James, Wilsterman, Eric James, Dierksen, Gregory Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Tarifur R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cook, Jonathon
• Application Number:
  US14/240,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20150253240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,402 Days
• Field of Search: 356451
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02044 Imaging in the frequency domain, e.g. by using a spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/0205 of probe head
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02091 Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/18 using diffraction elements, e.g. grating gratings per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/36 Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/44 Raman spectrometry; Scattering spectrometry ; Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/45 Interferometric spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/453 by correlation of the amplitudes
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 9/02 by interferometric methods using interferometers for measuring optically the linear dimensions of objects G01B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 11/10 by moving a body within the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0205 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/14 Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2011/008 optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/653 Coherent methods [CARS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/655 Stimulated Raman
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/17 Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated where the material investigated is optically excited causing a change in wavelength of the incident light G01N21/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/35 using infrared light G01N21/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/45 using interferometric methods; using Schlieren methods
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4788 Diffraction for sizing particles G01N15/0205
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4795 spatially resolved investigating of object in scattering medium in vivo A61B
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6458 : Fluorescence microscopy fluorescence microscopes per se G02B21/0076 and G02B21/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6486 : Measuring fluorescence of biological material, e.g. DNA, RNA, cells G01N21/6428 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/00 : Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object G01N3/00, G01N5/00, G01N7/00, G01N9/00, G01N11/00, G01N13/00, G01N15/00, G01N17/00, G01N19/00, G01N21/00, G01N22/00, G01N23/00, G01N24/00, G01N25/00, G01N27/00 take precedence

Abstract

Exemplary apparatus and method can be provided for obtaining data regarding a plurality of samples. For example, using at least one arrangement, it is possible to receive interferometric information that is based on radiations provided from a reference and the samples that are provided in respective chambers. Alternatively and/or in addition, based on the interferometric information, it is possible to discriminate between agents to identify a particular agent that affects a particular function within at least one of the samples.

Claims

1. An apparatus for obtaining data regarding a plurality of samples, comprising:

a μ

OCT-based high-throughput screening system comprising at least one interferometer arrangement which receives interferometric information that is based on radiations provided from a reference interfered with each of the plurality of samples that are provided in a respective plurality of chambers; and

at least one computer arrangement which is configured to;

a. obtain dynamic tracking data regarding particles associated with the plurality of samples using the interferometric information, and

b. determine mucus properties of the plurality of samples using the dynamic tracking data.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one interferometer arrangement comprises at least one optics configuration which is configured to focus at least one electromagnetic radiation on the samples, and

wherein a depth range of the focus of the at least one electromagnetic radiation caused by the at least one optics configuration is greater than a confocal parameter associated with a transverse resolution of the focus.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one interferometer arrangement comprises a confocal arrangement, a florescence arrangement, Raman arrangement, an infrared arrangement, spectroscopic arrangement, a multiphoton arrangement, a multiharmonic arrangement, a nonlinear microscopy arrangement, a CARS SRS arrangement, or an ultrasound arrangement.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the respective plurality of chambers comprises a respective plurality of agents.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein one of the plurality of agents is different from another one of the plurality of agents.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the at least one interferometer arrangement is further configured to obtain the data using the interferometric information based on an interaction of the plurality of agents with the plurality of samples.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein one of the plurality of agents is the same as another one of the plurality of agents.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein one of the plurality of agents and another one of the plurality of agents differ from one another in a quantity or a concentration thereof.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein one of the plurality of agents and another one of the plurality of agents are applied at different time periods within the respective chambers.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of samples includes a living cell.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of samples includes a cilia.

12. An apparatus for obtaining data regarding at least one of a plurality of structures, comprising:

a plurality of chambers which at least partially include the plurality of structures, respectively;

a μ

OCT-based high-throughput screening system comprising at least one interferometer arrangement which receives interferometric information that is based on radiations provided from a reference interfered with each of the plurality of structures that are provided in the plurality of chambers; and

at least one computer arrangement which is configured to;

a. obtain dynamic tracking data regarding particles associated with the plurality of structures using the interferometric information, and

b. determine mucus properties of the plurality of structures using the dynamic tracking data.

13. An apparatus for obtaining data regarding a plurality of samples, comprising:

a μ

OCT system comprising at least one interferometer arrangement which receives interferometric information that is based on radiations provided from a reference interfered with each of the plurality of samples that are provided in a respective plurality of chambers and the sample,

each of the plurality of samples comprising a ciliated tissue including mucus; and

at least one computer arrangement which is configured to;

a. obtain dynamic tracking data regarding particles associated with each of the plurality of samples using the interferometric information, and

b. determine mucus properties of each of the plurality of samples at least one sample using the dynamic tracking data.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the particles are at least one of added or intrinsic to the at least one sample.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the particles have a diameter that is less than 1 micron.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the particles have a diameter that is less than 2 microns.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the particles have a diameter that is less than 5 microns.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the particles include inclusions in the mucus.

19. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the dynamic tracking data include a measurement of at least one of a displacement or a size of at least one of the particles.