Hyperspectral imaging systems and related methods

• US 10,448,876 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Hutchinson, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Luong, Peter
• Application Number:
  US13/558,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20130030269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,644 Days
• Field of Search: 600476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4076 Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4542 Evaluating the mouth, e.g. the jaw

Abstract

Systems and methods for analyzing sublingual microcirculation perfusion and identifying particular nerve tracts. In exemplary embodiments, a digital micro-mirror device is configured to direct a reflected light to a subject area and a controller is configured to alter a parameter of the reflected light.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing microcirculation perfusion of tissue to detect conditions associated with sepsis without contacting a subject area, the method comprising:

directing light to a digital micro-mirror device configured to reflect the light for illuminating a subject area of the tissue;

directing a reflected light from the digital micro-mirror device to illuminate the subject area without contacting the tissue;

dynamically controlling the reflected light from the micro-mirror device to the subject area, wherein a wavelength and a location of the reflected light impinging on the subject area is altered;

detecting a response light reflected from the subject area without contacting the subject area and providing response data related to the response light;

deconvolving the response data relative to the reflected light and providing deconvolved data;

calculating variables including pO₂ levels, pCO₂ levels, and fibrin content of the subject area based on the deconvolved data;

generating an index value, based on the variables for the pO₂ levels, pCO₂ levels, and fibrin content, indicative of changes in a microcirculation perfusion of the subject area for detecting conditions associated with sepsis, wherein the index value is generated using a fuzzy inference system; and

displaying on a display an image of the subject area showing the index value indicative of a change in the microcirculation perfusion of the subject area.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein dynamically controlling the reflected light from the micro-mirror device to the subject area comprises altering the wavelength and the location of the reflected light at least once per second.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein dynamically controlling the reflected light from the micro-mirror device to the subject area comprises altering the wavelength and the location of the reflected light at least twice per second.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein dynamically controlling the reflected light from the micro-mirror device to the subject area comprises altering the wavelength and the location of the reflected light at least three times per second.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the image of the subject area includes indicating the change in the microcirculation perfusion of the subject area by a different color.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising alerting a user when the change in the microcirculation perfusion of the subject area is outside of a defined range.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising alerting a user when the microcirculation perfusion of the subject area indicates the subject area has developed systemic inflammatory response syndrome.