Multi-spectral fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy device

• US 20020049386A1
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brian C. Wilson, Paul J. Muller, Peter R. Herman, Victor X.D. Yang
• Original Assignee: Brian C. Wilson, Paul J. Muller, Peter R. Herman, Victor X.D. Yang
• Inventors: Muller, Paul J., Yang, Victor X.D., Wilson, Brian C., Herman, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US09/971,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049386A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent

Abstract

The present invention provides a multi-spectral optical, open-field detection system utilizing light-induced-fluorescence imaging and point spectroscopy for use in in-situ diagnosis and treatment of diseased tissue with reduced sensitivity to changes in light source-target-detector geometry. The light excitation and detection optics share a common coaxial optical path which makes the present system very robust to changes in illumination-target-detector geometry. The apparatus may be used for the detection and localization of tumors or other pathological tissues both prior to treatment and for the detection of residual diseases during or after surgery or other treatments to remove or destroy the diseased tissue.

Claims

1. An optical device for illuminating a target area and detecting electromagnetic radiation reflected or emitted by fluorescence from said target area, comprising:

a light source and filter means for transmitting selected wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation emitted from said light source;

a housing including first optical focusing means for shaping and directing a first light beam containing said selected wavelengths along a first optical path and focusing said light beam onto a selected surface area of a target area located a selected distance from said housing;

a detection means for detecting light; and

said housing including second optical focusing means for shaping and directing electromagnetic radiation reflected or emitted from said target area as a second light beam along a second optical path and focusing said electromagnetic radiation onto said detection means, wherein said first optical path and said second optical path share a coaxial optical path section.

2. The device according to claim 1 including a data acquisition means connected to said light detection means, and including computer control means connected to said data acquisition means for controlling said light detection means and processing light signals detected by said light detection means.

3. The optical device according to claim 1 wherein said detection means includes a first light detector and a spectrometer, and wherein said means for shaping and directing electromagnetic radiation reflected or emitted from said target area as a second light beam along a second optical path includes means for splitting said second light beam into a third light beam and directing said third light beam toward said spectrometer and a fourth light beam directed toward and imaged onto said first light detection means thereby producing an image of the target area from which light is diffusely reflected and/or emitted by fluorescence.

4. The optical device according to claim 3 wherein said second optical focusing means includes selectable light filter means for transmitting selected wavelengths of said light beam being Imaged onto said first light detector.

5. The optical device according to claim 3 wherein said second optical focusing means Includes an optical fiber having a first end connected to said spectrometer and a second end located on a fiber mounting means located in said housing in a selected position so that said third light beam is focused as an image onto said second end of said optical fiber.

6. The optical device according to claim 5 wherein said fiber mount means includes adjustment means for adjusting a position of the second end of the fiber in x, y and z directions.

7. The optical device according to claim 3 including positioning means attached to said housing for positioning said housing in selected positions with respect to a target area to be illuminated.

8. The optical device according to claim 7 wherein said positioning means is an articulating arm with said housing mounted on one end of said articulating arm and the other end of the articulating arm attached to a support frame, said articulating arm providing six degrees of freedom to said housing.

9. The device according to claim 7 including first data acquisition means connected to said first light detector, a second data acquisition means connected to said spectrometer, and Including computer control means connected to said first and second data acquisition means and to said positioning means for controlling said first light detector and said spectrometer and processing light signals detected by said first light detector and said spectrometer.

10. The optical device according to claim 9 wherein said computer control means includes display means for displaying images from light detected by said first light detector and wavelength dependent spectra from light detected by said spectrometer.

11. The optical device according to claim 10 wherein said first light detector is one of a charge coupled device (CCD) detector, an array detector, and a film detector.

12. The optical device according to claim 2 wherein said computer control means includes visual display means for displaying images of data processed from light detected by said detection means.

13. The optical device according to claim 6 wherein said adjustment means is connected to an operator controlled actuator for operator controlled adjustment of the second end of said fiber within the image of the target area to enable the operator to record spectra from different locations on the image.

14. The optical device according to claim 12 wherein said operator controlled actuator is a hand-operated manipulator.

15. The device according to claim 13 including first data acquisition means connected to said first light detector, including second data acquisition means connected to said spectrometer, and including computer control means connected to said first and second data acquisition means and to said positioning means for controlling said first light detector and said spectrometer and processing light signals detected by said first light detector and said spectrometer.

16. The optical device according to claim 5 wherein said computer control means includes visual display means for displaying images from light detected by said first light detector and wavelength dependent spectra from light detected by said spectrometer.

17. The optical device according to claim 15 wherein said second optical focusing means includes selectable light filter means for transmitting selected wavelengths of said light beam being imaged onto said firstlight detector, said selectable light filter means includes a plurality of light filter in a motorized carousel, said motorized carousel being connected to said computer control means.

18. The optical device according to claim 15 wherein said first optical focusing means for shaping and directing said first light beam containing said selected wavelengths along said first optical path include optical components mounted on adjustable mounts which are controlled by said computer control means for computer controlled adjustment of focussing of said first light beam on said target,

19. The optical device according to claim 15 wherein said second optical focusing means for shaping and directing electromagnetic radiation reflected or emitted from said target area as a second light beam along said second optical path and focusing said electromagnetic radiation onto said detection means include optical components mounted on adjustable mounts which are controlled by said computer control means for computer controlled adjustment of focussing of said second light beam on said first light detector.

20. A multi-spectral fluorescence imaging and spectroscopic apparatus for fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy, comprising:

a light source and filter means for transmitting selected wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation emitted from said light source,

a housing and positioning means for positioning said housing in preselected positions, said housing including a first optical focusing means for shaping and directing a first light beam containing said selected wavelengths along a first optical path and focusing said light beam onto a selected surface area of a target area located a selected distance from said housing;

detection means including a first light detector and a spectrometer; and

said housing including second optical focusing means for shaping and directing electromagnetic radiation reflected or emitted from said target area as a second light beam along a second optical path and focusing said electromagnetic radiation onto said detection means, wherein said first optical path and said second optical path share a coaxial optical path section, said second optical focussing means including means for splitting said second light beam into a third light beam and directing said third light beam toward said spectrometer and a fourth light beam directed toward, and imaged onto, said first light detector for producing an image of the target area from which light is diffusely reflected and/or emitted by fluorescence.

21. The device according to claim 20 including first data acquisition means connected to said first light detector, including second data acquisition means connected to said spectrometer, and including computer control means connected to said first and second data acquisition means and to said positioning means for controlling said first light detector and said spectrometer and processing light signals detected by said first light detector and said spectrometer.

22. The optical device according to claim 21 wherein said computer control means includes visual display means for displaying images from light detected by said first light detector and wavelength dependent spectra from light detected by said spectrometer.

23. The optical device according to claim 21 wherein said second optical focusing means includes selectable light filter means for transmitting selected wavelengths of said light beam being imaged onto said first light detector said selectable light filter means includes a plurality of light filter in a motorized carousel, said motorized carousel being connected to said computer control means.

24. The device according to claim 21 wherein said second optical focusing means includes an optical fiber having a first end connected to said spectrometer and a second end located on a fiber mounting means located in said housing in a selected position so that said third light beam is focused onto said second end of said optical fiber.

25. The optical device according to claim 24 wherein said fiber mount means includes adjustment means for adjusting a position of the second end of the fiber in x, y and z directions.

26. The optical device according to claim 25 wherein said adjustment means is connected to an operator controlled actuator for operator controlled adjustment of the second end of said fiber within the image of the target area to enable the operator to record spectra from different locations on the image.

27. The optical device according to claim 26 wherein said operator controlled actuator is a hand-operated manipulator.

28. The device according to claim 21 wherein said positioning means is an articulating arm with said housing mounted on one end of said articulating arm and the other end of the articulating arm attached to a support frame, said articulating arm providing six degrees of freedom to said housing.

29. The device according to claim 21 wherein said first light detector is one of a charge coupled device (CCD) detector, an array detector, a pixilated detector, and a film detector.

30. A method for illuminating a target area and detecting electromagnetic radiation reflected or emitted by fluorescence from the target area, comprising the steps of;

shaping and directing a first light beam containing selected wavelengths along a first optical path and focusing said light beam onto a selected surface area of a target area; and

shaping and directing electromagnetic radiation reflected or emitted from said target area as a second light beam along a second optical path and focusing said electromagnetic radiation as an image onto a light detection means, wherein said first optical path and said second optical path share a common coaxial optical path section so that only the region of the target area where diffusely reflected light or light emitted by fluorescence are being detected is being illuminated by said first light beam; and

d) processing signals output from said light detection means and displaying the processed signals in a selected format.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein said detection means includes a first light detector and a spectrometer, and including splitting said second light beam into a third light beam and directing said third light beam toward said spectrometer and a fourth light beam directed toward, and imaged onto, said first light detection and wherein the light signals focused onto the first light detector are displayed as an image of the target area from which light is diffusely reflected and/or emitted by fluorescence, and wherein light signals in the third light beam directed to said spectrometer are displayed as wavelength dependent spectra.

32. The method according to claim 31 wherein said step of splitting said second light beam into a fourth light beam includes filtering said fourth light beam through a selectable light filter for transmitting selected wavelengths of said light beam onto said first light detector means.

33. The method according to claim 31 wherein directing said third light beam to said spectrometer includes focusing said third light beam onto a second end of an optical fiber, said optical fiber having a first end connected to said spectrometer, said second end of the optical fiber being mounted on a fiber mounting means located in a selected position so that said third light beam is focused onto said second end of said optical fiber, including a step of adjustment of the second end of said fiber within the image of the target area to enable an operator to record spectra from different locations on the image of the target area.

34. The method according to claim 33 wherein said target area is biological tissue.

35. The method according to claim 34 wherein said fluorescence is autofluorescence of said tissue.

36. The method according to claim 33 wherein said target area is human tissue and said human tissue is dosed with a fluorophore compound which fluoresces at known wavelengths, and wherein said fluorescence is produced by said fluorophores concentrated in said human tissue.

37. The method according to claim 36 wherein said human tissue is a human brain of a patient undergoing in-situ diagnosis and treatment of diseased tissue utilizing light-induced-fluorescence imaging and point spectroscopy.

38. The method according to claim 37 wherein said step of processing signals output from said spectrometer and said first light detector includes displaying images and spectra produced therefrom in such a way that highlights optical differences between target tissue and/or surrounding tissue.

39. The method according to claim 37 wherein said light beam includes multispectral white-light, and including imaging of reflected light and fluorescence imaging of normal and tumorous brain tissue during neurosurgery.