Transabdominal examination, monitoring and imaging of tissue

• US 20030073910A1
• Filed: 07/09/2002
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Non-Invasive Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Non-Invasive Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Chance, Britton
• Application Number:
  US10/192,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20030073910A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/473
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/02 Foetus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0242 for varying or adjusting the optical path length in the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0042 for the brain
• 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 5/0073 by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections A61B5/0066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0091 for mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02411 of foetuses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14553 specially adapted for cerebral tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1464 specially adapted for foetal tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4362 Assessing foetal parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence

Abstract

An optical examination technique employs an optical system (15, 45, 100, 150, 200, 260 or 300) for in vivo, non-invasive examination of internal tissue of a subject. The optical system includes an optical module (12 or 14), a controller and a processor. The optical module is arranged for placement on the exterior of the abdomen or chest. The module includes an array of optical input ports and optical detection ports located in a selected geometrical pattern to provide a multiplicity of photon migration paths targeted to examine a selected tissue region, such as an internal organ or an in utero fetus. Each optical input port is constructed to introduce into the examined tissue visible or infrared light emitted from a light source. Each optical detection port is constructed to provide light from the tissue to a light detector. The controller is constructed and arranged to activate one or several light sources and light detectors so that the light detector detects light that has migrated over at least one of the photon migration paths. The processor receives signals corresponding to the detected light and forms at least one data set used for tissue examination.

Claims

1. An optical method for in vivo, non-invasive, transabdominal examination of fetal tissue comprising:

providing an optical module including an array of optical input ports and detection ports located in a selected geometrical pattern that provide a multiplicity of photon migration paths inside the uterus of a pregnant female subject;

placing said optical module on the exterior of the abdomen of the pregnant female subject;

introducing visible or infrared light from at least one said optical input port into the uterus and receiving photons that have migrated in the uterus to at least one of said detection ports;

detecting said received photons by at least one optical detector optically coupled to said least one detection port;

controlling said introducing and detecting steps to collect optical data corresponding to photons of light that have partially migrated inside a fetal tissue region; and

processing said optical data to characterize the fetal tissue region.

2. The optical method of claim 1 wherein said processing includes determining hemoglobin oxygenation of said fetal tissue.

3. The optical method of claim 1 wherein said processing includes determining a pulse rate of the fetus.

4. The optical method of claim 1 wherein said controlling step includes collecting said optical data corresponding to photons that have partially migrated inside brain tissue of the fetus.

5. The optical method of claim 1 wherein said placing step includes moving said optical module on the exterior of the abdomen to relocate said photon migration paths inside the uterus so that said optical data correspond to photons that have partially migrated inside brain tissue of the fetus.

6. The optical method of claim 1 further including locating the head of the fetus by using an ultrasound system and then, based on said locating, performing said placing of said optical module on the exterior of the abdomen to position said photon migration paths inside the uterus so that said optical data correspond to photons that have partially migrated inside brain tissue of the fetus.

7. The optical method of claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said processing includes determining hemoglobin oxygenation of said brain tissue.

8. The optical method of claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said processing includes determining a pulse rate of the fetus.

9. The optical method of claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said processing includes evaluating said brain tissue.

10. The optical method of claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said processing includes creating an image of said brain tissue.

11. The optical method of claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said processing includes forming at least two data sets, a first of said data sets representing blood volume in said brain tissue and a second of said data sets representing blood oxygenation said brain tissue;

and the method further including correlating said first and second data sets to detect abnormal tissue in said brain tissue.

12. The optical method of claim 11 wherein said processing includes creating images blood volume in said brain tissue and blood oxygenation in said brain tissue.

13. An optical apparatus for in vivo, non-invasive, transabdominal examination of fetal tissue comprising:

an optical module including an array of optical input ports and detection ports located in a selected geometrical pattern to provide a multiplicity of photon migration paths inside the uterus, each said optical input port being constructed to introduce visible or infrared light emitted from a light source, each said optical detection port being constructed to receive photons of light that have migrated from at least one of said input ports and provide said received light to a light detector;

a controller constructed and arranged to control operation of said light source and said light detector to detect photons that have migrated over at least one of said photon migration paths inside fetal tissue; and

a processor connected to receive signals from said detector and arranged to characterize the fetal tissue region.

14. The optical apparatus of claim 13 wherein said processor is further arranged to determine hemoglobin oxygenation of said fetal tissue.

15. The optical apparatus of claim 13 wherein said processor is further arranged to determine a pulse rate of the fetus.

16. The optical apparatus of claim 13 wherein said controller and said processor are arranged to evaluate said optical data and subsequently control operation of said light source and said light detector to collect additional optical data corresponding to photons that have partially migrated inside brain tissue of the fetus.

17. The optical apparatus of claim 13 wherein said optical module is constructed for placement on the abdomen based on locating the head of the fetus by an ultrasound system so that said optical data correspond to photons that have partially migrated inside brain tissue of the fetus.

18. The optical apparatus of claim 16 or 17 wherein said processor is arranged to determine hemoglobin oxygenation of said brain tissue.

19. The optical apparatus of claim 16 or 17 wherein said processor is arranged to determine a pulse rate of the fetus.

20. The optical apparatus of claim 16 or 17 wherein said processor is arranged to create an image said brain tissue.

21. The optical apparatus of claim 16 or 17 wherein said processor is arranged to create images blood volume in said brain tissue and blood oxygenation in said brain tissue.

22. An optical system for in vivo, non-invasive examination of internal tissue of a subject comprising:

an optical module including an array of optical input ports and detection ports located in a selected geometrical pattern to provide a multiplicity of photon migration paths inside an examined region of the biological tissue, each said optical input port being constructed to introduce visible or infrared light emitted from a light source, each said optical detection port being constructed to receive photons of light that have migrated in the examined tissue region from at least one of said input ports and provide said received light to a light detector;

a controller constructed and arranged to control operation of said light source and said light detector to detect light that has migrated over at least one of said photon migration paths; and

a processor connected to receive signals from said detector and arranged to form at least two data sets, a first of said data sets representing blood volume in the examined tissue region and a second of said data sets representing blood oxygenation in the examined tissue region;

said processor being arranged to correlate said first and second data sets to detect abnormal tissue in the examined tissue region.

23. The optical system of claim 22 wherein said second data set includes hemoglobin deoxygenation values.

24. The optical system of claim 22 wherein said processor is arranged to form a third data set being collected by irradiating a reference tissue region.

27. The optical system of claim 22 or 24 further including a second optical module including an array of optical input ports and detection ports located in a selected geometrical pattern to provide a multiplicity of photon migration paths inside an examined region of the tissue, each said optical input port being constructed to introduce visible or infrared light emitted from a light source, each said optical detection port being constructed to receive photons of light that have migrated in the examined tissue region from at least one of said input ports and provide said received light to a light detector;

said processor being arranged to receive optical data from both said optical modules.

28. The optical system of claim 22, 25 or 26 wherein said processor is arranged to correlate said first and second data sets by determining congruence between data of said two sets.

29. The optical system of claim 28 wherein said processor is programmed to order said first and second data sets as two-dimensional images and to determine said congruence using said two-dimensional images.

30. The optical system of claim 28 wherein said processor is programmed to order said first and second data sets as two-dimensional images and to determine said congruence using the following formula:

31. The optical system of claim 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30 wherein said processor is further arranged to determine a location of said abnormal tissue within the examined tissue region.

32. The optical system of claim 22, 25 or 26 wherein said processor is adapted to produce from said data set an image data set by implementing an optical tomography algorithm.

33. The optical system of claim 32 in which said optical tomography algorithm employs factors related to determined probability distribution of photons attributable to the scattering character of the tissue being imaged.

34. The optical system of claim 22, 25 or 26 wherein said controller is arranged to activate said source and said detector to obtain a first selected distance between said input and detection ports and said processor is arranged to form said data set for said first distance.

35. The optical system of claim 34 wherein said processor produces an image data set from said data set formed for said first distance.

36. The optical system of claim 34 wherein said controller further is arranged to activate said source and said detector to obtain second distance between said input and detection ports and said processor is arranged to form another data set for said second distance.

37. The optical system of claim 32, 33, 34, 35 or 35 further including a display device constructed to receive said image data set from said processor and to display an image.

38. The optical system of claim 22, 25 or 26 constructed to introduce and detect photons at two wavelengths selected to provide sensitivity to a tissue constituent.

39. The optical system of claim 38 wherein said tissue constituent is an endogenous pigment.

40. The optical system of claim 39 wherein said endogenous pigment is hemoglobin.

41. The optical system of claim 38 wherein said tissue constituent in an exogenous pigment.

42. The optical system of claim 41 in which said exogenous pigment is a selected contrast agent.

25. An optical system for in vivo, non-invasive examination of internal tissue of a subject comprising:

an optical module including an array of optical input ports and detection ports located in a selected geometrical pattern to provide a multiplicity of photon migration paths inside an examined region of the biological tissue, each said optical input port being constructed to introduce visible or infrared light emitted from a light source, each said optical detection port being constructed to receive photons of light that have migrated in the tissue from at least one of said input ports and provide said received light to a light detector;

a controller constructed and arranged to control operation of said light source and said light detector to detect light that has migrated over at least one of said photon migration paths; and

a processor connected to receive signals from said detector and arranged to form at least two data sets, a first of said data sets being collected by irradiating an examined tissue region of interest and a second of said data sets being collected by irradiating a reference tissue region having similar light scattering and absorptive properties as the examined tissue region, said processor being arranged to correlate said first and second data sets to detect abnormal tissue in the examined tissue region.

26. An optical system for in vivo, non-invasive examination of internal tissue of a subject comprising:

an optical module including an array of optical input ports and detection ports located in a selected geometrical pattern to provide a multiplicity of photon migration paths inside an examined region of the biological tissue or a model representing biological tissue, each said optical input port being constructed to introduce visible or infrared light emitted from a light source, each said optical detection port being constructed to receive photons of light that have migrated in the tissue or the model from at least one of said input ports and provide said received light to a light detector;

a controller constructed and arranged to control operation of said light source and said light detector to detect light that has migrated over at least one of said photon migration paths; and

a processor connected to receive signals from said detector and arranged to form at least two data sets of two tissue regions, a first of said data sets being collected by irradiating an examined tissue region and a second of said data sets being collected by irradiating a region of a tissue model having selected light scattering and absorptive properties, said processor being arranged to correlate said first and second data sets to detect abnormal tissue in the examined tissue region.

43. An optical method for in vivo, non-invasive examination of internal tissue of a subject comprising:

providing an optical module including an array of optical input ports and detection ports located in a selected geometrical pattern to provide a multiplicity of photon migration paths inside an examined region of the tissue;

placing said optical module on the skin of the subject;

introducing visible or infrared light from at least one said optical input port into an examined tissue region and receiving photons of light that have migrated in the examined tissue region to at least one of said detection ports;

detecting said received photons by at least one optical detector optically coupled to said least one said detection port;

controlling said introducing and detecting steps to collect optical data corresponding to photons of light that have migrated between selected input and detection ports;

processing said optical data to form at least two data sets, a first of said data sets representing blood volume in the examined tissue region and a second of said data sets representing blood oxygenation in the examined tissue region; and

correlating said first and second data sets to detect abnormal tissue in the examined tissue region.