System and method for quantifying the dynamic response of a target system

• US 20040039268A1
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Randall L. Barbour, Yaling Pei
• Original Assignee: Randall L. Barbour, Yaling Pei
• Inventors: Barbour, Randall L., Pei, Yaling
• Granted Patent: US 7,778,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0091 for mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4884 inducing physiological or psychological stress, e.g. applications for stress testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/726 using Wavelet transforms

Abstract

A time series of optical tomography data is obtained for a target tissue site in a human (or animal), using an optical wavelength, such as near infrared, at which hemoglobin is absorptive, to observe properties of the vasculature of the human. The data may be compared to baseline data of a corresponding tissue site, e.g., from a healthy human, or from another, corresponding tissue site of the human. For example, a suspected cancerous breast of a human may be compared to a known healthy breast to detect differences in the vasculature. Measures may be made of flow, oxygen supply/demand imbalance, and evidence of altered regulation of the peripheral effector mechanism. The function of the target tissue site may be analyzed, along with the coordinated interaction between multiple sites of the target system. A provocation may be administered to identify surrogate markers of an underlying state or process.

Claims

1. A method for assessing tissue function in a subject human or animal, comprising:

obtaining a time series of optical tomography data from a first tissue site of the subject human or animal using an optical wavelength at which hemoglobin is absorptive; and

comparing the time series of optical tomography data from the first tissue site to a time series of corresponding optical tomography data from a second tissue site 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

using the compared time series to assess differential responses between the first and second tissue sites.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the compared time series to assess evidence of coordinated interactions between the first and second tissue sites.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the comparing comprises comparing phase differences in the optical tomography data between the first and second tissue sites.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the comparing comprises comparing hemoglobin states for the first and second tissue sites.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the comparing comprises comparing a modulation amplitude of the optical tomography data as a function of carrier frequency for the first and second tissue sites.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the comparing comprises comparing variations in the optical tomography data for the first and second tissue sites at a frequency band associated with a vascular beat frequency of the subject human or animal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second tissue site is of the subject human or animal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second tissue site is of an analogous tissue site of the subject human or animal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second tissue site is of a baseline human or animal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the optical tomography comprises near infrared optical tomography.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

provoking a vasculature of the subject human or animal at least one of before and during the obtaining of the time series of optical tomography data therefrom.

13. A method for assessing tissue function in a subject human or animal, comprising:

obtaining first and second time series of optical tomography data from a tissue site of the subject human or animal using an optical wavelength at which hemoglobin is absorptive; and

comparing the first time series of optical tomography data to the second time series of optical tomography data to assess tissue function of the tissue site.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the comparing comprises comparing phase differences of the optical tomography data in the first and second time series.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the comparing comprises comparing hemoglobin states for the first and second time series.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the comparing comprises comparing a modulation amplitude of the optical tomography data as a function of carrier frequency for the first and second time series.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the comparing comprises comparing variations in the optical tomography data for the first and second time series at a frequency band associated with a vascular beat frequency of the subject human or animal.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the optical tomography comprises near infrared optical tomography.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

provoking a vasculature of the subject human or animal at least one of before and during the obtaining of the first time series of optical tomography data therefrom.