Method and apparatus for optical spectroscopic detection of cell and tissue death
First Claim
1. A method for detecting death process of a cell of a living subject, comprising the steps of:
- a. illuminating the cell of the living subject with a coherent light;
b. collecting fluorescent light returned from the illuminated cell of the living subject;
c. identifying a NAD(P)H peak of a spectrum of the collected fluorescent light with a wavelength, λ
peak;
d. obtaining the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum of the collected fluorescent light substantially corresponding to the wavelength λ
peak; and
e. repeating steps (a)-(d) at sequential stages until the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum at a current stage M is less than the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum at an earlier stage M-1, wherein the stage M-1 is immediately prior to the current stage M, M being an integer greater than 1, so as to detect death process of the cell of the living subject at the current stage M using the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum.
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Abstract
A method for detecting death process of a cell or tissue of a living subject. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of illuminating the cell or tissue of the living subject with a coherent light, collecting fluorescent light returned from the illuminated cell or tissue of the living subject, identifying a NAD(P)H peak of a spectrum of the collected fluorescent light with a wavelength, λpeak, and obtaining the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum of the collected fluorescent light substantially corresponding to the wavelength λpeak. These steps are repeated at sequential stages until the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum at a current stage is less than the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum at an earlier stage immediately prior to the current stage so as to detect death process of the cell of the living subject at the current stage using the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A method for detecting death process of a cell of a living subject, comprising the steps of:
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a. illuminating the cell of the living subject with a coherent light;
b. collecting fluorescent light returned from the illuminated cell of the living subject;
c. identifying a NAD(P)H peak of a spectrum of the collected fluorescent light with a wavelength, λ
peak;
d. obtaining the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum of the collected fluorescent light substantially corresponding to the wavelength λ
peak; and
e. repeating steps (a)-(d) at sequential stages until the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum at a current stage M is less than the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum at an earlier stage M-1, wherein the stage M-1 is immediately prior to the current stage M, M being an integer greater than 1, so as to detect death process of the cell of the living subject at the current stage M using the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 52)
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6. A method for detecting death process of a tissue of a living subject, wherein the tissue is an aggregation of morphologically similar cells and associated intercellular matter, comprising the steps of:
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a. illuminating an area of the tissue of the living subject with a coherent light;
b. collecting fluorescent light returned from the illuminated area of the tissue of the living subject;
c. identifying a NAD(P)H peak of a spectrum of the collected fluorescent light with a wavelength, λ
peak;
d. obtaining the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum of the collected fluorescent light substantially corresponding to the wavelength λ
peak; and
e. repeating steps (a)-(d) at sequential stages until the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum at a current stage M is less than the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum at an earlier stage M-1, wherein the stage M-1 is immediately prior to the current stage M, M being an integer greater than 1, so as to detect death process of the tissue of the living subject at the current stage M using the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for detecting death process of at least one cell of a living subject, comprising:
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a. a light source adapted for emitting coherent light with a wavelength at least in a range of between 300 nm and 400 nm;
b. a fiber optical probe coupled with the light source and adapted for delivering the coherent light to the at least one cell of the living subject proximal to a working end of the fiber optical probe;
c. a detector coupled with the fiber optical probe so as to receive from the working end of the fiber optical probe fluorescent light returned from the at least one cell of the living subject in response to illumination by the coherent light and to provide a frequency spectrum of the returned fluorescent light; and
d. a controller coupled with the detector and programmed to identify a NAD(P)H peak of a frequency spectrum of the returned fluorescent light with a wavelength, λ
peak, and the corresponding intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the frequency spectrum of the returned fluorescent light so as to detect death process of the illuminated at least one cell of the living subject. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for identifying an in vitro liver tissue of a living subject, comprising the steps of:
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a. acquiring a fluorescence spectrum of an in vitro liver tissue to be identified;
b. acquiring a diffused reflectance spectrum of the in vitro liver tissue;
and c. identifying a first peak and a second peak of the fluorescence spectrum, and a spectral profile of the diffused reflectance spectrum in a predetermined wavelength region, respectively, so as to identify the in vitro liver tissue, wherein the first peak of the fluorescence spectrum includes a first peak wavelength, λ
1, and a corresponding first peak intensity, F(λ
1), and the second peak of the fluorescence spectrum includes a second peak wavelength, λ
2, and a corresponding second peak intensity, F(λ
2), and wherein the spectral profile of the diffused reflectance spectrum includes a spectral shape and intensity, and the predetermined wavelength region is from about 600 nm to about 800 nm. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for identifying an in vitro liver tissue of a living subject, comprising:
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a. a first light source adapted for emitting an excitation light;
b. a second light source adapted for emitting a white light;
c. a fiber optical probe coupled with the first light source and the second light source so as to deliver the excitation light and the white light to an area of an in vitro liver tissue to be identified proximal to a working end of the fiber optical probe, respectively;
d. a detector coupled with the fiber optical probe so as to receive from the working end of the fiber optical probe fluorescent light returned from the area of the in vitro liver tissue of the living subject in response to illumination by the excitation light and diffused reflectance light returned from the area of the in vitro liver tissue of the living subject in response to illumination by the white light, and to provide frequency spectra of the returned fluorescent light and the returned diffused reflectance light, respectively; and
e. a controller coupled with the detector and programmed to determine a first peak and a second peak of the frequency spectrum of the returned fluorescent light, and a spectral profile of the frequency spectrum of the returned diffused reflectance light in a predetermined wavelength region, respectively, so as to identify the in vitro liver tissue, wherein the first peak of the frequency spectrum of the returned fluorescent light includes a first peak wavelength, λ
1, and a corresponding first peak intensity, F(λ
1), and the second peak of the frequency spectrum of the returned fluorescent light includes a second peak wavelength, λ
2, and a corresponding second peak intensity, F(λ
2), and wherein the spectral profile of the frequency spectrum of the returned diffused reflectance light includes a spectral shape and intensity, and the predetermined wavelength region is from about 600 nm to about 800 nm. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for detecting a malignant liver tissue of in vivo liver tissues, wherein the in vivo liver tissues have at least a first area and a second area, at least one of the first area and the second area containing a malignant liver tissue, comprising the steps of:
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a. acquiring a fluorescence spectrum of the in vivo liver tissues from the first area;
b. acquiring a diff-used reflectance spectrum of the in vivo liver tissues from the first area;
c. identifying a blood absorption signature in the fluorescence spectrum at a first wavelength about 540 nm, and at a second wavelength about 580 nm, and a spectral profile of the diffused reflectance spectrum in a predetermined wavelength region, respectively, wherein the blood absorption signature in the fluorescence spectrum is corresponding to a spectral valley, and wherein the spectral profile of the diffused reflectance spectrum includes a spectral shape and intensity, and the predetermined wavelength region is from about 600 nm to about 700 mn;
d. repeating steps (a)-(c) in the second area of the in vivo liver tissues;
and e. identifying the in vivo liver tissue as a malignant liver tissue in one of the first area and the second area, wherein in the area no blood absorption signature is identified in the fluorescence spectrum at about 540 nm and about 580 nm, respectively, and the intensity of the diffused reflectance spectrum is substantially monotonically decreased over the predetermined wavelength region from about 600 nm to about 700 nm. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. An apparatus for detecting a malignant liver tissue of in vivo liver tissues, wherein the in vivo liver tissues have at least a first area and a second area, at least one of the first area and the second area containing a malignant liver tissue, comprising:
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a. a first light source adapted for emitting an excitation light;
b. a second light source adapted for emitting a white light;
c. a fiber optical probe coupled with the first light source and the second light source so as to deliver the coherent light and the white light to an area of an in vivo liver tissues to be identified proximal to a working end of the fiber optical probe, respectively;
d. a detector coupled with the fiber optical probe so as to receive from the working end of the fiber optical probe fluorescent light returned from the area of the in vivo liver tissues of the living subject in response to illumination by the excitation light and diffused reflectance light returned from the area of the in vivo liver tissues of the living subject in response to illumination by the white light, and to provide frequency spectra of the returned fluorescent light and the returned diffused reflectance light, respectively; and
e. a controller coupled with the detector and programmed to determine a blood absorption signature in the frequency spectrum of the returned fluorescent light at a first wavelength about 540 nm, and at a second wavelength about 580 nm, and a spectral profile of the frequency spectrum of the returned diffused reflectance light in a predetermined wavelength region, respectively, wherein the blood absorption signature in the frequency spectrum of the returned fluorescent light is corresponding to a spectral valley, and wherein the spectral profile of the frequency spectrum of the returned diffused reflectance light includes a spectral shape and intensity, and the predetermined wavelength region is from about 600 nm to about 700 nm. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for identifying an in vitro tissue of an organ of a living subject, comprising the steps of:
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a. acquiring a fluorescence spectrum of an in vitro tissue to be identified;
b. acquiring a diffused reflectance spectrum of the in vitro tissue; and
c. identifying a first peak and a second peak of the fluorescence spectrnm, and a spectral profile of the diffused reflectance spectrum in a predetermined wavelength region, respectively, so as to identify the in vitro tissue, wherein the first peak of the fluorescence spectrum includes a first peak wavelength, λ
1, and a corresponding first peak intensity, F(λ
1), and the second peak of the fluorescence spectrum includes a second peak wavelength, λ
2, and a corresponding second peak intensity, F(λ
2), and wherein the spectral profile of the diffused reflectance spectrum includes a spectral shape and intensity. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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45. A method of optimal placement of a radio frequency probe for a radio frequency ablation of a liver tumor in liver tissues of a living subject, wherein the radio frequency probe has a plurality of electrodes, each electrode adapted for transmitting a radio frequency energy applied to an area of the liver tissues in which a working end of the electrode is located, and a plurality of optical fibers adapted such that when the radio frequency probe is placed into the liver tissues, each optical fiber is adapted for an optical spectrum measurement in an area of the liver tissues in which a working end of the optical fiber is located, comprising the steps of:
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a. placing the radio frequency probe into the liver tissues at an initially selected position;
b. acquiring optical spectra from each area of the liver tissues in which a working end of the plurality of optical fibers is located, respectively;
c. identifying a type of the liver tissues in each area from the acquired optical spectra corresponding to the area, respectively;
d. adjusting the position of the radio frequency probe from the initially selected position so as to find a new position if a normal liver tissue is identified in at least one area in which a working end of the plurality of optical fibers is located;
e. repeating steps (b)-(d) until no normal liver tissue is identified in any area in which a working end of the plurality of optical fibers is located in a current position of the radio frequency probe; and
f. choosing the current position as an optimal position of the radio frequency probe for a radio frequency ablation of a liver tumor in liver tissues. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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47. An apparatus of optimal placement of a radio frequency probe for a radio frequency ablation of a liver tumor in liver tissues of a living subject, comprising:
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a. a first light source adapted for emitting a coherent light;
b. a second light source adapted for emitting a white light;
c. a radio frequency probe coupled with the first light source and the second light source and placed at an initially selected position in the liver tissues, wherein the radio frequency probe have a plurality of electrodes, each electrode adapted for transmitting a radio frequency energy applied to an area of the liver tumor in which a working end of the electrode is located, and a plurality of optical fibers is adapted such that when the radio frequency probe is placed into the liver tissues, each optical fiber is adapted for an optical spectrum measurement in an area of the predetermined margin in which a working end of the optical fiber is located;
d. a detector coupled with the radio frequency probe so as to acquire optical spectra from each area of the liver tissues in which a working end of the plurality of optical fibers is located, respectively; and
e. a controller coupled with the detector and programmed to identify a liver tissue type in each area of the liver tissues from the acquired optical spectra corresponding to each area, respectively, so as to determine if the placement of the radio frequency probe in the initially selected position is optimal. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50)
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51. A method for controlling a volume of a radio frequency ablation of a liver tumor in liver tissues of a living subject intra-operatively, comprising the steps of:
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a. placing a radio frequency probe into a volumetic center of a liver tumor to be ablated, wherein the radio frequency probe has a plurality of electrodes, each electrode adapted for transmitting a radio frequency energy applied to an area of the liver tumor in which a working end of the electrode is located, and a plurality of optical fibers adapted such that when the radio frequency probe is placed into the volumetic center of the liver tumor, working ends of the plurality of optical fibers are positioned at a predetermined margin of the liver tumor, each optical fiber adapted for an optical spectrum measurement in an area of the predetermined margin in which a working end of the optical fiber is located;
b. conducting a radio frequency ablation of the liver tumor with the radio frequency probe;
c. acquiring optical spectra from each area of the predetermined margin of the liver tumor in which a working end of the plurality of optical fibers is located;
d. monitoring liver tissue coagulation in each area of the predetermined margin from the acquired optical spectra corresponding to each area;
and e. terminating the radio frequency ablation when the liver tissue coagulation in the predetermined margin appears in all monitored areas.
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53. An apparatus for monitoring a volume of a radio frequency ablation of a liver tumor in liver tissues of a living subject intra-operatively, comprising:
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a. at least one light source adapted for emitting a light;
b. a radio frequency energy source adapted for providing a radio frequency energy;
c. a radio frequency probe coupled with the radio frequency energy source and the at least one light source and placed at a volumetic center of a liver tumor to be ablated, wherein the radio frequency probe has a plurality of electrodes, each electrode adapted for transmitting a radio frequency energy applied to an area of the liver tumor in which a working end of the electrode is located, and a plurality of optical fibers adapted such that when the radio frequency probe is placed into the volumetic center of the liver tumor, working ends of the plurality of optical fibers are positioned at a predetermined margin of the liver tumor, each optical fiber adapted for an optical spectrum measurement in an area of the predetermined margin in which a working end of the optical fiber is located;
d. a detector coupled with the radio frequency probe so as to acquire optical spectra from each area of the predetermined margin of the liver tumor in which a working end of the plurality of optical fibers is located; and
e. a controller coupled with the detector and programmed to intra-operatively monitor liver tissue coagulation in each area of the predetermined margin from the acquired optical spectra corresponding to each area. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A probe for ablation of a tumor in tissues of a living subject, comprising:
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a. a plurality of first electrodes, each electrode adapted for transmitting a radio frequency energy to an area of the tissues where a working end of a corresponding first electrode is located; and
b. at least one second electrode adapted for acquiring an optical spectrum measurement in an area of the tissues where a working end of the second electrode is located. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60)
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Specification