Intravascular imaging device and uses thereof

• US 20060041199A1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David R. Elmaleh, Hjalmar Brismar, Rick A. Rogers
• Original Assignee: David R. Elmaleh, Hjalmar Brismar, Rick A. Rogers
• Inventors: Elmaleh, David R., Rogers, Rick A., Brismar, Hjalmar
• Granted Patent: US 8,029,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/478
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0068 Confocal scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/0034 Indocyanine green, i.e. ICG, cardiogreen

Abstract

The invention is directed to a probe-type imaging device useful to visualize interior surfaces, e.g., the lumen of blood vessels. Specifically, the probe-type device is particularly useful for direct tissue imaging in the presence or absence of molecular imaging agents.

Claims

1. An intravascular imaging device comprising:

a probe having a body portion;

a passageway in the body portion through which a guide wire can be extended to transmit light for subsequent directed emission from the probe to a tissue surface; and

a detector assembly on the body portion of the probe for detecting light scattered and reflected from the tissue surface, so that image signals from the detected light can be generated for display in real time.

2. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the probe includes a gap circumferentially situated about the body and through which light may be emitted in a substantially circular pattern.

3. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the probe includes an opening adjacent its distal end through which light along the guide wire may be emitted in a directed manner.

4. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the probe includes channels positioned about the passageway to house wires to and from the detector assembly.

5. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guide wire to be extended through the passageway can act to guide the probe as it moves intravascularly.

6. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guide wire to be extended through the passageway can be coupled to a light source for providing light transmitted along the guide wire.

7. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein light transmitted along the guide wire can include one of visible light, ultraviolet light, infrared light, and pulsed laser light.

8. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detector assembly is positioned on the body portion of the probe such that scattered and reflected light can be detected from various angles for subsequent imaging of the surrounding intravascular area.

9. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detector assembly includes one detector on the body of the probe.

10. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detector assembly includes a plurality of detectors positioned along the body of the probe.

11. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detector assembly rotates about the probe to enable a 360 degree field of view of surround tissue.

12. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detector assembly includes one of a scattered light detector, reflected light detector, optical detector, time-of-flight detector, or a combination thereof.

13. An imaging device as set forth in claim 12, wherein the optical detector includes a small area detector.

14. An imaging device as set forth in claim 12, wherein the time-of-flight detector includes a single photon array detector (SPAD) .

15. An imaging device as set forth in claim 12, wherein the time-of-flight detector has a resolution of about 0.1 picosecond.

16. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detector assembly is in communication with a processor for converting detected light into image signals for subsequent display in real time.

17. An imaging device as set forth in claim 16, wherein the detector assembly includes at least one signal processor and at least one integrator.

18. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, further including a light frequency modulator in communication with the guide wire for relatively rapid adjustment of the frequency of light transmitted along the guide wire.

19. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, further including a light diffuser to deliver light of appropriate frequency from the probe to the tissue surface.

20. An imaging device as set forth in claim 19, wherein the light diffuser includes nanocrystals embedded towards a central core of the probe.

21. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, further including a light amplifier on the body portion of the probe.

22. An imaging device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the light amplifier includes nanocrystals.

23. An imaging device as set forth in claim 1, further including a wavelength detector.

24. An imaging device as set forth in claim 23, wherein the wavelength detector includes nanocrystals acting as a specific wavelength detector.

25. An intravascular imaging device comprising:

a probe having a body portion;

a passageway in the body portion through which a guide wire can be extended for guiding movement of the probe;

a light source on the body portion of the probe for directed emission of light to a tissue surface; and

a detector array proximal to the light source for detecting light scattered and reflected from the tissue surface, so that image signals from the detected light can be generated for display in real time.

26. An imaging device as set forth in claim 25, wherein the light source can generate light along a spectrum of wavelengths.

27. An imaging device as set forth in claim 25, wherein light from the light source can include one of visible light, ultraviolet light, infrared light, and pulsed laser light.

28. An imaging device as set forth in claim 25, wherein the detector array is positioned on the body portion of the probe such that scattered and reflected light can be detected from various angles for subsequent imaging of the surrounding intravascular area.

29. An imaging device as set forth in claim 25, wherein the detector array includes one of a scattered light detector, a reflected light detector, a time-of-flight detector, or a combination thereof.

30. An imaging device as set forth in claim 25, wherein the detector array is arranged circumferentially about the body portion of the probe to enable a 360 degree field of view of surrounding tissue.

31. An imaging device as set forth in claim 25, wherein the detector array is capable of rotating about the body portion to enable a 360 degree field of view of surrounding tissue.

32. An imaging device as set forth in claim 25, wherein the light source and the detector array are integrated into one assembly.

33. An imaging device as set forth in claim 32, wherein the assembly is arranged circumferentially about the body portion of the probe to enable a 360 degree field of view of surrounding tissue.

34. An imaging device as set forth in claim 32, wherein the assembly is capable of rotating about the body portion to enable a 360 degree field of view of surrounding tissue.

35. An imaging device as set forth in claim 32, wherein the assembly includes a plurality of alternating light source and detectors.

36. An imaging device as set forth in claim 32, wherein the assembly further includes at least one signal processor and at least one integrator.

37. An imaging device as set forth in claim 25, further including a light frequency modulator in communication with the light source for relatively rapid adjustment of the frequency of light emitted.

38. An imaging device as set forth in claim 25, further including a light diffuser for light emitted to surrounding tissue.

39. An imaging device as set forth in claim 25, further including a light amplifier for light emitted to surrounding tissue.

40. A method for intravascular imaging, the method comprising:

placing adjacent a tissue surface an imaging device having a probe portion, a mechanism for directed emission of light to a tissue surface, and a detector assembly on the probe portion for detecting light scattered and reflected from the tissue surface;

activating the device for directed emission of light to the tissue surface;

advancing the device along the tissue surface;

detecting light scattered and reflected from the tissue surface; and

generating, in real time, an image of the tissue surface from the detected light for display.

41. A method as set forth in claim 40, wherein in the step of activating, directed emission includes one of emission of light in a circular pattern, emission at an angle from the probe, and emission from an end of the probe to the tissue surface.

42. A method as set forth in claim 40, wherein the step of activating includes providing a light frequency modulator for relatively rapid adjustment of the frequency of light emitted.

43. A method as set forth in claim 40, wherein the step of activating includes providing a light diffuser for light emitted to the tissue surface.

44. A method as set forth in claim 40, wherein the step of activating includes providing a light amplifier for light emitted to the tissue surface.

45. A method as set forth in claim 40, wherein the step of detecting includes analyzing intensity, based on photon counts, of the detected scattered and reflected light for identification of a diseased area and location of diseased tissue.

46. A method as set forth in claim 40, wherein the step of detecting includes analyzing time of flight of photons from the detected scattered and reflected light for identification of tissue characteristics, including dimensions and thickness.

47. A method as set forth in claim 40, wherein the step of detecting includes rotating the detector assembly to detect scattered and reflected light from surrounding tissue, so as to subsequently generate an optical image with a field of view of approximately 360 degrees of the surrounding tissue.

48. A method as set forth in claim 40, wherein the step of detecting includes providing a wavelength detector for detecting light of specific wavelengths.

49. A method as set forth in claim 40, further including displaying, in real time, on a monitor the generated image for viewing of the tissue surface.

50. A method for intravascular imaging, the method comprising:

targeting a tissue area to be imaged with a medium of a contrasting agent;

placing adjacent the tissue area an imaging device having a probe portion, a mechanism for directed emission, to surrounding tissue, light within a spectrum of wavelengths capable of exciting the contrasting agent, and a detector assembly on the probe portion for detecting light scattered and reflected from the contrasting agent in the surrounding tissue;

activating the device for directed emission of light to the surrounding tissue;

advancing the device along the surrounding tissue;

detecting light scattered and reflected from the contrasting agent in the surrounding tissue; and

generating, in real time, an image of the surrounding tissue from the detected light for display.

51. A method as set forth in claim 50, wherein in the step of targeting, the medium of a contrasting agent includes pharmacophores capable of labeling a blood component including hemoglobin, red blood cells, and platelets.

52. A method as set forth in claim 51, wherein the contrasting agent includes one of chromophore-anhydride, chromophore-acylchloride, chromophore-N-hydroxysuccinamide, chromophore-activated esters, chromophore-isothiocyanate, chromophore-melamide, albumin-chromophore isothiocyanate, polylysine-chromophore isothiocyanate, chromophore-IgG, palloidin-fluorescein isothiocyanate, and lectin-flourescein isothiocynate.

53. A method as set forth in claim 50, wherein in the step of targeting, the medium of a contrasting agent includes free molecular pharmacophores having affinity to a specific tissue through one of physical, chemical, or structural properties.

54. A method as set forth in claim 53, wherein the contrasting agent includes one of lipophillic cationic dyes, mag-indo-1N,N′

-bis(salicylidene), ethylenediamine, potassium-binding benzofuran isophthalate-AM, 6-methoxy-1-(3-sulfopropyl) quinolinium monohydrate, 9,9′

-bis(N-methylacridinium nitrate), tris(4,7-dipheyl-1,10-phenanthrolin) ruthenium(II) dichloride complex, quinones, rhodamine-based, porpherine-based, dequelinium, S13, tetralphenyl phosphonium-based, and amino acid color reaction reagent (DNP).

55. A method as set forth in claim 50, wherein in the step of targeting, the medium of a contrasting agent includes pharmacophores attached to one of metabolites, receptor ligands, and specific abnormal cell penetration vectors.

56. A method as set forth in claim 55, wherein the contrasting agent includes one of metabolite-chromophore, hormone-chromophore, apeptotic agent-chromophore, blood flow agent-chromophore, storage agent-chromophore, prostate binder-chromophore, and acetylcholine-chromophore.

57. A method as set forth in claim 50, wherein in the step of targeting, the medium of a contrasting agent includes pharmacophores with a short tatter to specific molecules having enhanced function in tissue of interest.

58. A method as set forth in claim 57, wherein the contrasting agent includes one of biotin(vector)-agent-chromophore, biotin-chromophore, adenosine-chromophore, ap4analog-chromphore, and acetylcholine receptor agonist/antagonist.

59. A method as set forth in claim 50 wherein in the step of targeting, the medium of a contrasting agent includes one of an MRI contrast medium that concentrates in plaque vascular components, a CT contrasing agent that target plaques, and a flourescence and chemoluminescence agent.

60. A method as set forth in claim 50, wherein the step of activating includes providing a light frequency modulator for relatively rapid adjustment of the frequency of light emitted to the surrounding tissue.

61. A method as set forth in claim 50, wherein the step of activating includes providing a light diffuser for light emitted to the surrounding tissue.

62. A method as set forth in claim 50, wherein the step of activating includes providing a light amplifier for light emitted to the surrounding tissue.

63. A method as set forth in claim 50, wherein the step of detecting includes analyzing intensity, based on photon counts, of the detected light scattered and reflected from the contrasting agent for identification of a diseased area and location of diseased tissue.

64. A method as set forth in claim 50, wherein the step of detecting includes analyzing time of flight of photons from the detected scattered and reflected light for identification of tissue characteristics, including dimensions and thickness.

65. A method as set forth in claim 50, wherein the step of detecting includes rotating the detector assembly to detect light scattered and reflected from contrasting agent in the surrounding tissue, so as to subsequently generate an optical image with a field of view of approximately 360 degrees of the surrounding tissue.

66. A method as set forth in claim 50, wherein the step of detecting includes providing a wavelength detector for detecting light of specific wavelengths.