Near infrared transrectal probes for prostate cancer detection and prognosis

• US 20060264760A1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Truelson, Thomas C., Liu, Hanli
• Application Number:
  US11/352,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20060264760A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/473
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4381 Prostate evaluation or disorder diagnosis

Abstract

A multi-channel, near infrared (NIR) imaging system comprising one or more optical fiber bundles; and a transrectal NIR probe having an outer material, wherein the optical fiber bundle is integrated into the transrectal probe (an end-fire or a side-fire NIR probe). The outer material is preferably rubber-like silicon or made of two translucent materials exhibiting low viscosity and requires curing at room temperature. The transrectal NIR probe comprises a curvature to match the curvature of a human rectum and may have a circular or oval-shaped silicone holder. The imaging system further comprises a broad-band light source adapted to deliver light to the fiber channels, an optical switch box adapted to allow only one of the fiber channels to pass through at a time; and a multi-channel spectrometer to capture tomographic images of changes in HbO, HbT, light scattering patterns and hemodynamic response times from human prostate.

Claims

1. A multi-channel, near infrared (NIR) imaging system comprising:

one or more optical fiber bundles; and

a transrectal NIR probe having an outer material, wherein the optical fiber bundle is integrated into the transrectal probe.

2. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 1, wherein the transrectal NIR probe is an end-fire NIR probe.

3. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 1, wherein the transrectal NIR probe is a side-fire NIR probe.

4. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 1, wherein the outer material is rubber-like silicon.

5. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 1, wherein outer material is made of two translucent materials exhibiting low viscosity and requiring curing at room temperature.

6. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 1, wherein the transrectal NIR probe comprises a curvature to match the curvature of a human rectum.

7. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 1, wherein the outer material is a circular silicone holder.

8. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 1, wherein the outer material is a oval-shaped silicone holder.

9. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a broad-band light source.

10. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 9, wherein the broad-band light source is tungsten halogen.

11. A multi-channel, near infrared (NIR) imaging system comprising:

one or more optical fiber channels;

a transrectal NIR probe having an outer material, wherein the optical fiber channels are bundled into the transrectal probe;

an optical switch box adapted to allow signals from only one of the fiber channels to pass through at a time;

a broad-band light source adapted to deliver light to the fiber channels; and

a multi-channel spectrometer to capture data from the channels.

12. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 11, wherein the NIR imaging system is adapted to capture tomographic images of changes in HbO, HbT, light scattering patterns and hemodynamic response times from a human prostate.

13. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 11, wherein the optical switch box is an 1-to-8 optical switch box.

14. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 11, wherein the multi-channel spectrometer is an 8-channel spectrometer with arrays of wavelengths between 500-900 nm.

15. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 11, wherein the temporal resolution of the imaging system between two image acquisitions is within 5 to 10 seconds.

16. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 11, wherein the transrectal NIR probe is an end-fire NIR probe.

17. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 11, wherein the transrectal NIR probe is a side-fire NIR probe.

18. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 11, wherein the outer material is rubber-like silicon.

19. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 11, wherein outer material is made of two translucent materials exhibiting low viscosity and requires curing at room temperature.

20. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 11, wherein the transrectal NIR probe comprises a curvature to match the curvature of a human rectum.

21. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 11, wherein the outer material is a circular silicone holder.

22. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 11, wherein the outer material is a oval-shaped silicone holder.

23. The multi-channel NIR imaging system of claim 11, wherein the broad-band light source is tungsten halogen.