Arrangements and methods for facilitating photoluminescence imaging

• US 20070087445A1
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yelin, Dvir, Tearney, Guillermo, Vakoc, Benjamin, Bouma, Brett, Motz, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 7,889,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/172
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• 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 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6419 Excitation at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6421 Measuring at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6408 with measurement of decay time, time resolved fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6458 Fluorescence microscopy fluorescence microscopes per se G02B21/0076 and G02B21/16

Abstract

Exemplary systems and methods for obtaining a photoluminescence radiation from at least one portion of a sample can be provided. For example, using the exemplary embodiment, it is possible to receive a first radiation and disperse the first radiation into at least one second radiation and at least one third radiation. The second and third radiations can be provided to different locations of the portion. In addition, it is possible to receive the photoluminescence radiation from the portion based on the second and third radiations.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining a photoluminescence radiation from at least one portion of a sample, comprising:

at least one arrangement configured to;

i. receive a first radiation and disperses the first radiation into at least one second radiation and at least one third radiation, the second and third radiations being provided to different locations of the at least one portion, and

ii. receive the photoluminescence radiation from the at least one portion based on the second and third radiations.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one arrangement comprises at least one of a grating, a prism, a grism, a dual prism-grism or a lens.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one arrangement comprises a lens having a numerical aperture that is greater 0.5.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one first arrangement comprises at least one optical fiber.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one optical fiber has multiple claddings.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one optical fiber includes a plurality of optical fibers.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one arrangement comprise at least one of at least one pin hole arrangement or at least one slit arrangement.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the at least one optical fiber is a multimode fiber.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a wavelength tuning light source configured to provide the at least one first radiation.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a light source configured to provide the at least one first radiation that has multiple wavelengths.

11. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a further arrangement configured to modulate the wavelengths at different frequencies.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the further arrangement comprises an interferometric arrangement.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the interferometric arrangement includes at least one translatable component.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the further arrangement comprises a further interferometric arrangement configured to correct for non-linearities in the at least one translatable component.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the further arrangement can include at least one of an acousto-optical modulator or an electro-optical modulator configured to provide frequency encoding capabilities.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one arrangement is configured to generate information associated with the different locations as a function of the photoluminescence radiation, and further comprising a processing arrangement configured to generate at least one image based on the information.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the processing arrangement is configured to receive the at least one signal, and to Fourier transform the at least one signal to generate the image.

18. The system according claim 16, wherein the at least one image includes at least one of a microscopic image or an endoscopic image.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein the at least one arrangement comprises a detecting arrangement which is configured to receive the photoluminescence radiation and generate at least one signal which is associated with the photoluminescence radiation.

20. The system according to claims 1, wherein the at least one arrangement is configured to be able to control a position of the second and third radiations on the different locations on the at least one portion of the sample.

21. A method for obtaining a photoluminescence radiation from at least one portion of a sample, comprising:

receiving a first radiation and disperses the first radiation into at least one second radiation and at least one third radiation, the second and third radiations being provided to different locations of the at least one portion, and

receiving the photoluminescence radiation from the at least one portion based on the second and third radiations.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

generating information associated with the different locations as a function of the photoluminescence radiation; and

generating at least one image based on the information.