IN-VIVO OPTICAL IMAGING METHOD INCLUDING ANALYSIS OF DYNAMIC IMAGES

• US 20090252682A1
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hillman, Elizabeth M.C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,220,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/9.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/0017 Fluorescence in vivo

Abstract

In-vivo optical molecular imaging methods for producing an image of an animal are described. A time series of image data sets of an optical contrast substance in the animal is acquired using an optical detector Each image data set is obtained at a selected time and has the same plurality of pixels, with each pixel having an associated value. The image data sets are analyzed to identify a plurality of distinctive time courses, and respective pixel sets are determined from the plurality of pixels which correspond to each of the time courses. In one embodiment, each pixel set is associated with an identified anatomical or other structure, and an anatomical image map of the animal can be generated which includes one or more of the anatomical structures.

Claims

1. An in-vivo optical molecular imaging method for producing an image of an animal including a delineated targeted region, comprising:

acquiring a time series of image data sets of a targeted optical contrast substance within the animal using an optical detector, wherein each image data set is obtained at a selected time and has the same plurality of pixels, with each pixel having an associated value,

analyzing the image data sets to identify a plurality of distinctive time courses,

determining a respective pixel set from the plurality of pixels which corresponds to each of the time courses, and associating each pixel set with an identified structure, and

generating an image of the animal wherein a targeted region is delineated using the identified structures.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the image generating step isolates individual identified structures, and displays them independently.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a targeted region is one of the identified structures.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical contrast substance is a dye.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step includes a principal component analysis.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step includes using a plurality of basis time courses in a least squares determination of a matrix equation relating the image data sets to the basis time courses.

13. The method of claim 1, further including determining autofluorescent effects and subtracting the autofluorescent effects to generate the image of the animal.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a field of view of the optical detector includes multiple views of the animal.

55. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring a time series of image data sets comprises acquiring a time series of image data sets of a plurality of targeted optical contrast substances.

59. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a respective pixel set includes using pixel values from multiple time points within the time series and calculating a single spatial distribution of the pixel values across the time series.

62. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing the image data sets is achieved using pixel values obtained at a plurality of time points within the time series such that the plurality of distinctive time courses are identified based on calculated spatial and temporal patterns of emission from the optical contrast substance.

63. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a respective pixel set from the plurality of pixels which corresponds to each of the time courses is a calculation based on the temporal pattern of emission of the optical contrast substance at each pixel.

64. The method of claim 1 wherein dynamics of the optical contrast substance within the animal are used to identify multiple organs within a single image.

89. The imaging method of claim 1 wherein the method further includes:

associating at least one respective pixel set with a physiological process.

4-5. -5. (canceled)

7-10. -10. (canceled)

15-39. -39. (canceled)

40. An in-vivo optical molecular imaging method for localizing a targeted region with respect to anatomical structures of an animal, comprising:

positioning the animal in a desired arrangement in a field of view of an optical detector,

acquiring a targeted image data set of a first dye using the optical detector while the animal is in the desired arrangement, the targeted image data set having a plurality of pixels,

acquiring a time series of anatomical image data sets of a second dye using the optical detector while the animal is in the same desired arrangement, each anatomical image data set obtained at a selected time and having a same plurality of pixels as the others, each pixel having an associated value,

analyzing the anatomical image data sets to identify a plurality of distinctive time courses, wherein each time course is associated with a respective anatomical structure, determining a respective pixel set from the plurality of pixels which corresponds to each of the time courses, and associating each pixel set with an identified anatomical structure,

generating an anatomical image map of the animal which includes each anatomical structure as a differentiated pixel set, and

combining the targeted image data set with the anatomical image map to generate an image representative of the animal showing the location of the targeted region with respect to the anatomical structures.

43. The method of claim 40 wherein the acquiring steps include the use of optical filters to distinguish between the first dye and the second dye.

46. The method of claim 40, wherein the analyzing step includes using a plurality of basis time courses in a least squares determination of a matrix equation relating the anatomical image data sets to the basis time courses to determine a pixel set corresponding to each of the plurality of basis time courses, and to identify specific anatomical structures corresponding to each pixel set.

41-42. -42. (canceled)

44-45. -45. (canceled)

47. An imaging system, comprising:

an optical detector which is operable to acquire an image of a subject within a field of view;

an imaging platform having a surface for supporting the subject in a desired arrangement;

at least one mirror arranged at an angle with respect to the imaging platform surface such that multiple views of the subject are within the field of view of the optical detector.

48. The imaging system of claim 47, wherein two mirrors are arranged at an angle with respect to the imaging platform surface.

49. The imaging system of claim 47, wherein each mirror is arranged at a forty five degree angle with respect to the imaging platform surface.

50-54. -54. (canceled)

56-58. -58. (canceled)

60-61. -61. (canceled)

65-88. -88. (canceled)

90-124. -124. (canceled)