HIGH RESOLUTION OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY BASED IMAGING FOR INTRALUMINAL AND INTERSTITIAL USE IMPLEMENTED WITH A REDUCED FORM FACTOR
First Claim
1. A method for performing optical coherence tomography (OCT), comprising the steps of:
- (a) advancing an OCT probe comprising an optical fiber and a compound lens to a position adjacent to a sample, wherein the compound lens includes a plurality of optical elements;
(b) directing light from a distal end of the optical fiber through the compound lens, the compound lens being configured to focus light from the OCT probe at a predefined working distance, while enabling a smaller focused spot size to be achieved at the predefined working distance as compared to an OCT probe having a similar diameter that is configured to focus light at the predefined working distance using a single component lens, the step of directing light from the distal end of the optical fiber through the compound lens comprising the steps of;
(i) directing light from the distal end of the optical fiber toward a beam adjusting element of the compound lens, the beam adjusting element being configured to manipulate light from the optical fiber so that a light beam exiting the beam adjusting element has a smaller beam diameter than a light beam exiting the distal end of the optical fiber, thus increasing a numerical aperture of the OCT probe relative to that at the distal end of the optical fiber; and
(ii) directing light from the beam adjusting element to a distal lens element in the compound lens, the distal lens element being configured to focus light manipulated by the beam adjusting element at the predefined working distance proximate the sample;
(c) collecting light received back from the sample; and
(d) using light received back from the sample to generate OCT data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Mechanically robust minimal form factor OCT probes suitable for medical applications such as needle biopsy, intraluminal and intravascular imaging are achieved in part by employing compound lenses with some or all of the optical elements, including an optical fiber, to be thermally fused in tandem. To achieve a desired working distance without increasing a diameter of the optics assembly, a spacer can be disposed between the optical fiber and focusing optics. The compound lens configuration can achieve higher transverse resolution compared to a single lens at a desired working distance without increasing the probe diameter. In exemplary needle biopsy embodiments, the optical assembly is encapsulated in a glass housing or metal-like housing with a glass window, which is then selectively passed through a hollow needle. Esophageal imaging embodiments are combined with a balloon catheter. Circumferential and three-dimensional spiral scanning can be achieved in each embodiment.
160 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for performing optical coherence tomography (OCT), comprising the steps of:
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(a) advancing an OCT probe comprising an optical fiber and a compound lens to a position adjacent to a sample, wherein the compound lens includes a plurality of optical elements; (b) directing light from a distal end of the optical fiber through the compound lens, the compound lens being configured to focus light from the OCT probe at a predefined working distance, while enabling a smaller focused spot size to be achieved at the predefined working distance as compared to an OCT probe having a similar diameter that is configured to focus light at the predefined working distance using a single component lens, the step of directing light from the distal end of the optical fiber through the compound lens comprising the steps of; (i) directing light from the distal end of the optical fiber toward a beam adjusting element of the compound lens, the beam adjusting element being configured to manipulate light from the optical fiber so that a light beam exiting the beam adjusting element has a smaller beam diameter than a light beam exiting the distal end of the optical fiber, thus increasing a numerical aperture of the OCT probe relative to that at the distal end of the optical fiber; and (ii) directing light from the beam adjusting element to a distal lens element in the compound lens, the distal lens element being configured to focus light manipulated by the beam adjusting element at the predefined working distance proximate the sample; (c) collecting light received back from the sample; and (d) using light received back from the sample to generate OCT data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An optical probe for use in high resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT), comprising:
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(a) an optical fiber; and (b) a compound lens having a plurality of individual elements, for focusing light from the optical fiber at a predefined working distance, while enabling a diameter of the optical probe to be reduced as compared to an optical probe configured to focus light at the predefined working distance using a single component lens, the compound lens comprising; (i) a beam adjusting element configured to manipulate light from the optical fiber so that a light beam exiting a distal end of the beam adjusting element has a smaller beam diameter than a light beam exiting the distal end of the optical fiber, thus increasing a numerical aperture of the OCT probe relative to that at the distal end of the optical fiber; and (ii) a distal lens element configured to focus light manipulated by the beam adjusting element at the predefined working distance proximate the sample. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for carrying out high resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) of a body lumen, comprising:
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(a) a low-coherence light source; (b) a sample arm comprising an OCT probe configured to scan a sample in the body lumen, the sample arm exhibiting a first optical path length and being optically coupled to the light source, the OCT probe having a form factor suitable for body lumen imaging, and including an optical fiber and a compound lens, the compound lens comprising; (i) a beam adjusting element configured to manipulate light from the optical fiber so that a light beam exiting a distal end of the beam adjusting element has a smaller beam diameter than a light beam exiting the distal end of the optical fiber, thus increasing a numerical aperture of the OCT probe relative to that at the distal end of the optical fiber; and (ii) a distal lens element configured to focus light manipulated by the beam adjusting element at the predefined working distance proximate the sample; (c) a reference arm exhibiting a second optical path length, the reference arm being optically coupled to the light source; (d) a detector optically coupled to the sample arm and the reference arm; (e) a prime mover and a fiber optic rotary joint disposed at a proximal end of the OCT probe, the rotary joint cooperating with the prime mover to enable the optical fiber to be selectively rotated; (f) a linear translation component, enabling the OCT probe to be selectively linearly translated relative to the sample; and (g) a processor and memory logically coupled to the detector, the OCT probe, the prime mover and the translation component, the processor being configured to execute a plurality of machine instructions stored in the memory, to carry out at least one of the following functions; (i) controlling the prime mover and the OCT probe to implement a circumferential scanning of the body lumen; and (ii) controlling the prime mover, the linear translation component and the OCT probe to enable a three dimensional spiral imaging of the body lumen to be achieved. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method for making an optical probe for use in high resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT), comprising the steps of:
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(a) selecting a desired working distance for which the optical probe will be optimized; (b) providing an optical fiber, a first spacer, a first lens, and a second lens, the spacer and the first lens having been selected such that a diameter of a light beam provided by the optical fiber will be reduced after passing through the first spacer and the first lens, and the second lens having been selected to achieve a desired resolution at the desired working distance, based on an object distance between the first and second lenses; (c) fixedly coupling a proximal end of the first spacer to a distal end of the optical fiber; (d) fixedly coupling a distal end of the first spacer to a proximal end of the first lens; and (e) determining if a second spacer is needed to fill the object distance between the first lens and the second lens, and if so then fixedly coupling a distal end of the second spacer to a distal end of the first lens and a proximal end of the second lens, and if not, then coupling a distal end of the first lens to a proximal end of the second lens. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. An optical probe for use in high resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) guided needle biopsy, comprising:
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(a) a needle-like housing including an opening through which light can pass, the opening being disposed at a distal end of the needle-like housing; (b) an optical fiber; and (c) an optical element for focusing light from the optical fiber at a predefined working distance, wherein at least one of the following is true; (i) the optical element comprises a compound lens; and (ii) the optical element and a distal end of the optical fiber are encapsulated in an inner optically transmissive housing, the inner optically transmissive housing being disposed within the needle-like housing. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. An optical probe for use in high resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT), comprising:
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(a) an optical fiber; and (b) a beam focusing structure comprising a plurality of optical elements including at least one gradient index (GRIN) lens, a proximal optical element in the beam focusing structure being thermally fused to a distal end of the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to evaluate a patient for the presence of Barrett'"'"'s esophageal tissue;
- comprising the steps of;
(a) advancing an OCT probe capable of examining esophageal surface tissue and sub-squamous tissue; and (b) systematically scanning the patient'"'"'s esophagus for the presence of Barrett'"'"'s esophageal tissue disposed both at a surface of the esophagus as well as Barrett'"'"'s esophageal tissue disposed sub-squamously, to ensure that sub squamous Barrett'"'"'s esophageal tissue is detected even in the absence of Barrett'"'"'s esophageal tissue disposed at the surface of the esophagus.
- comprising the steps of;
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39. A method for using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to evaluate an effectiveness of therapy provided to treat Barrett'"'"'s esophageal tissue;
- comprising the steps of;
(a) advancing an OCT probe capable of examining esophageal surface tissue and sub-squamous tissue; and (b) using OCT to identify each location where esophageal surface tissue that has been treated destroy Barrett'"'"'s esophageal tissue; and (c) at each such location, using OCT to determine if any Barrett'"'"'s esophageal tissue remains sub-squamously, and if so, determining that additional treatment is required.
- comprising the steps of;
Specification