MULTI-MODE INTERNAL IMAGING

• US 20110092813A1
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xenogen Corporation (Revvity, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Xenogen Corporation (Revvity, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rice, Bradley W., Cable, Michael D., Nilson, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,008,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/427
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0035 adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography
• 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 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4417 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5247 combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4416 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/76 Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/1603 with a combination of at least two different types of detector see provisionally also G01T1/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/1648 Ancillary equipment for scintillation cameras, e.g. reference markers, devices for removing motion artifacts, calibration devices adapted for flow studies G01T1/1647
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2985 In depth localisation, e.g. using positron emitters; Tomographic imaging (longitudinal and transverse section imaging; apparatus for radiation diagnosis sequentially in different planes, steroscopic radiation diagnosis); using external radiation sources A61B6/02

Abstract

The invention described herein provides systems and methods for multi-modal imaging with light and a second form of imaging. Light imaging involves the capture of low intensity light from a light-emitting object. A camera obtains a two-dimensional spatial distribution of the light emitted from the surface of the subject. Software operated by a computer in communication with the camera may then convert two-dimensional spatial distribution data from one or more images into a three-dimensional spatial representation. The second imaging mode may include any imaging technique that compliments light imaging. Examples include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer topography (CT). An object handling system moves the object to be imaged between the light imaging system and the second imaging system, and is configured to interface with each system.

Claims

1. A multi-modal imaging system adapted to provide multiple types of imaging data for an internal portion of an object being imaged, the multi-modal imaging system comprising:

a light imaging system adapted to provide light data related to light emitted from a light source located inside an object being imaged, the light imaging system including an imaging chamber comprising an interior cavity and a camera configured to capture light data from the object being imaged while the object is in the interior cavity, wherein the object being imaged emits between about 10³ and about 10¹⁰ photons/second/centimeter squared/steradian; and

a second imaging system configured to provide imaging data for the internal portion of the object being imaged, said second imaging system being a different type of imaging system than the light imaging system.

2. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one processing device in logical communication with the light imaging system and in logical communication with the second imaging system, wherein the at least one processing device combines information provided by the second imaging system with information provided by the light imaging system.

3. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 1, wherein the second imaging system is a computer tomography imaging system.

4. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 3, wherein the computer tomography imaging system includes an X-ray producer configured to emit X-rays that pass through the object being imaged and an array of X-ray sensors that receive the X-rays.

5. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 4, further comprising:

at least one processing device in logical communication with the light imaging system and in logical communication with the computer tomography imaging system, wherein the at least one processing device combines three-dimensional spatial information provided by the computer tomography imaging system with three-dimensional functional information provided by the light imaging system.

6. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:

a movable stage adapted to support the object being imaged during imaging.

7. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 1, wherein the imaging chamber is configured such that the interior cavity is substantially light tight from the ambient space outside the imaging chamber during imaging.

8. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 1, wherein the second imaging system is a magnetic resonance imaging system having a tubular cavity passing through a magnetic resonance imaging magnet.

9. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 1, wherein the second imaging system is a nuclear medicine imaging system having one or more sensors that detect radioactive emissions produced by a radioactive substance within the object.

10. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 1, wherein the second imaging system is a positron emission tomography system having a circular gamma ray detector array, which includes a set of scintillation crystals each connected to a photomultiplier tube.

11. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 1, wherein the second imaging system is an ultrasound imaging system having a probe configured to generate sound waves that travel through the object and configured to detect reflected waves produced in the object.

12. A multi-modal system for imaging an object, comprising:

a support member adapted to receive the object;

an imaging system adapted to image the object in a first imaging mode to capture a first image, the first imaging mode being a computed tomography mode or other x-ray mode, wherein the imaging system is also adapted to image the object in a second imaging mode different from the first imaging mode to capture a second image, the second imaging mode using light from the inside the object, the second imaging mode being a fluorescence mode or a luminescence mode, wherein the object being imaged emits between about 10³ and about 10¹⁰ photons/second/centimeter squared/steradian; and

a capture component adapted to capture the first image of the object or the second image of the object.

13. The multi-modal system of claim 12, wherein the capture component comprises a CCD camera.

14. The multi-modal system of claim 12, wherein the capture component comprises an array of X-ray sensors.

15. The multi-modal system of claim 12, further comprising:

a merging unit adapted to generate a third image by merging the first and second images.

16. The multi-modal system of claim 15, wherein the merging unit includes a processing device in logical communication with one or more components in the first imaging mode and in logical communication with one or more components in the second imaging mode.

17. The multi-modal system of claim 12, wherein the imaging system is adapted to image the object in the first imaging mode and image the object in the second imaging mode without substantially disturbing the object between imaging modes.

18. A method of imaging an object, comprising:

providing a support member adapted to receive and support the object during imaging;

imaging the object in a first imaging mode to capture a first image, the first imaging mode being a computed tomography mode or other x-ray mode; and

imaging the object in a second imaging mode that uses light from within the object to capture a second image, the second imaging mode being a fluorescence mode or a luminescence mode, wherein the object being imaged emits between about 10³ and about 10¹⁰ photons/second/centimeter squared/steradian.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the object is not substantially disturbed between imaging the object in a first imaging mode and imaging the object in a second imaging mode.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

generating a third image by merging the first and second images.