METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR ANALYSIS, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT MONITORING OF VOCAL FOLDS BY OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY

• US 20110224541A1
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yun, Seok-Hyun, Kobler, James B.
• Application Number:
  US12/963,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20110224541A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/425
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00172 with means for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2673 for monitoring movements of vocal chords
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of an apparatus and a method can be provided. For example, a first information can be obtained for at least one signal that is (i) at least partially periodic and (ii) associated with at least one structure. In addition, a second information associated with the structure can be generated at multiple time points within a single cycle of the at least one signal. The second information can include information for the structure below a surface thereof. Further, it is possible to generate a third information based on the first information and the second information, where the third information is associated with at least one characteristic of the structure.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one first arrangement which is configured to obtain a first information for at least one signal that is (i) at least partially periodic and (ii) associated with at least one structure;

at least one second arrangement which is configured to generate a second information associated with the at least one structure at multiple time points within a single cycle of the at least one signal, wherein the second information includes information for the at least one structure below a surface thereof; and

at least one third arrangement which is configured to generate a third information based on the first information and the second information, wherein the third information is associated with at least one characteristic of the at least one structure.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first information includes first data for multiple time points within one cycle of the at least partially periodic signal.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third information includes at least one image associated with the at least one structure.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one image is a three-dimensional image.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one image includes multiple sequential images over the multiple time points.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third information includes velocity information of a periodic motion of the at least one structure during the multiple time points.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third information includes mechanical properties of the at least one structure during the multiple time points.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third information includes strain information for the at least one structure.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third information includes further information regarding a periodic motion of the at least one structure during the multiple time points.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one structure is at least one anatomical structure.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one structure includes polymers or viscoelastic materials.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second arrangement includes an optical coherence tomography arrangement.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the optical coherence arrangement is configured to transmit a radiation the at least one structure, and controls the radiation as a function the first information provided by the at least one first arrangement.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the optical coherence arrangement is facilitated in an endoscope or a catheter.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the second information includes a phase interference information associated with the at least one structure, and wherein the at least one third arrangement is configured to determine at least one characteristic of a motion of the at least one structure using the phase interference information.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one characteristic of the motion comprises an amplitude property of the motion.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the radiation is controlled by controlling a propagation direction of the radiation.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first arrangement obtains the first information during a motion of the at least structure.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a periodicity of the motion is in a range of approximately 10 Hz and 10 KHz.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one structure is at least one vocal cord.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third information is provided for an internal portion of the at least one structure.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first arrangement includes at least one of a piezoelectrical transducer, an ultrasound transducer, an optical position sensor, or an imaging arrangement which indicates a motion of or within the at least one structure.

23. A method comprising:

obtaining a first information for at least one signal that is (i) at least partially periodic and (ii) associated with at least one structure;

with a computer arrangement, generating a second information associated with the at least one structure at multiple time points within a single cycle of the at least one signal, wherein the second information includes information for the at least one structure below a surface thereof; and

providing a third information based on the first information and the second information, wherein the third information is associated with at least one characteristic of the at least one structure.