IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FLUORESCENCE GUIDED SURGERY

• US 20140276008A1
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Tsien, Roger Y., Steinbach, Paul, Nguyen, Quyen T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,231,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• 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 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens

Abstract

Imaging systems for fluorescence guided surgery are provided. An imaging system comprises a light source unit for providing one or more illumination and excitation lights to a target, a detection unit for detecting reflectance and fluorescence from the target, an optical train for directing the one or more illumination and excitation lights from the light source unit to the target and for directing the reflectance and fluorescence from the target to the detection unit, and a control unit for controlling the light source unit and the detection unit. Imaging methods for fluorescence guided surgery are also provided.

Claims

1. An imaging system for rapid alternation of white-light reflectance image and one or more fluorescent images for fluorescence guided surgery applications, comprising:

(A) a light source unit for providing one or more illumination and excitation lights to a target, the light source unit comprising a plurality of light engines, wherein

(i) a first light engine in the plurality of light engines emits a first light for illuminating the target, and

(ii) a second light engine in the plurality of light engines emits a second light for exciting a first fluorophore in the target;

(B) a detection unit comprising a plurality of detectors for detecting reflectance and fluorescence from the target, thereby producing a plurality of images, wherein

(i) a first detector in the plurality of detectors detects the reflectance from the target, thereby producing a reflectance image in the plurality of images, and

(ii) a second detector in the plurality of detectors detects a first fluorescence emitted by the excited first fluorophore, thereby producing a first fluorescence image;

(C) an optical train for directing the one or more illumination and excitation lights from the light source unit to the target and for directing the reflectance and fluorescence from the target to the detection unit; and

(D) a control unit for controlling the light source unit and the detection unit.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a high speed light source for said white-light reflectance image and said one or more fluorescence images.

4. The imaging system of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the high speed light source is selected from the group consisting of LEDs, lasers, pulsed xenon lamps and any other light source capable of rapid On and Off times.

5. The imaging system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the light sources can be sequentially energized at a frequency above the flicker fusion frequency for the human visual system.

7. The imaging system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the light source unit is controlled by the control unit such that each light engine in the plurality of light engines is energized sequentially.

8. The imaging system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit synchronizes the light source unit and the detection unit.

9. The imaging system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first detector in the plurality of detectors detects comprises a color camera.

10. The imaging system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second detector in the plurality of detectors detects comprises a first monochrome camera.

11. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the third detector in the plurality of detectors detects comprises a second monochrome camera.

12. The imaging system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the display unit displays the plurality of images by overlying the reflectance image with one or more fluorescence images in real-time.

34. The imaging system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of light engines comprises any number of light engines arranged using any combination of dichroic mirrors and optical filters.

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31. A method for homogenizing any non-uniform light source using a light pipe with a hexagonal or square profile for producing a uniform distribution of light at the specimen plane for a human or a small animal target for imaging purposes.

32. A method for attenuating white-light specular reflections from wet surfaces of a human or a small animal target for imaging purposes using a pair of linear or circular polarizers.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein one polarizer of said pair is located in front of the white-light source and one polarizer of said pair is located in front of the detector.