Optical imaging system for neurosurgery
First Claim
1. Method for optically imaging neuronal activity of in vivo mammalian cortical areas comprising the steps of:
- illuminating an in vivo cortical area of a mammalian brain with a regulated light source;
focusing a magnification lens on said cortical area;
detecting light reflected from said cortical area along a path through said magnification lens as an analog video signal representative of intrinsic signals, said intrinsic signals being generated in response to intrinsic characteristics of said cortical area;
digitizing said detected analog video signal to provide at least one frame of digitized image data;
acquiring and analyzing a plurality of frames of said digitized image data to identify changes in said intrinsic signals, said step of acquiring and analyzing further including the steps of;
averaging a series of frames of said digital image data during a control period to provide a first averaged image frame, said control period being characterized by a substantial absence of input stimuli to the brain;
storing said first averaged image frame;
applying a predetermined input stimuli to the brain during a stimulation period;
averaging a second series of frames of said digitized image data during said stimulation period to provide a second averaged image frame;
storing said second averaged image frame;
subtractively combining said first averaged image frame with said second averaged image frame to provide a first difference frame, said step of subtractively combining further including a step of spatially translating said first averaged image frame relative to said second averaged image frame;
filtering said first difference frame to reduce noise;
enhancing said first difference frame using a linear look-up table to stretch pixel values composing said difference frame;
filtering said stretched difference frame;
compressing and color-coding said difference frame; and
,superimposing an image of said color-coded difference frame upon a video image of said first or second averaged image frame to provide a composite image for identifying those portions of said cortical area subject to neuronal activity in response to said predetermined input stimuli.
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Abstract
In accordance with the present invention a method and apparatus are disclosed for real time imaging of functional activity in cortical areas of a mammalian brain using intrinsic signals. The present invention enables dynamic, on-line imaging of, for example, a human brain during neurosurgery to permit more accurate identification of dysfunctional cortical areas. Cortical areas are identified on the basis of stimulus evoked changes which occur in the optical properties of the brain so that real time localization of seizure (e.g., epileptic seizure) foci and functional mapping can be observed during neurosurgery. Areas of pathological tissue such as epileptic foci and tumors can thus be identified and removed during neurosurgery without damaging important functional areas in the cortex near the tissue.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. Method for optically imaging neuronal activity of in vivo mammalian cortical areas comprising the steps of:
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illuminating an in vivo cortical area of a mammalian brain with a regulated light source; focusing a magnification lens on said cortical area; detecting light reflected from said cortical area along a path through said magnification lens as an analog video signal representative of intrinsic signals, said intrinsic signals being generated in response to intrinsic characteristics of said cortical area; digitizing said detected analog video signal to provide at least one frame of digitized image data; acquiring and analyzing a plurality of frames of said digitized image data to identify changes in said intrinsic signals, said step of acquiring and analyzing further including the steps of; averaging a series of frames of said digital image data during a control period to provide a first averaged image frame, said control period being characterized by a substantial absence of input stimuli to the brain; storing said first averaged image frame; applying a predetermined input stimuli to the brain during a stimulation period; averaging a second series of frames of said digitized image data during said stimulation period to provide a second averaged image frame; storing said second averaged image frame; subtractively combining said first averaged image frame with said second averaged image frame to provide a first difference frame, said step of subtractively combining further including a step of spatially translating said first averaged image frame relative to said second averaged image frame; filtering said first difference frame to reduce noise; enhancing said first difference frame using a linear look-up table to stretch pixel values composing said difference frame; filtering said stretched difference frame; compressing and color-coding said difference frame; and
,superimposing an image of said color-coded difference frame upon a video image of said first or second averaged image frame to provide a composite image for identifying those portions of said cortical area subject to neuronal activity in response to said predetermined input stimuli. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Method for optically imaging neuronal activity during neurosurgery comprising the steps of:
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illuminating a cortical area; detecting light reflected from said cortical area; and acquiring and analyzing a digitized image obtained from said detected light during neurosurgery to provide on-line identification of those portions of said cortical area where neuronal activity has occurred, wherein said step of acquiring and analyzing further includes a step of obtaining said digitized image by subtractively combining at least two image frames of data obtained from said reflected light, said two image frames being spatially translated relative to one another. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. Method for optically imaging cortical activity of a mammalian brain comprising the steps of:
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detecting light reflected from a cortical area; storing at least two frames of data obtained from said reflected light; analyzing said at least two frames to identify intrinsic signal changes of said cortical area, said step of analyzing further including the steps of; spatially translating said at least two frames relative to one another; and
,subtractively combining said at least two frames to provide a difference frame. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. Apparatus for optically imagining neuronal activity of in vivo mammalian cortical areas comprising:
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a regulated light source for illuminating an in vivo cortical area of a mammalian brain; a magnification lens for focusing said light source on said cortical area; a filter for filtering light reflected from said cortical area along a path through said magnification lens; means for detecting said filtered light as an analog video signal representative of intrinsic signals, said intrinsic signals being generated in response to intrinsic characteristics of said cortical area; means for digitizing said detecting analog video signal to provide at least one frame of digitized image data; means for acquiring and analyzing a plurality of frames of said digitized image data to identify changes in said intrinsic signals, said acquiring and analyzing means further including; means for averaging a series of frames of said digital image data during a control period to provide a first averaged image frame, said control period being characterized by a substantial absence of input stimuli to the brain, said averaging means averaging a second series of frames of said digitized image data during a first stimulation period to provide a second averaged image frame and for spatially translating said first averaged image frame and said second averaged image frame relative to one another; means for storing said first averaged image frame and said second averaged image frame; means for subtractively combining said first averaged image frame with said second averaged image frame to provide a first difference frame; means for enhancing said first difference frame using a linear look-up table to stretch pixel values composing said difference frame; means for filtering said stretched difference frame; means for compressing said stretched difference frame and for color-coding said compressed difference frame; and a monitor for superimposing an image of said color-coded difference frame upon an analog video image of said first or second averaged image frame to provide a composite image for identifying those portions of said cortical area subject to neuronal activity in response to said predetermined input stimuli.
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26. Apparatus for optically imaging neuronal activity during neurosurgery comprising:
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means for illuminating a cortical area; means for detecting light reflected from aid cortical area; and
,means for acquiring and analyzing a digitized image obtained from said detected light during neurosurgery to provide on-line identification of those portions of said cortical area where neuronal activity has occurred, wherein said acquiring and analyzing means further includes means for obtaining said digitized image by subtractively combining at least two image frames of data obtained from said reflected light, said two image frames being spatially translated relative to one another. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. Apparatus according to claim 287, wherein said updating occurs at a rate of at least 1/30th of a second.
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30. Apparatus for optically imaging cortical activity of a mammalian brain comprising:
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means for detecting light reflected from a cortical area; means for storing at least two frames of data obtained from said reflected light; and
,means for analyzing said at least two frames to identify intrinsic signal changes of said cortical area by spatially translating said at least two frames relative to one another and subtractively combining said at least two frames to provide a difference frame. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification