Optical imaging methods
First Claim
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1. A method for optically imaging blood flow changes in an area of interest, comprising:
- illuminating the area of interest with uniform intensity electromagnetic radiation (emr), the emr being in one of the visible and infrared regions of the spectrum;
acquiring a series of control frames representative of the emr absorption of the area of interest in the absence of a fluorescent dye and processing the control frames to produce an averaged control image;
acquiring a series of subsequent frames representative of the emr absorption of the area of interest in the absence of a fluorescent dye and processing the subsequent frames to produce an averaged subsequent image; and
obtaining a difference image by one of subtracting pixel values in the averaged control image from corresponding pixel values in the subsequent averaged image, and subtracting pixel values in the subsequent averaged image from corresponding pixel values in the averaged control image to identify changes in the emr absorption of the area of interest occurring between acquisition of the control frames and acquisition of the subsequent frames, wherein the changes in the emr absorption represent changes in blood flow.
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Abstract
Methods for optically imaging blood flow changes, blood flow characteristics and changes in the oxygenation of blood in an area of interest are disclosed. The area of interest is illuminated with electromagnetic radiation(emr) in the visible or infrared regions of the spectrum, and a control image representative of the emr absorption of the area of interest is acquired. A subsequent image representative of the emr absorption is compared to the control image to detect changes in the emr absorption that are indicative of changes in blood flow, changes in blood flow characteristics, or changes in blood oxygenation in the area of interest.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for optically imaging blood flow changes in an area of interest, comprising:
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illuminating the area of interest with uniform intensity electromagnetic radiation (emr), the emr being in one of the visible and infrared regions of the spectrum; acquiring a series of control frames representative of the emr absorption of the area of interest in the absence of a fluorescent dye and processing the control frames to produce an averaged control image; acquiring a series of subsequent frames representative of the emr absorption of the area of interest in the absence of a fluorescent dye and processing the subsequent frames to produce an averaged subsequent image; and obtaining a difference image by one of subtracting pixel values in the averaged control image from corresponding pixel values in the subsequent averaged image, and subtracting pixel values in the subsequent averaged image from corresponding pixel values in the averaged control image to identify changes in the emr absorption of the area of interest occurring between acquisition of the control frames and acquisition of the subsequent frames, wherein the changes in the emr absorption represent changes in blood flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for optically imaging blood flow characteristics of an area of interest comprising tissue having one or more blood vessels, the method comprising:
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illuminating the area of interest with uniform intensity electromagnetic radiation (emr), the emr being in one of the visible and infrared regions of the spectrum; acquiring a control image representative of the emr absorption of the area of interest in the absence of a fluorescent dye at one of a control time point and a control time interval; acquiring a subsequent image representative of the emr absorption of the area of interest in the absence of a fluorescent dye at one of a control time point and a subsequent time interval; and comparing the control image with the subsequent image by one of subtracting the control image from the subsequent image and subtracting the subsequent image from the control image to produce a comparison image that identifies changes in emr absorption that are indicative of changes in blood flow characteristics within one or more blood vessels in the area of interest. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method for detecting changes in the oxygenation of blood in an area of interest, comprising:
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illuminating the area of interest with uniform intensity electromagnetic radiation (emr), the emr being in one of the visible and infrared regions of the spectrum; detecting an initial emr absorption level of the area of interest in the absence of a fluorescent dye at one of a control time point and a control time interval, the initial emr absorption level indicating a baseline level of blood oxygenation; detecting a subsequent emr absorption level of the area of interest in the absence of a fluorescent dye at one of a subsequent time point and a subsequent time interval, the subsequent emr absorption level indicating a subsequent level of blood oxygenation; and comparing the initial emr absorption level with the subsequent emr absorption level to detect changes in blood oxygenation over time in the area of interest. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification