Fluorescence detecting system

• US 6,026,319 A
• Filed: 02/13/1998
• Issued: 02/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Katsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANTIS MERCADER, ELENI M
• Application Number:
  US09/023,203
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/476, 600/477, 600/478, 436/164, 356/317, 356/318, 356/319
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence

Abstract

A fluorescence detecting system detects auto fluorescence emitted from an intrinsic pigment in a part of an organism. An excitation light projector intermittently projects onto the part excitation light in the wavelength range which can excite the intrinsic pigment of the organism to emit auto fluorescence. A fluorescence detector extracts an auto fluorescence component in a desired wavelength range from auto fluorescence emitted from the pigment. A net auto fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range is obtained by subtracting a base line component in the desired wavelength range the fluorescence detector detects when the part of the organism is not exposed to the excitation light from a gross auto fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range the fluorescence detector detects when the part of the organism is exposed to the excitation light. A divider carries out a division between a first part of the net auto fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range and a second part of the same.

Claims

1. A fluorescence detecting system for detecting auto fluorescence emitted from an intrinsic pigment in a part of an organism to be observed comprising:

an excitation light projecting means which intermittently projects onto the part to be observed excitation light in a wavelength range which can excite the intrinsic pigment of the organism to emit auto fluorescence,

a fluorescence detecting means which extracts an auto fluorescence component in a desired wavelength range from auto fluorescence emitted from the intrinsic pigment,

a base line component removing means which obtains a net auto fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range by subtracting a base line component in the desired wavelength range the fluorescence detecting means detects when the part of the organism is not exposed to the excitation light from a gross auto fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range the fluorescence detecting means detects when the part of the organism is exposed to the excitation light, and

a divider means which carries out a division between a first part of the net auto fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range and a second part of the net auto fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range.

2. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 1 in which said fluorescence detecting means detects a whole visible auto fluorescence component in a visible region having a predetermined wavelength range including a first relatively short wavelength range and a first relatively long wavelength range, and one of an auto fluorescence component in a second relatively short wavelength range, an auto fluorescence component in a second relatively long wavelength range and a difference fluorescence component between the auto fluorescence components in said second relatively short wavelength range and in said second relatively long wavelength range, and

said first part of the net auto fluorescence component is obtained from one of said auto fluorescence components or from the difference fluorescence component, and said second part of the net auto fluorescence component is obtained from the whole visible auto fluorescence component.

3. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 1 in which said fluorescence detecting means detects a sum fluorescence component in an auto fluorescence component in a first short wavelength range and an auto fluorescence component in a first relatively long wavelength range, and one of an auto fluorescence component in a second relatively short wavelength range, an auto fluorescence component in a second relatively long wavelength range and a difference fluorescence component between the auto fluorescence components in said second relatively short wavelength range and in said second relatively long wavelength range, and

said first part of the net auto fluorescence component is obtained from one of said auto fluorescence components, or from the difference fluorescence component, and said second part of the net auto fluorescence component is obtained from the sum auto fluorescence component.

4. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 1 in which said fluorescence detecting means two-dimensionally detects the auto fluorescence emitted from the part to be observed and obtains a fluorescence image of the part.

5. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 1 in which said fluorescence detecting means detects said auto fluorescence component in a relatively short wavelength range and said auto fluorescence component in a relatively long wavelength range, and said first part is said fluorescence component in the relatively long wavelength range and said second part is said fluorescence component in the relatively short wavelength range.

6. A fluorescence detecting system for detecting fluorescence emitted from a part of an organism to be observed which has been given a fluorescent photosensitive material comprising:

an excitation light projecting means which intermittently projects onto the part to be observed excitation light in a wavelength range which can excite an intrinsic pigment of the organism and said fluorescent photosensitive material to emit fluorescence,

a fluorescence detecting means which extracts a fluorescence component in a desired wavelength range from fluorescence emitted from the intrinsic pigment and the fluorescent photosensitive material,

a base line component removing means which obtains a net fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range by subtracting a base line component in the desired wavelength range the fluorescence detecting means detects when the part of the organism is not exposed to the excitation light from a gross fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range which the fluorescence detecting means detects when the part of the organism is exposed to the excitation light, and

a divider means which carries out a division between a first part of the net fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range and a second part of the net fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range.

7. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 6 in which said fluorescence detecting means detects a whole visible fluorescence component in a visible region having a predetermined wavelength range including a first wavelength range of extrinsic fluorescence emitted from the photosensitive material and a first wavelength range of auto fluorescence emitted from the intrinsic pigment and one of a fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the extrinsic fluorescence, a fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the auto fluorescence or a difference fluorescence component between the fluorescence components in said second wavelength range of the extrinsic fluorescence and in said second wavelength range of the auto fluorescence, and

said first part of the net fluorescence component is obtained from said fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the extrinsic fluorescence, said fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the auto fluorescence, or said difference fluorescence component, and said second part of the net fluorescence component is obtained from the whole visible fluorescence component.

8. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 6 in which said fluorescence detecting means detects a sum fluorescence component in a first wavelength range of extrinsic fluorescence emitted from the photosensitive material and fluorescence component in a first wavelength range of auto fluorescence emitted from the intrinsic pigment and one of a fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the extrinsic fluorescence, a fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the auto fluorescence or a difference fluorescence component between the fluorescence components in said second wavelength range of the extrinsic fluorescence and in said second wavelength range of the auto fluorescence, and

said first part of the net fluorescence component is obtained from said fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the extrinsic fluorescence, said fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the auto fluorescence, or said difference fluorescence component, and said second part of the net fluorescence component is obtained from the sum fluorescence component.

9. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 6 in which said fluorescence detecting means two-dimensionally detects the auto fluorescence emitted from the part to be observed and obtains a fluorescence image of the part.

10. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 6 in which said fluorescence detecting means detects extrinsic fluorescence emitted from the photosensitive material and auto fluorescence emitted from the pigment, and said first part is the auto fluorescence emitted from the pigment and second part is the extrinsic fluorescence emitted from the photosensitive material.

11. A fluorescence detecting system for detecting auto fluorescence emitted from an intrinsic pigment in a part of an organism to be observed comprising:

an excitation light projector which intermittently projects excitation light onto the part of the organism to be observed in a wavelength range which can excite the intrinsic pigment of the organism to emit auto fluorescence,

a fluorescence detector which extracts an auto fluorescence component in a desired wavelength range from the auto fluorescence emitted from the intrinsic pigment and outputs a first signal,

a base line component removing circuit comprising a subtractor which inputs a second signal when the organism is not exposed to said excitation light, said second signal defined as a base line component, and which inputs said first signal when the organism is exposed to said excitation light, and which takes the difference of the first and second signals, and thereby obtains a net auto fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range, and

a divider which carries out a division between a first part of the net auto fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range and a second part of the net auto fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range.

12. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 11 in which said fluorescence detector detects a whole visible auto fluorescence component in a visible region having a predetermined wavelength range including a first relatively short wavelength range and a first relatively long wavelength range, and one of an auto fluorescence component in a second relatively short wavelength range, an auto fluorescence component in a second relatively long wavelength range and a difference fluorescence component between the auto fluorescence components in said second relatively short wavelength range and in said second relatively long wavelength range, and

said first part of the net auto fluorescence component is obtained from one of said auto fluorescence components, or from the difference fluorescence component, and said second part of the net auto fluorescence component is obtained from the whole visible auto fluorescence component.

13. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 11 in which said fluorescence detector detects a sum fluorescence component in an auto fluorescence component in a first short wavelength range and an auto fluorescence component in a first relatively long wavelength range, and one of an auto fluorescence component in a second relatively short wavelength range, an auto fluorescence component in a second relatively long wavelength range and a difference fluorescence component between the auto fluorescence components in said second relatively short wavelength range and in said second relatively long wavelength range, and

said first part of the net auto fluorescence component is obtained from one of said auto fluorescence components, or from the difference fluorescence component, and said second part of the net auto fluorescence component is obtained from the sum auto fluorescence component.

14. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 11 in which said fluorescence detector two-dimensionally detects the auto fluorescence emitted from the part to be observed and obtains a fluorescence image of the part.

15. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 11 in which said fluorescence detector detects extrinsic fluorescence emitted from the photosensitive material and auto fluorescence emitted from the pigment, and said first part is the auto fluorescence emitted from the pigment and said second part is the extrinsic fluorescence emitted from the photosensitive material.

16. A fluorescence detecting system for detecting fluorescence emitted from a part of an organism to be observed which has been given a fluorescent photosensitive material comprising

an excitation light projector which intermittently projects excitation light onto the part of the organism to be observed in a wavelength range which can excite an intrinsic pigment of the organism and said fluorescent photosensitive material to emit fluorescence,

a fluorescence detector which extracts a fluorescence component in a desired wavelength range from fluorescence emitted from the intrinsic pigment as well as the fluorescent photosensitive material, and outputs a first signal,

a base line component removing circuit comprising a subtractor which inputs a second signal when the organism is not exposed to said excitation light, said second signal defined as a base line component, and which inputs said first signal when the organism is exposed to said excitation light, and which takes the difference of the first and second signals, and thereby obtains a net auto fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range, and

a divider which carries out a division between a first part of the net auto fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range and a second part of the net auto fluorescence component in the desired wavelength range.

17. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 16 in which said fluorescence detector detects a whole visible auto fluorescence component in a visible region having a predetermined wavelength range including a first wavelength range of extrinsic fluorescence emitted from the photosensitive material and a first wavelength range of auto fluorescence emitted from the intrinsic pigment and one of a fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the extrinsic fluorescence, a fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the auto fluorescence, or a difference fluorescence component between the fluorescence components in said second wavelength range of the extrinsic fluorescence and in said second wavelength range of the auto fluorescence, and

said first part of the net fluorescence component is obtained from said fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the extrinsic fluorescence, said fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the auto fluorescence, or said difference fluorescence component, and said second part of the net fluorescence component is obtained from the whole visible fluorescence component.

18. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 16 in which said fluorescence detect a sum fluorescence component in a first wavelength range of extrinsic fluorescence emitted from the photosensitive material and fluorescence component in a first wavelength range of auto fluorescence emitted from the intrinsic pigment and one of a fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the extrinsic fluorescence, a fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the auto fluorescence, or a difference fluorescence component between the fluorescence components in said second wavelength range of the extrinsic fluorescence and in said second wavelength range of the auto fluorescence, and

said first part of the net fluorescence component is obtained from said fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the extrinsic fluorescence, said fluorescence component in a second wavelength range of the auto fluorescence, or said difference fluorescence component, and said second part of the net fluorescence component is obtained from the sum fluorescence component.

19. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 16 in which said fluorescence detector two-dimensionally detects the fluorescence emitted from the part to be observed and obtains a fluorescence image of the part.

20. A fluorescence detecting system as defined in claim 16 in which said fluorescence detector detects said auto fluorescence component in a relatively short wavelength range and said auto fluorescence component in a relatively long wavelength range, and said first part is said fluorescence component in the relatively long wavelength range and said second part is said fluorescence component in the relatively short wavelength range.