Infrared endoscopic imaging in a liquid with suspended particles: method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of acquiring an image of a structure obscured in the visible wavelength-region by blood, comprising the steps of:
- projecting monochromatic infrared illumination at a wavelength corresponding to a local absorption minima through the blood to the structure to be imaged, such that at least some of said infrared illumination is reflected or scattered by the structure;
collecting at least some of the reflected or scattered infrared illumination at the same wavelength; and
transmitting at least some of the collected scattered illumination to an infrared camera, whereby an image of the structure is formed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for imaging an object that is situated within a fluid environment having suspended particles uses infrared illumination. In a representative application, a catheter having fiber optics is inserted into the vasculature of a patient. The fiber optics transmits infrared light to an optical head at a distal end of the catheter, which transmits the light into a bloody environment to an object to be imaged. Light reflecting from the object is collected and transmitted throughout the fiber optic to an infrared camera, so that an image is formed. Proper selection of the wavelength of infrared illumination allows objects to be imaged through what would otherwise be an opaque liquid. The invention has particular utility in the field of medical imaging.
528 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A method of acquiring an image of a structure obscured in the visible wavelength-region by blood, comprising the steps of:
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projecting monochromatic infrared illumination at a wavelength corresponding to a local absorption minima through the blood to the structure to be imaged, such that at least some of said infrared illumination is reflected or scattered by the structure;
collecting at least some of the reflected or scattered infrared illumination at the same wavelength; and
transmitting at least some of the collected scattered illumination to an infrared camera, whereby an image of the structure is formed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A device for imaging an object within a bloody liquid medium, the device comprising:
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an endoscope catheter including a fiber optic cable suitable for transmitting infrared light, said fiber optic cable having a distal end and a proximal end;
an infrared light source engaged with the proximal end of said cable, said light source for transmitting monochromatic infrared light at a wavelength corresponding to a local absorption minima;
an optical head assembly engaged with the distal end of said cable for transmitting infrared illumination from the infrared light source through the bloody liquid medium to the object and for receiving reflected and scattered light from the object and transmitting said reflected light to said cable; and
a lens and an infrared camera for receiving said reflected and scattered light from said cable at the same wavelength and forming an image of said object. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
the illuminating fibers being engaged with the light source and the optical head, for transmitting light between the light source and the optical head;
the imaging fibers being engaged with the infrared camera and the optical head, for transmitting light between the infrared camera and the optical head.
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41. The device of claim 29, wherein the light source generates light having a wavelength of about 2.1 microns.
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42. The device of claim 29, wherein the imaging fibers form a core and the illuminating fibers are arranged around said core.
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43. The device of claim 29, wherein the infrared light source generates light having a wavelength of about four microns.
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44. The device of claim 29, wherein the infrared light source generates polarized light.
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45. The device of claim 29, wherein the infrared light source generates pulsed light in a flash configuration.
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46. An imaging device comprising:
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means for directing infrared illumination at a wavelength through blood so that at least some of the infrared illumination will reflect from an object within said blood, thereby generating reflected illumination;
said illumination being monochromatic and corresponding to a local absorption minima of the blood;
means for receiving said reflected illumination at the same wavelength; and
an infrared camera engaged with said receiving means capable of forming an image of the object.
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47. A non-invasive method of imaging an object within a closed environment such as an eye that has a mixture of blood and vitreous humor, where the blood has rendered the object opaque in the visible spectrum comprising the steps of:
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introducing monochromatic infrared illumination into the closed environment so that the infrared illumination is reflected and scattered by the environment;
said monochromatic infrared illumination being at a wavelength corresponding to a local absorption minima of the blood; and
receiving said reflected and scattered light at the same wavelength with an infrared camera to form an image of the object within the closed environment. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. Apparatus for forming an image within a closed environment containing a liquid or gel wherein blood has rendered the closed environment opaque in the visible spectrum, comprising:
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means for introducing infrared illumination into the closed environment, whereby the illumination is scattered and reflected;
means for collecting the scattered and reflected illumination to form an image of objects or surface details of the closed environment; and
whereby said means for introducing illumination introduces monochromatic illumination at a wavelength corresponding to a local absorption minima and the collecting means collects the scattered and reflected illumination at the same wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification