Methods and apparatus for optically imaging neuronal tissue and activity
DCFirst Claim
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1. A physiologically non-invasive method for detecting optical changes indicative of neuronal activity or dysfunction in an area of interest in a human patient, comprising:
- (a) illuminating the area of interest with an illumination source emitting electromagnetic radiation (emr) having at least one wavelength of from about 450 nm to about 2500 nm;
(b) detecting one or more optical properties of the area of interest when it is illuminated with the emr using a photon detector and acquiring and storing a control data set representing the one or more optical properties detected;
(c) detecting one or more properties of the area of interest at a time different from acquisition of the control data set and acquiring a subsequent data set representing the one or more optical properties detected during the different time; and
(d) comparing the subsequent data set with the control data set to produce a comparison data set that identifies changes in the one or more optical properties and thereby identifies areas of neuronal activity or dysfunction.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for distinguishing neuronal tissue from surrounding tissue, for distinguishing functional neuronal tissue from dysfunctional tissue, and for imaging of functional neuronal areas in cerebral cortex by detecting changes in the optical properties of the neuronal tissue following stimulation of neuronal activity.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A physiologically non-invasive method for detecting optical changes indicative of neuronal activity or dysfunction in an area of interest in a human patient, comprising:
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(a) illuminating the area of interest with an illumination source emitting electromagnetic radiation (emr) having at least one wavelength of from about 450 nm to about 2500 nm;
(b) detecting one or more optical properties of the area of interest when it is illuminated with the emr using a photon detector and acquiring and storing a control data set representing the one or more optical properties detected;
(c) detecting one or more properties of the area of interest at a time different from acquisition of the control data set and acquiring a subsequent data set representing the one or more optical properties detected during the different time; and
(d) comparing the subsequent data set with the control data set to produce a comparison data set that identifies changes in the one or more optical properties and thereby identifies areas of neuronal activity or dysfunction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for optically imaging changes indicative of changes in neuronal activity in an area of interest in a human patient, comprising:
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(a) illuminating an area of interest with an illumination source emitting electromagnetic radiation (emr) having a wavelength of from about 450 nm to about 2500 nm by connecting the illumination source to an illumination probe and implementing the illumination probe in the area of interest;
(b) detecting one or more optical properties of the area of interest when it is illuminated with the emr using a photon detector connected to a detection probe implanted in the area of interest that produces detection signals;
(c) conveying control detection signals to a data processor and producing a control data set representing the one or more optical properties detected;
(d) detecting one or more optical properties of the area of interest during neuronal activity, producing subsequent detection signals, conveying the subsequent detection signals to the data processor, and producing a subsequent data set representing the one or more optical properties detected during neuronal activity; and
(e) comparing the subsequent data set with the control data set to produce a comparison data set that identifies changes in one or more optical properties and thereby identifies areas of neuronal activity.
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24. A method for identifying spatial locations corresponding to functional properties of neuronal tissue in a human patient comprising:
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(a) illuminating neuronal tissue with an illumination source emitting electromagnetic radiation (emr) having one or more wavelengths of from about 450 nm to about 2500 nm;
(b) detecting one or more optical properties of identifiable spatial locations of the neuronal tissue when it is illuminated and acquiring a control image that maps the one or more detected optical properties to identifiable spatial locations of the neuronal tissue;
(c) detecting one or more optical properties of neuronal tissue during neuronal stimulation and acquiring a subsequent image that maps the one or more detected optical properties during neuronal stimulation to identifiable spatial locations of the neuronal tissue; and
(d) comparing the control image to the subsequent image to produce a comparison image that spatially locates changes in neuronal activity. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A physiologically non-invasive method for optically imaging changes indicative of changes in retinal function in a retina in a human patient, comprising:
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(a) illuminating the retina with an illumination source emitting electromagnetic radiation (emr) having at least one wavelength of from about 450 nm to about 2500 nm;
(b) detecting one or more optical properties of the retina when it is illuminated with the emr using a photon detector and acquiring and storing a control data set representing the one or more optical properties detected;
(c) detecting one or more optical properties of the retina during retinal activity and acquiring a subsequent data set representing the one or more optical properties detected during retinal activity; and
(d) comparing the subsequent data set with the control data set to produce a comparison data set that identifies changes in the one or more optical properties and thereby identifies areas of retinal dysfunction.
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27. A method for monitoring the neuronal activity and dysfunction in a human patient, comprising:
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(a) illuminating neuronal tissue with an illumination source emitting electromagnetic radiation (emr) having at least one wavelength of from about 450 nm to about 2500 nm;
(b) detecting one or more optical properties of the illuminated neuronal tissue and acquiring a baseline data set representing one or more of the optical properties detected;
(c) detecting one or more optical properties of the illuminated neuronal tissue at a time subsequent to acquisition of the baseline data set and acquiring a subsequent data set; and
(d) comparing the subsequent data set with the baseline data set to identify changes in optical properties of the illuminated neuronal tissue that are indicative of neuronal activity or dysfunction.
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Specification