Combined fluorescence and reflectance spectroscopy

• US 6,571,118 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1999
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Fuchs, Holger, Gillenwater, Ann M., Utzinger, Urs, Heintzelman, Douglas L., Richards-Kortum, Rebecca R., Durkin, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US09/304,922
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 600/473, 600/475, 600/476, 600/477, 600/310, 600/478, 250/339.01, 250/340, 250/338.1, 250/301, 356/300, 356/326, 356/317, 356/318
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/28 Investigating the spectrum using colour filters G01J3/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/42 Absorption spectrometry; Double beam spectrometry; Flicker spectrometry; Reflection spectrometry beam switching arrangements G01J3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/4406 Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6484 Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4738 Diffuse reflection precedence is given to G01N21/55 - G01N21/57 if specular component is taken into consideration, e.g. also for testing fluids, fibrous materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6486 Measuring fluorescence of biological material, e.g. DNA, RNA, cells G01N21/6428 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for performing fluorescence and spatially resolved reflectance spectroscopy on a sample. A sample is irradiated with a fluorescence excitation fiber and radiation is collected from the sample with a fluorescence collection fiber and detected to form fluorescence spectra. The sample is also illuminated with a reflectance illumination fiber and reflected light from the sample is collected at a plurality of collection positions and detected to form spatially resolved reflectance spectra. The fibers may form a probe arranged in concentric sections. The spectra are analyzed by pre-processing and reducing the dimensionality of the spectral data.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing fluorescence and spatially resolved reflectance spectroscopy on a sample, comprising:

a light source;

a monochromator in optical communication with said light source;

a reflectance illumination fiber in optical communication with said light source;

a fluorescence excitation fiber in optical communication with said monochromator;

an imaging spectrograph;

a fluorescence collection fiber in optical communication with said imaging spectrograph;

a reflectance collection fiber in optical communication with said imaging spectrograph and in spaced relation with said reflectance illumination fiber; and

a detector in optical communication with said imaging spectrograph;

wherein said reflectance illumination fiber, said fluorescence excitation fiber, said fluorescence collection fiber, and said reflectance collection fiber define a fiber optic probe, said probe comprising a center section and an outer section, said fluorescence excitation fiber and said fluorescence collection fiber being positioned in said center section, and said reflectance illumination fiber and said reflectance collection fiber being positioned in said outer section.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a Xe arc lamp.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said monochromator comprises a double monochromator.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said detector comprises a thermo-electrically cooled CCD camera.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluorescence excitation fiber and said fluorescence collection fiber are integral.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of said fibers are positioned flush with said sample.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a spacer positioned between one or more of said fibers and said sample.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reflectance illumination fiber, said fluorescence excitation fiber, said fluorescence collection fiber, and said reflectance collection fiber define a fiber optic probe.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said probe is configured to be positioned within a trocar.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said probe comprises a center section and an outer section, said fluorescence excitation fiber and said fluorescence collection fiber being positioned in said center section, and said reflectance illumination fiber and said reflectance collection fiber being positioned in said outer section.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of fluorescence excitation and collection fibers arranged in a circular bundle.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of reflectance collection fibers defming a plurality of collection positions.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said plurality of collection positions are spaced between about 0 and about 10 millimeters from said reflectance illumination fiber.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reflectance collection fiber defines a collection position at about 180 degrees relative to said reflectance illumination fiber.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reflectance collection fiber defines a collection position at about 90 degrees relative to said reflectance illumination fiber.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reflectance collection fiber defines a collection position at about 45 degrees relative to said reflectance illumination fiber.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a one or more fibers in optical communication with said light source and configured to illuminate said sample during operation of said apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of fluorescence excitation fibers arranged in one or more rows adjacent said monochromator.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of fluorescence excitation fibers and a plurality of reflectance collection fibers arranged in a single row adjacent said imaging spectrograph.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising one or more unconnected fibers interspersed with said plurality of fluorescence excitation fibers and said plurality of reflectance collection fibers.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fiber connected from said light source to said imaging spectrograph to monitor spectral output of said light source.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to said detector.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said center and outer sections are circular.

24. An apparatus for measuring fluorescence and spatially resolved reflectance spectra of a sample, comprising:

a light source;

a monochromator in optical communication with said light source;

a fiber optic probe in optical communication with said light source and with said monochromator, said probe comprising a plurality of fluorescence excitation and collection fibers in spaced relation and surrounded at least partially by a plurality of reflectance collection fibers in spaced relation with a reflectance illumination fiber;

an imaging spectrograph in optical communication with said plurality of fluorescence collection fibers and with said plurality of reflectance collection fibers; and

a detector in optical communication with said imaging spectrograph.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said plurality of reflectance collection fibers and said reflectance illumination fiber are positioned concentrically about said plurality of fluorescence excitation and collection fibers.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein at least one of said plurality of reflectance collection fibers defines a collection position at about 180 degrees relative to said reflectance illumination fiber.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein at least one of said plurality of reflectance collection fibers defines a collection position at about 90 degrees relative to said reflectance illumination fiber.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein at least one of said plurality of reflectance collection fibers defines a collection position at about 45 degrees relative to said reflectance illumination fiber.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said plurality of collection positions are spaced between about 0 and about 10 millimeters from said reflectance illumination fiber.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said probe comprises between twenty-one and forty-six optical fibers.

31. A method for combined fluorescence and spatially resolved reflectance spectroscopy of a sample, comprising:

providing a reflectance illumination fiber, a fluorescence excitation fiber, a fluorescence collection fiber, and a reflectance collection fiber that define a fiber optic probe comprising a center section and an outer section, said fluorescence excitation fiber and said fluorescence collection fiber being positioned in said center section, and said reflectance illumination fiber and said reflectance collection fiber being positioned in said outer section;

directing radiation to said sample with said fluorescence excitation fiber;

collecting radiation from said sample with said fluorescence collection fiber;

directing said radiation from said sample to an imaging spectrograph and a detector;

illuminating said sample with said reflectance illumination fiber;

collecting reflected light from said sample with said reflectance collection fiber; and

directing said reflected light from said sample to an imaging spectrograph and a detector.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said collecting reflected light comprises collecting reflected light from a plurality of collection positions with a plurality of reflectance collection fibers.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said collecting reflected light comprises collecting reflected light from said sample with a reflectance collection fiber defming a collection position at about 180 degrees relative to said reflectance illumination fiber.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said collecting reflected light comprises collecting reflected light from said sample with a reflectance collection fiber defining a collection position at about 90 degrees relative to said reflectance illumination fiber.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein said collecting reflected light comprises collecting reflected light from said sample with a reflectance collection fiber defining a collection position at about 45 degrees relative to said reflectance illumination fiber.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein said sample comprises ovarian, head and neck, or cervical tissue.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising analyzing spectral data from said detector to characterize said sample.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said analyzing comprises pre-processing said data and reducing a dimension of said data using principal component analysis.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said analyzing further comprises selecting one or more diagnostic principal components of said data and forming one or more algorithms.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein said analyzing further comprises evaluating at least one of said algorithms using a cross-validation technique.

42. The method of claim 31, further comprising correcting said radiation collected with said fluorescence collection fiber using a measured background fluorescence.

43. The method of claim 31, wherein said center and outer sections are circular.

40. The method of claim 40, wherein said analyzing further comprises forming one or more composite algorithms.

44. A method for combined fluorescence and spatially resolved reflectance spectroscopy of a sample, comprising:

providing a probe comprising a plurality of fluorescence excitation and collection fibers in spaced relation surrounded at least partially by a plurality of reflectance collection fibers in spaced relation with a reflectance illumination fiber;

directing radiation to said sample with a fluorescence excitation fiber;

collecting radiation from said sample with a fluorescence collection fiber;

directing said radiation from said sample to an imaging spectrograph and a detector;

illuminating said sample with a reflectance illumination fiber;

collecting reflected light at a plurality of collection positions from said sample with said plurality of reflectance collection fibers arranged in spaced relation;

directing said reflected light from said sample to an imaging spectrograph and a detector to produce spectral data;

pre-processing said data; and

reducing a dimension of said data using principal component analysis.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising selecting one or more diagnostic principal components of said data and forming one or more algorithms.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising forming one or more composite algorithms.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising evaluating at least one of said algorithms using a cross-validation technique.

48. The method of claim 44, further comprising correcting said radiation collected with said fluorescence collection fiber using a measured background fluorescence.