Methods and apparatus for diagnostic multispectral digital imaging

• US 6,766,184 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BC Cancer Agency, Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: BC Cancer Agency, Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Follen, Michele, Utzinger, Urs, MacAuldy, Calum, Richards-Kortum, Rebecca
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAHBOUR, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US09/821,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/591, 600/478, 600/477, 600/476, 600/408, 600/409, 600/410, 600/424, 600/425, 600/426, 600/427, 600/437-471, 356/318, 356/417, 356/418, 356/416, 356/301, 356/310
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00186 with imaging filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/063 for monochromatic or narrow-band illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0646 with illumination filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/303 for the vagina, i.e. vaginoscopes
• 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

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for generating multispectral images of tissue. The multispectral images may be used as a diagnostic tool for conditions such as cervical cancer detection and diagnosis. Primary radiation is produced with an illumination source. The primary radiation is filtered to select a first wavelength and a first polarization. Tissue is illuminated with the filtered primary radiation to generate secondary radiation, which is filtered to select a second wavelength and a second polarization. The filtered secondary radiation is collected with a detector, and a plurality of multispectral images of the tissue is generated according to different combinations of first and second wavelengths and first and second polarization with an analysis unit in operable relation with the detector. Apparatus utilizing the invention include endoscopes and colposcopes.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating multispectral images of tissue, comprising:

an illumination source configured to illuminate the tissue with radiation;

a detector configured to collect radiation from the tissue;

an illumination filter in operative relation with the illumination source, the illumination filter configured to select a first wavelength and a first polarization of radiation to be directed from the source to the tissue;

a detection filter in operative relation with the detector, the detection filter configured to select a second wavelength and a second polarization of radiation to be directed from the tissue to the detector; and

an analysis unit in operative relation with the detector, the analysis unit configured to generate a plurality of multispectral images of the tissue according to different combinations of first and second wavelengths and first and second polarizations;

wherein the plurality of multispectral images comprise images of fluorescence, reflectance, polarized reflectance, or any combination thereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second wavelengths are equal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second polarizations are equal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

illumination optics in operative relation with the illumination source, the illumination optics configured to direct radiation from the illumination source to the tissue; and

imaging optics in operative relation with the tissue, the imaging optics configured to direct radiation from the tissue to the detector.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the illumination optics comprises a fiber bundle.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the detection optics comprises a fiber bundle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illumination filter is integral with the illumination source.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection filter is integral with the detector.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illumination source comprises a tunable pulsed laser.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illumination source comprises a pulsed flashlight.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises a CCD camera.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illumination filter comprises a bandpass filter, a filter wheel, or a tunable filter.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the tunable filter comprises an acousto-optical filter or a liquid crystal filter.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection filter comprises a bandpass filter, a filter wheel, or a tunable filter.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the tunable filter comprises an acousto-optical filter or a liquid crystal filter.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illumination and detection filters are integral.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tissue comprises a cervix.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of multispectral images comprise images of approximately the entire cervix.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is coupled to an endoscope.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is coupled to a colposcope.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analysis unit is further configured to generate a composite image of the tissue, the composite image incorporating one or more features of the plurality of multispectral images.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the composite image comprises information relating to the size of one or more lesions of the tissue.

23. A method for generating multispectral images of tissue, comprising:

producing primary radiation with an illumination source;

filtering the primary radiation to select a first wavelength and a first polarization;

illuminating the tissue with the filtered primary radiation to generate secondary radiation;

filtering the secondary radiation to select a second wavelength and a second polarization;

collecting the filtered secondary radiation with a detector; and

generating a plurality of multispectral images of the tissue according to different combinations of first and second wavelengths and first and second polarization with an analysis unit in operable relation with the detector;

wherein the plurality of multispectral images comprise images of fluorescence, reflectance, polarized reflectance, or any combination thereof.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising generating a composite image of the tissue, the composite image incorporating one or more features of the plurality of multispectral images.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining the size of one or more lesions using the composite image.