Method and apparatus for Raman imaging of macular pigments
First Claim
1. A method for imaging the spatial distribution and concentration level of macular carotenoids, the method comprising:
- obtaining a light source that generates light at a wavelength that produces a Raman response with a wavelength shift for one or more macular carotenoids to be detected;
directing light from the light source onto macular tissue of an eye for which macular carotenoid levels are to be measured, wherein the light directed onto the macular tissue of the eye has an intensity that does not destroy the macular tissue;
collecting light scattered from the macular tissue, the scattered light including elastically and inelastically scattered light, the inelastically scattered light having a plurality of Raman signals corresponding to the one or more macular carotenoids;
selectively removing the elastically scattered light;
analyzing the spatial position and intensity of the Raman signals in the inelastically scattered light; and
producing an image of the Raman signals, the image representing the spatial distribution and concentration level of the one or more macular carotenoids in the macular tissue at a plurality of data points.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for Raman imaging of carotenoids and related chemical substances in biological tissue, such as macular pigments. The method and apparatus utilize the technique of resonance Raman spectroscopy to produce an image of the levels of carotenoids and similar substances in tissue. In this technique, light is directed upon the area of tissue which is of interest such as the retina of an eye. A small fraction of the scattered light is scattered inelastically, producing a carotenoid Raman signal which is at a different frequency than the incident light. The Raman signal is collected, filtered, and analyzed to determine the spatial position and intensity of the Raman signals in the inelastically scattered light. An image of the Raman signals is then produced on an output device, with the image representing the spatial distribution and concentration level of carotenoids in the tissue.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for imaging the spatial distribution and concentration level of macular carotenoids, the method comprising:
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obtaining a light source that generates light at a wavelength that produces a Raman response with a wavelength shift for one or more macular carotenoids to be detected; directing light from the light source onto macular tissue of an eye for which macular carotenoid levels are to be measured, wherein the light directed onto the macular tissue of the eye has an intensity that does not destroy the macular tissue; collecting light scattered from the macular tissue, the scattered light including elastically and inelastically scattered light, the inelastically scattered light having a plurality of Raman signals corresponding to the one or more macular carotenoids; selectively removing the elastically scattered light; analyzing the spatial position and intensity of the Raman signals in the inelastically scattered light; and producing an image of the Raman signals, the image representing the spatial distribution and concentration level of the one or more macular carotenoids in the macular tissue at a plurality of data points. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for imaging the spatial distribution and concentration level of carotenoids in biological tissue, the method comprising:
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obtaining a light source that generates light at a wavelength that produces a Raman response with a wavelength shift for one or more carotenoids to be detected; directing light from the light source onto biological tissue for which carotenoid levels are to be measured, wherein the light directed onto the biological tissue has an intensity that does not destroy the biological tissue; collecting light scattered from the biological tissue, the scattered light including elastically and inelastically scattered light, the inelastically scattered light having a plurality of Raman signals corresponding to the one or more carotenoids; selectively removing the elastically scattered light; analyzing the spatial position and intensity of the Raman signals in the inelastically scattered light; and producing an image of the Raman signals, the image representing the spatial distribution and concentration level of the one or more carotenoids in the biological tissue at a plurality of data points.
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12. A method for imaging the spatial distribution and concentration level of selected materials in retinal tissue, the method comprising:
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obtaining a light source that generates light at a wavelength that produces a Raman response with a wavelength shift for a material to be detected; directing light from the light source onto retinal tissue of an eye for which levels of the material are to be measured; collecting light scattered from the retinal tissue, the scattered light including elastically and inelastically scattered light, the inelastically scattered light having a plurality of Raman signals corresponding the material; selectively removing the elastically scattered light; analyzing the spatial position and intensity of the Raman signals in the inelastically scattered light; and producing an image of the Raman signals, the image representing the spatial distribution and concentration level of the material in the retinal tissue at a plurality of data points.
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13. An imaging apparatus, comprising:
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a light source that generates light at a wavelength giving a Raman response with a wavelength shift for one or more carotenoids to be detected wherein the light source generates light at a wavelength that overlaps the absorption bands of the one or more carotenoids to be detected; a light delivery and collection means in optical communication with the light source for directing light onto tissue and collecting scattered light from the tissue; wavelength selective means for selecting Raman shifted light from collected scattered light; detection means for measuring the intensity of the Raman shifted light at frequencies characteristic of the one or more carotenoids to be detected; analyzing means for determining the spatial position and intensity of Raman signals in the Raman shifted light; and output means for producing an image of the Raman signals, the image representing the spatial distribution and concentration level of the one or more carotenoids at a plurality of data points. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An imaging apparatus, comprising:
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a light source that generates light at a wavelength giving a Raman response with a wavelength shift for one or more carotenoids to be detected wherein the light source generates light at a wavelength that overlaps the absorption bands of the one or more carotenoids to be detected; an optical module in optical communication with the light source, the optical module configured to direct light onto tissue and collect scattered light from the tissue; one or more wavelength selective devices configured to select and transmit Raman shifted light from collected scattered light; an optical detection device configured to measure the intensity of Raman shifted light at frequencies characteristic of the one or more carotenoids to be detected; a data processing device operatively connected to the optical detection device, the data processing device adapted to determine the spatial position and intensity of Raman signals in the Raman shifted light; and an output device adapted to display an image of the Raman signals, the image representing the spatial distribution and concentration level of the one or more carotenoids at a plurality of data points. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification