Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for specimen analysis

• US 7,092,087 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2003
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mississippi State University
• Original Assignee: Mississippi State University
• Inventors: Kumar, Akshaya, Burgess, Shane C., Yu-Yueh, Fang, Singh, Jagdish P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Hoa Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GEISEL, KARA E
• Application Number:
  US10/662,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20050200843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 356/318, 250/461.2
• US Class Current: 356/318
• 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 5/0091 for mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/443 Emission spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/718 Laser microanalysis, i.e. with formation of sample plasma

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an apparatus, a system and a method for detecting the presence or absence of trace elements in a biological sample using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy. The trace elements are used to develop a signature profile which is analyzed directly or compared with the known profile of a standard. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus, system and method are used to detect malignant cancer cells in vivo.

Claims

1. A laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) apparatus for detecting cancer comprising:

a laser light source;

a probe for directing laser light from the laser light source to a sample in vivo to generate an emission spectrum;

a detector for detecting the emission spectrum; and

a processor for analyzing the emission spectrum to detect a cancer in the sample.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a data acquisition or analysis system with optionally a separate data processor.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the laser light is transmitted to the probe through a harmonic separator for directing laser light from the laser light source.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a diebroic mirror for reflecting the laser light from the harmonic separator.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a coupling lens for coupling the laser light at an input end of a multi-modal optical fiber.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emission spectrum is collected either in the same fiber or in another fiber to travel in a backward direction to a spectrometer.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the laser light source is a CO₂ laser, a Ruby laser, a long-pulse YAG laser, an Alexandrite laser, an ER:

YAG laser, an intense pulsed light laser, a KTP laser, a diode laser, or a pulse dye laser.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the laser light source is a pulsed Nd:

YAG laser.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is part of a laser scalpel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cancer is detected by analyzing a content of a trace element in the sample.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the trace element is a metal.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the trace element is calcium.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the trace element is aluminum.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the trace element is iron.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the trace element is copper.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector is a spectrograph.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of bladder, colon, endometrial, lung, ovarian, prostate and rectal cancer.

18. A method of using a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system for detecting cancer, said method comprising:

directing laser light from a laser light source to a biological sample;

generating an emission spectrum from the biological sample;

detecting the emission spectrum; and

analyzing the emission spectrum to detect cancer.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

comparing the emission spectrum with a control emission spectrum to determine whether the biological sample is malignant.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

analyzing the emission spectrum to determine the presence or absence of at least one trace element.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

analyzing the emission spectrum to determine the quantity of at least one trace element.

22. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

evaluating the light emitted from the sample by calculating the concentration of at least one chemical element from a sample;

comparing the concentration of the chemical element in the sample with a range of concentrations of the chemical element in a standard; and

classifying the sample as normal or abnormal.

23. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

directing the laser light through a probe onto the sample in vivo.

24. The method according to claim 18, wherein the sample is selected from the group consisting of:

blood, nail, hair, tissue or biological fluid.

25. The method according to claim 18, wherein the method is practiced to detect breast cancer.

26. The method according to claim 18, wherein the method is practiced utilizing a laser scalpel.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the biological sample is a neoplastic mass, and the emission spectrum is analyzed in real time, whereby the neoplastic mass can be removed using the laser scalpel while sparing a maximum amount of healthy tissue.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of bladder, colon, endometrial, lung, ovarian, prostate and rectal cancer.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one trace element is a metal.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one trace element is calcium.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one trace element is aluminum.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one trace element is iron.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one trace element is copper.