Systems and methods for generating data based on one or more spectrally-encoded endoscopy techniques

• US 7,796,270 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tearney, Guillermo J, Yelin, Dvir, Bouma, Brett Eugene, Yun, Seok-Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Jr.; Gregory J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Richey; Scott M
• Application Number:
  US11/621,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20070263208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 356/479, 356/497, 356/451, 356/456
• US Class Current: 356/456
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/726 using Wavelet transforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02002 using two or more frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02036 by using chromatic effects, e.g. a wavelength dependent focal point
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02037 by generating a transverse line focus
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02044 Imaging in the frequency domain, e.g. by using a spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02091 Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1782 In-depth resolution
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1787 Tomographic, i.e. computerised reconstruction from projective measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3595 using FTIR
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 using near infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4795 spatially resolved investigating of object in scattering medium in vivo A61B

Abstract

Exemplary systems and methods for generating data associated with at least one portion of a sample can be provided. For example, according to one exemplary embodiment of such systems and methods, it is possible to provide a particular radiation using at least one first arrangement. The particular radiation can include at least one first electro-magnetic radiation directed to at least one sample and at least one second electro-magnetic radiation directed to a reference arrangement. The first radiation and/or the second radiation can comprise a plurality of wavelengths. The first electro-magnetic radiation can be spectrally dispersed along at least one portion of the sample. The second electro-magnetic radiation measured at two or more different lengths of the reference arrangement with respect to the first arrangement. Data can be generated which is associated with the first and second electro-magnetic radiations obtained at the two different lengths using at least one second arrangement which comprises a spectrometer arrangement.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one first arrangement configured to provide a particular radiation which includes at least one first electro-magnetic radiation directed to at least one sample and at least one second electro-magnetic radiation directed to a reference arrangement, wherein at least one of the at least one first radiation or the at least one second radiation comprises a plurality of wavelengths, and wherein the at least one first arrangement is configured to spectrally disperse the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation along at least one portion of the at least one sample; and

at least one second arrangement comprising a spectrometer arrangement which is configured to generate data that is the interference associated with the dispersion of the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation from the sample and the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation, wherein the data is generated by the at least one second arrangement for a plurality of depths and transverse locations for the respective depth associated with the at least one sample.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the reference arrangement comprises at least one of a translatable mirror arrangement, a piezo-electric fiber stretching arrangement, a pulse-shaping arrangement, a rapidly-scanning optical delay line arrangement or an electro-optical or acousto-optical arrangement.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second arrangement is configured to generate the data based on a Fourier transform of information received by the spectrometer arrangement which is associated with the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation and the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the data is generated as a function of a phase of the information.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second arrangement is configured to generate the data based on at least one of a time frequency transform or a space-frequency transform of information received by the spectrometer arrangement which is associated with the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation and the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the time frequency transform is a Short-time Fourier transform.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second arrangement generates the data based on a correlation between information received at least one first length of the at least two different lengths and at least second length of the at least two different lengths.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the correlation is a cross-correlation.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the second arrangement is configured to determine a first peak of the cross-correlation, and determines a sign of the cross-correlation based on further information associated with the first peak.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second arrangement generates the data based on a comparison of phases between information received at least one first length of the at least two different lengths and at least second length of the at least two different lengths.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the second arrangement is configured to generate further data based on a magnitude of a Fourier transform of the data.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the second arrangement is configured to combines the data and the further data to form a composite image data associated with the at least one sample.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data is associated with at least one portion of the at least one sample which is located in a direction that is axial with respect to a direction of the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the sign of the first peak of the cross-correlation is associated with at least at least one portion of the at least one sample which is located in a direction that is axial with respect to a direction of the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data is further associated with a three-dimensional image of at least a portion of the at least one sample.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation is directed to continuously scan the different lengths of the reference arrangement.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation is measured at least two different lengths of the reference arrangement with respect to the at least one first arrangement.

18. A method comprising:

providing a particular radiation using at least one first arrangement, the at least one particular radiation including at least one first electro-magnetic radiation directed to at least one sample and at least one second electro-magnetic radiation directed to a reference arrangement, wherein at least one of the at least one first radiation or the at least one second radiation comprises a plurality of wavelengths;

spectrally dispersing the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation along at least one portion of the at least one sample; and

generating data that is the interference associated with the dispersion of the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation from the sample and the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation using a spectrometer of at least one second arrangement which comprises a spectrometer arrangement, wherein the data is generated for a plurality of depths and transverse locations for the respective depth associated with the at least one sample.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the data is generated based on a comparison of phases between information received at least one first length of the at least two different lengths and at least second length of the at least two different lengths.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising combining the data and the further data to form a composite image data associated with the at least one sample.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising measuring the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation at least two different lengths of the reference arrangement with respect to the at least one first arrangement.