Multi-mode internal imaging
First Claim
1. A system for providing multiple types of imaging data for an internal portion of an object, the system comprising:
- a light imaging system for providing light data related to light emitted from a light source located inside the object, the light imaging system including;
an imaging chamber comprising an interior cavitya first light seal disposed on an exterior wall thereof, anda camera configured to capture the light data from the object while the object is in the interior cavity;
a second imaging system configured to provide imaging data for the internal portion of the object and having a receiving area that allows the internal portion to be imaged while the object is in the receiving area; and
an object handling system adapted to transfer the object between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the second imaging system, wherein the object handling system is configured to move the object within the interior cavity of the imaging chamber when the imaging chamber is sealed in a light tight manner, wherein the object handling system includes;
a portable stage that is adapted to support the object,a manipulator configured to move the stage between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the second imaging system, anda second light seal disposed on said manipulator and configured to interface with the first light seal on the exterior wall of the light imaging system to produce a substantially light tight seal between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the space outside the light imaging system while the stage is within the interior cavity.
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Abstract
The invention described herein provides systems and methods for multi-modal imaging with light and a second form of imaging. Light imaging involves the capture of low intensity light from a light-emitting object. A camera obtains a two-dimensional spatial distribution of the light emitted from the surface of the subject. Software operated by a computer in communication with the camera may then convert two-dimensional spatial distribution data from one or more images into a three-dimensional spatial representation. The second imaging mode may include any imaging technique that compliments light imaging. Examples include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer topography (CT). An object handling system moves the object to be imaged between the light imaging system and the second imaging system, and is configured to interface with each system.
56 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A system for providing multiple types of imaging data for an internal portion of an object, the system comprising:
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a light imaging system for providing light data related to light emitted from a light source located inside the object, the light imaging system including; an imaging chamber comprising an interior cavity a first light seal disposed on an exterior wall thereof, and a camera configured to capture the light data from the object while the object is in the interior cavity; a second imaging system configured to provide imaging data for the internal portion of the object and having a receiving area that allows the internal portion to be imaged while the object is in the receiving area; and an object handling system adapted to transfer the object between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the second imaging system, wherein the object handling system is configured to move the object within the interior cavity of the imaging chamber when the imaging chamber is sealed in a light tight manner, wherein the object handling system includes; a portable stage that is adapted to support the object, a manipulator configured to move the stage between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the second imaging system, and a second light seal disposed on said manipulator and configured to interface with the first light seal on the exterior wall of the light imaging system to produce a substantially light tight seal between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the space outside the light imaging system while the stage is within the interior cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for providing multiple types of imaging data for an internal portion of an object, the system comprising:
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a light imaging system for providing light data related to light emitted from a light source located inside the object, the light imaging system including; an imaging chamber comprising an interior cavity a first light seal disposed on an exterior wall thereof, and a camera configured to capture the light data from the object while the object is in the interior cavity; a computer tomography system including; an X-ray producer configured to emit X-rays that pass through the object while resting on a portable stage positioned in a receiving area thereof, and an array of X-ray sensors that receive the X-rays; an object handling system adapted to transfer the object between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the computer tomography system, said object handling system including said portable stage, wherein the object handling system is configured to move the object within the interior cavity of the imaging chamber when the imaging chamber is sealed in a light tight manner, wherein the object handling system further includes a manipulator configured to move the stage between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of a second imaging system, and a second light seal disposed on said manipulator and configured to interface with the first light seal on the exterior wall of the light imaging system to produce a substantially light tight seal between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the space outside the light imaging system while the stage is within the interior cavity; and a processing device in logical communication with the light imaging system, in logical communication with the computer tomography system, and in logical communication with the object handling system, wherein the processor combines three-dimensional spatial information provided by the computer tomography system with three-dimensional functional information provided by the light imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for providing multiple types of imaging data for an internal portion of an object, the system comprising:
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a light imaging system for providing light data related to light emitted from a light source located inside the object, the light imaging system including; an imaging chamber comprising an interior cavity a first light seal disposed on an exterior wall thereof, and a camera configured to capture the light data from the object while the object is in the interior cavity; a magnetic resonance imaging system including a tubular cavity passing through a magnetic resonance imaging magnet, the tubular cavity comprising a receiving area that receives the object while resting on a portable stage; an object handling system adapted to transfer the object between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the magnetic resonance imaging system, said object handling system including said portable stage, wherein the object handling system is configured to move the object within the interior cavity of the imaging chamber when the imaging chamber is sealed in a light tight manner, wherein the object handling system further includes a manipulator configured to move the stage between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of a second imaging system, and a second light seal disposed on said manipulator and configured to interface with the first light seal on the exterior wall of the light imaging system to produce a substantially light tight seal between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the space outside the light imaging system while the stage is within the interior cavity, and at least one processing device in logical communication with the light imaging system, in logical communication with the magnetic resonance imaging system, and in logical communication with the object handling system, wherein the processor combines three-dimensional spatial information provided by the magnetic resonance imaging system with three-dimensional functional information provided by the light imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for providing multiple types of imaging data for an internal portion of an object, the system comprising:
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a light imaging system for providing light data related to light emitted from a light source located inside the object, the light imaging system including; an imaging chamber comprising an interior cavity a first light seal disposed on an exterior wall thereof, and a camera configured to capture the light data from the object while the object is in the interior cavity; a second imaging system configured to provide imaging data for the internal portion of the object and having a receiving area that allows the internal portion to be imaged while the object is in the receiving area; and an object handling system configured to transfer the object between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the second imaging system, wherein the object handling system includes; a portable stage that is adapted to support the object, a manipulator configured to move the stage between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the second imaging system, and a second light seal disposed on said manipulator and configured to interface with the first light seal on the exterior wall of the light imaging system to produce a substantially light tight seal between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the space outside the light imaging system while the stage is within the interior cavity. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for providing multiple types of imaging data for an internal portion of an object, the system comprising:
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a light imaging system for providing light data related to light emitted from a light source located inside the object, the light imaging system including; an imaging chamber comprising an interior cavity a first light seal disposed on an exterior wall thereof, and a camera configured to capture the light data from the object while the object is in the interior cavity; a nuclear medicine imaging system including one or more sensors that detect radioactive emissions produced by a radioactive substance within the object when the object is in a receiving area for the nuclear medicine imaging system, wherein the nuclear medicine imaging system is one of a positron emission tomography system and a single photon emission computed tomography system; and an object handling system adapted to transfer the object between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the nuclear medicine imaging system, wherein the object handling system is configured to move the object within the interior cavity of the imaging chamber, when the imaging chamber is sealed in a light tight manner, and wherein the object handling system includes; a portable stage that is adapted to support the object, a manipulator configured to move the stage between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the nuclear medicine imaging system, and a second light seal disposed on said manipulator and configured to interface with the first light seal on the exterior wall of the light imaging system to produce a substantially light tight seal between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the space outside the light imaging system while the stage is within the interior cavity. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for providing multiple types of imaging data for an internal portion of an object, the system comprising:
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a light imaging system for providing light data related to light emitted from a light source located inside the object, the light imaging system including; an imaging chamber comprising an interior cavity a first light seal disposed on an exterior wall thereof, and a camera configured to capture the light data from the object while the object is in the interior cavity; a positron emission tomography system including one or more sensors that detect radioactive emissions produced by a radioactive substance within the object when the object is in a receiving area for the positron emission tomography imaging system, and including a circular gamma ray detector array that includes a set of scintillation crystals each connected to a photomultiplier tube; and an object handling system adapted to transfer the object between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the positron emission tomography imaging system, wherein the object handling system is configured to move the object within the interior cavity of the imaging chamber, when the imaging chamber is sealed in a light tight manner, wherein the object handling system includes; a portable stage that is adapted to support the object, a manipulator configured to move the stage between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the positron emission tomography imaging system, and a second light seal disposed on said manipulator and configured to interface with the first light seal on the exterior wall of the light imaging system to produce a substantially light tight seal between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the space outside the light imaging system while the stage is within the interior cavity. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for obtaining multiple types of imaging data for an object, the method comprising:
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establishing a light tight seal between a light imaging system having an interior cavity and a first light seal disposed on an exterior wall thereof and an object handling system, wherein the object handling system includes; a portable stage that supports the object, a manipulator configured to move the stage between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and a receiving area of a nuclear medicine imaging system, and a second light seal disposed on said manipulator and configured to interface with the first light seal on the exterior wall of the light imaging system to produce a substantially light tight seal between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the space outside the light imaging system while the stage is within the interior cavity; moving the object within the interior cavity of the imaging chamber using the stage of the object handling system, when the imaging chamber is sealed in a light tight manner; capturing light data emitted from a light source located inside the object while the object is in the interior cavity of the light imaging system, wherein the interior cavity of the light imaging chamber contains between about 103 to about 1010 photons/second/centimeter squared/steradian when the light data is captured; transferring the object between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area using the object handling system; and obtaining imaging data of an internal portion of the object while the object is in the second imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification