Device and method for imaging the ear using optical coherence tomography

• US 8,115,934 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
• Inventors: Boppart, Stephen A., Xi, Chuanwu
• Primary Examiner(s): Connolly, Patrick J
• Application Number:
  US12/040,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20090185191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 356/479, 356/497
• US Class Current: 356/479
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• 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 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2290/65 Spatial scanning object beam
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02004 using frequency scans
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02014 by using pulsed light
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02044 Imaging in the frequency domain, e.g. by using a spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/0205 of probe head
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02083 characterised by particular signal processing and presentation
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02091 Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence

Abstract

A method of forming an image of tissue. The method includes non-invasively inserting a fiber-based device into a patient'"'"'s ear canal and acquiring OCT data from ear tissue while the fiber-based device is in the ear canal. The method also includes converting the OCT data into at least one image.

Claims

1. A method of forming an image of ear tissue, comprising:

non-invasively inserting a fiber-based device into a patient'"'"'s ear canal;

illuminating the ear tissue at a focal region of a broadband optical signal;

acquiring OCT data from the ear tissue, from a region extending beyond the focal region, while the fiber-based device is in the ear canal; and

converting the OCT data into at least one image.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing further data analysis on the image while the fiber-based device is in the ear canal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the further data analysis includes enhancing the image.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the further data analysis includes classifying the ear tissue imaged using the OCT data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the OCT data is run through classification algorithms so as to classify the ear tissue imaged.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the classification algorithms analyze the OCT data and classify the ear tissue imaged using an optical property which is derived from the OCT data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the optical property is one of a refractive index, a scattering profile, a scattering coefficient, an anisotropy factor, birefringence, a spectral shift, texture, a Doppler shift, a phase resolution, a phase-resolved Doppler measurement, a phase-resolved spectroscopic measurement, a light scattering parameter, and spectroscopic absorption.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the fiber-based device is coupled to an otoscope.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the ear tissue includes a biofilm.

10. A system for imaging ear tissue in real-time comprising:

a core imaging unit which generates a low-coherence broadband optical signal; and

a fiber-based device connected with an otoscope, wherein the fiber-based device is in communication with and receives the low-coherence broadband optical signal from the core imaging unit, illuminates ear tissue at a focal region and transmits scattered light from the ear tissue back to the core imaging unit for generating an interferometry signal; and

a processor for receiving the interferometry signal and for generating therefrom an image of the ear tissue from a region extending beyond the focal region.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a core software unit which receives the interferometry signal OCT data and performs further data analysis on the interferometry signal.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the further data analysis includes enhancing the image of the ear tissue.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the core software unit includes classification algorithms.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the classification algorithms analyze the interferometry signal and classify tissue imaged using an optical property which is derived from the interferometry signal.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the otoscope is a pneumatic otoscope which comprises an ear speculum connected with a head unit.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the fiber-based device is positioned to receive light which enters the ear speculum.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the core imaging unit is integrated with the otoscope.

18. A method of analyzing ear tissue comprising:

beginning a non-invasive procedure on a patient exposing middle ear tissue;

illuminating the ear tissue at a focal region of a broadband optical signal; and

acquiring OCT data from a region of the middle ear tissue extending beyond the focal region.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

analyzing the OCT data; and

classifying the ear tissue upon analyzing the full-field OCT data.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising upon classifying the ear tissue, indicating to a user the type of ear tissue classified.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising ending the non-invasive procedure after the classifying of the ear tissue.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the ear tissue is living.

23. A method of examining a patient'"'"'s ear, comprising:

illuminating the ear tissue at a focal region of a broadband optical signal.

non-invasively acquiring OCT data from a region of the patient'"'"'s middle ear extending beyond the focal region; and

analyzing the OCT data for the presence of a biofilm in the patient'"'"'s middle ear.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising indicating to a user the presence or absence of the biofilm.

25. A method of examining a patient'"'"'s ear, comprising:

illuminating the ear tissue at a focal region of a broadband optical signal;

non-invasively acquiring OCT data from a region of the patient'"'"'s middle ear extending beyond the focal region; and

analyzing the OCT data for the patient'"'"'s middle ear condition.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the analyzing of the data comprises analyzing the data for the patient'"'"'s tympanic membrane condition.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the analyzing of the OCT data comprises forming an image of at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s middle ear.

28. An apparatus for examining a patient'"'"'s ear, comprising:

(a) a core imaging unit for illuminating tissue at a focal region and acquiring OCT data of from a region extending beyond the focal region, and

(b) a fiber-based device, adapted for selecting as the tissue the patient'"'"'s middle ear, connected to the core imaging unit.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the fiber-based device is adapted for insertion into the patient'"'"'s ear canal.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising an indicator used to indicate to a user a type of tissue which has been imaged.