Systems and methods for sidesstream dark field imaging
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A handheld system for sidestream dark field imaging of tissue beneath a tissue surface, comprising:
- an elongate body portion including an imaging passage extending along a length of the elongate body portion;
one or more illumination passages which are disposed radially about the imaging passage within the elongate body portion and which are optically isolated from the imaging passage along an entire length of the imaging passage for surface reflection avoidance or reduction when an examination tip of the elongate body portion is proximate the tissue surface;
a plurality of light sources which are disposed within the one or more illumination passages, which are disposed in a distal portion of the elongate body portion, which are disposed in a position configured to be in close proximity to the tissue surface during use, and which are configured to directly project light onto a first tissue site via the one or more illumination passages; and
an analysis section optically coupled to the imaging passage and configured to capture data of tissue beneath the tissue surface from a second tissue site different from and adjacent to the first tissue site.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present application discloses systems and methods for the comprehensive monitoring of the microcirculation in order to assess the ultimate efficacy of the cardiovascular system in delivering adequate amounts of oxygen to the organ cells. In some cases, system embodiments may utilize reflectance avoidance by reflectance filtering, such as OPS imaging or Mainstream Dark Field imaging, or by Sidestream Dark Field imaging, which utilizes external direct light on the tip of the light guide to achieve reflectance avoidance whereby incident and reflected light do not travel down the same pathway.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A handheld system for sidestream dark field imaging of tissue beneath a tissue surface, comprising:
-
an elongate body portion including an imaging passage extending along a length of the elongate body portion; one or more illumination passages which are disposed radially about the imaging passage within the elongate body portion and which are optically isolated from the imaging passage along an entire length of the imaging passage for surface reflection avoidance or reduction when an examination tip of the elongate body portion is proximate the tissue surface; a plurality of light sources which are disposed within the one or more illumination passages, which are disposed in a distal portion of the elongate body portion, which are disposed in a position configured to be in close proximity to the tissue surface during use, and which are configured to directly project light onto a first tissue site via the one or more illumination passages; and an analysis section optically coupled to the imaging passage and configured to capture data of tissue beneath the tissue surface from a second tissue site different from and adjacent to the first tissue site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of identifying sepsis in a patient, comprising:
-
providing a system for side stream dark field imaging of tissue beneath a tissue surface, including; an elongate body portion including an imaging passage extending along a length of the elongate body portion, one or more illumination passages which are disposed radially about the imaging passage within the elongate body portion and which are optically isolated from the imaging passage along an entire length of the imaging passage for surface reflection avoidance or reduction when an examination tip of the elongate body portion is proximate the tissue surface, one or more light sources which are disposed within the one or more illumination passages, which are disposed in a distal portion of the elongate body portion, which are disposed in a position configured to be in close proximity to the tissue surface during use, and which are configured to directly project light onto a first tissue site via the one or more illumination passages, and an analysis section optically coupled to the imaging passage; emitting light from the one or more light sources onto the first tissue site; gathering light from a second tissue site through the imaging passage with the analysis section and imaging tissue beneath a surface of the second tissue site; and visualizing apoptotic cells in the imaged tissue to assess cell failure and identify sepsis in the patient. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification