Apparatus, systems and methods for production and integration of compact illumination schemes

• US 8,677,829 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2008
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Shahzad, Khalid, Jankovic, Ladislav
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Redmann, Gregory J
• Application Number:
  US12/738,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20100229650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: 736/55
• US Class Current: 73/655
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/146 for optical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0095 by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1782 In-depth resolution
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1785 Three dimensional
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/1702 with opto-acoustic detection, e.g. for gases or analysing solids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0636 Reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0666 Selectable paths; insertable multiple sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02466 Biological material, e.g. blood
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02475 Tissue characterisation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/106 one or more transducer arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4203 Optical features

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for production and integration of compact illumination schemes. More particularly, disclosed embodiments relate to apparatus/systems and methods for production of highly compact illumination schemes, whereby photoacoustic waves are induced in a target sample. Additionally, the disclosed apparatus/systems and methods are effective to produce compact and portable integrated transducer-illumination arrays. Apparatus disclosed generally include at least one lighting source and a beamsplitting assembly. Systems disclosed generally include one or more apparatus for the production of compact lighting schemes, an ultrasonic transducer assembly and means for coupling the one or more apparatus and US transducer assembly with a target sample.

Claims

1. A system for compactly integrating an illumination apparatus with an ultrasonic transducer assembly, the system comprising:

one or more illumination apparatus for the production of lighting schemes, the one or more illumination apparatus including (i) at least one lighting source configured to provide an illumination beam, and (ii) a beamsplitting assembly that includes a sequence of one or more beamsplitters of varying transmit-reflect ratios, wherein the sequence of one or more beamsplitters is configured such that a source beam for a subsequent beamsplitter of the sequence is one of the resulting beams from a preceding beamsplitter of the sequence, wherein the illumination beam of the at least one light source is passed through the beamsplitting assembly and wherein the beamsplitting assembly divides the illumination beam of the at least one light source into one or more beams of desired intensity before passing said beams relative to a target sample;

an ultrasonic transducer assembly including at least one ultrasonic transducer, wherein said ultrasonic transducer assembly detects ultrasonic waves emanating relative to the target sample;

a reflective layer coupled with one or more direction-altering mirror assemblies, wherein the reflective layer is positioned directly below the ultrasonic transducer assembly, wherein the one or more direction-altering mirror assemblies are positioned (i) directly below a respective beamsplitting assembly of the one or more illumination apparatus and (ii) below the ultrasonic transducer assembly, and wherein the one or more direction-altering mirror assemblies are angled such that the one or more beams of desired intensity emanating from the respective one or more illumination apparatus are then reflected off of the reflective layer toward the area of the target sample directly under the transducer assembly; and

an acoustic couplant for coupling the one or more illumination apparatus for the production of compact lighting schemes and the ultrasonic transducer assembly with the target sample.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic couplant comprises an ultrasonic gel pad.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic couplant comprises a container with coupling fluid and a layer of ultrasonic gel.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic couplant comprises a housing and a layer of ultrasonic gel.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer assembly comprises a transducer array.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein one or more of the sequence of one or more beamsplitters includes at least one polarizing beamsplitter comprised of dynamically switchable polarization material, such that the resulting beam intensities and/or polarizations are dynamically controllable.

7. The system of claim 1, further wherein the illumination scheme comprises a center focused intensity scheme.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more illumination apparatus for production of compact lighting schemes comprises two illumination apparatus, wherein the beamsplitting assembly of each illumination apparatus comprises a sequence of four beamsplitters, and wherein the center focused intensity scheme includes intensities of 10, 40, 40, and 10 out of 100 percent intensity for respective beamsplitters of the beamsplitting assembly.

9. The system of claim 1, further wherein the illumination scheme comprises a graduated intensity scheme.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more illumination apparatus for production of compact lighting schemes comprises two illumination apparatus, wherein the beamsplitting assembly of each illumination apparatus comprises a sequence of four beamsplitters, and wherein the graduated intensity scheme includes intensities of 10, 20, 30, and 40 out of 100 percent intensity for respective beamsplitters of the beamsplitting assembly.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more beams of desired intensity are dynamically controlled to produce an illumination scheme configured to match with the at least one ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic transducer assembly.

12. A method for imaging a target sample, comprising:

providing one or more illumination apparatus for the production of compact lighting schemes, the one or more illumination apparatus including (i) at least one lighting source configured to provide an illumination beam, and (ii) a beamsplitting assembly that includes a sequence of one or more beamsplitters of varying transmit-reflect ratios, wherein the sequence of one or more beamsplitters is configured such that a source beam for a subsequent beamsplitter of the sequence is one of the resulting beams from a preceding beamsplitter of the sequence, wherein the illumination beam of the at least one light source is passed through the beamsplitting assembly and wherein the beamsplitting assembly divides the illumination beam of the at least one light source into one or more beams of desired intensity before passing said beams relative to a target sample;

providing an ultrasonic transducer assembly including at least one ultrasonic transducer;

wherein said ultrasonic transducer assembly detects ultrasonic waves emanating relative to the target sample;

providing a reflective layer coupled with one or more direction-altering mirror assemblies , wherein the reflective layer is positioned directly below the ultrasonic transducer assembly, wherein the one or more direction-altering mirror assemblies are positioned (i) directly below a respective beamsplitting assembly of the one or more illumination apparatus and (ii) below the ultrasonic transducer assembly, and wherein the one or more direction-altering mirror assemblies are angled such that the one or more beams of desired intensity emanating from the respective one or more illumination apparatus are then reflected off of the reflective layer toward the area of the target sample directly under the transducer assembly; and

coupling the one or more illumination apparatus for the production of compact lighting schemes and the ultrasonic transducer assembly with the target sample.