Method and system of spectrally encoded imaging

• US 8,812,087 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2010
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TECHNION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, LTD.
• Original Assignee: TECHNION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, LTD.
• Inventors: Yelin, Dvir, Abramov, Avraham
• Primary Examiner(s): Cattungal, Sanjay
• Application Number:
  US12/816,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20100317975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 600473-480
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00163 Optical arrangements A61B1/002, A61B1/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0208 using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or mirrors; performing aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/024 using means for illuminating a slit efficiently (e.g. entrance slit of a spectrometer or entrance face of fiber)
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0256 Compact construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6417 Spectrofluorimetric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6484 Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/55 Specular reflectivity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/084 Fibres for remote transmission

Abstract

A spectrally encoded imaging device having a light transmission path arrangement which propagates light to illuminate a target object, a light collection path arrangement having a light collection waveguide which propagates a spectrally encoded portion of the light from the target object to a detector which forms an image of the target object accordingly, and a diffractive element which spectrally disperses at least one of the light and the spectrally encoded portion. The light transmission path arrangement and the light collection path arrangement are optically isolated from one another.

Claims

1. A spectrally encoded imaging device, comprising:

a light transmission path arrangement which propagates light to illuminate a target object;

a light collection path arrangement having a light collection waveguide which propagates a spectrally dispersed portion of said light from said target object to a detector via a single optical fiber, said detector forms an image of said target object accordingly; and

a diffractive element which spectrally disperses said spectrally dispersed portion at a distal end of said light collection waveguide;

wherein said light transmission path arrangement and said light collection path arrangement are optically isolated from one another;

wherein said diffractive element is mounted at a distal end of said spectrally encoded imaging device.

2. The spectrally encoded imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said spectrally dispersed portion is a reflection from said light from said target object.

3. The spectrally encoded imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said spectrally dispersed portion is a portion of said light which passes via said target object.

4. The spectrally encoded imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said spectrally dispersed portion is a light emitted from said light from a fluorescence material of said target object.

5. The spectrally encoded imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a light source for generating said light.

6. The spectrally encoded imaging device according to claim 5, wherein said light source is a miniature light source placed on the tip of said imaging device.

7. The spectrally encoded imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said light transmission path arrangement comprises a light transmission waveguide for propagating said broadband light to illuminate said target object.

8. The spectrally encoded imaging device according to claim 7, wherein said diffractive element is a grating slanted in relation to the axis of said light transmission waveguide.

9. The spectrally encoded imaging device according to claim 5, wherein said light source is placed to illuminate said target object from a certain side of said target object and said light collection path arrangement being set to collect said spectrally dispersed portion from an opposing side of said target object.

10. The spectrally encoded imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said collection path arrangement is set to collect said spectrally dispersed portion on a first axis;

further comprising an optical arrangement for directing said light to illuminate said target object from said first axis.

11. The spectrally encoded imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said light is a broadband light.

12. The spectrally encoded imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said light is a narrowband light and said target object comprising a fluorescence material which emits, when excited by said narrowband light, a broadband light.

13. The spectrally encoded imaging device according to claim 1, light transmission path arrangement is external to an intrabody space confining said target object.

14. The spectrally encoded imaging device according to claim 1, wherein each of a plurality of different wavelengths in said spectrally dispersed portion is originated from a different lateral area of said target object.

15. The spectrally encoded imaging device according to claim 1, further comprises at least one lens that is placed to direct light received from said target object toward said diffractive element.

16. A method of imaging a target object, comprising:

maneuvering a guiding tool having a light collection path arrangement having a single optical fiber therealong and at least one diffractive element mounted on a distal end of said guiding tool to a target space via at least one tubular lumen;

propagating light toward a target object in said target space via a light transmission path arrangement;

using said diffractive element for spectrally disperse a portion of said light from said target object at a distal end of said light collection path; and

propagating said spectrally dispersed portion via said single optical fiber to a detector which forms an image of said target object accordingly;

wherein said light transmission path arrangement and said light collection path arrangement are optically isolated from one another.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said guiding tool is a microcatheter, said target space is an intrabody space, and said target object is a tissue surface.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said propagating light comprises directly illuminating said target object with said light.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said method is performed during a procedure selected from a group consisting of:

endoscopy, bronchoscopy, rhinoscopy, nasopharyngoscopy, laryngoscopy, and nasolaryngoscopy.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said using said diffractive element comprising spectrally disperse said light and using said spectrally dispersed light to illuminate said target object.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein maneuvering comprising maneuvering a light transmission path arrangement to propagate said light toward a certain side of said target object, said light collection path arrangement being placed to collect said portion from an opposing side of said target object.

22. A spectrally encoded imaging device, comprising:

a light transmission path arrangement which propagates light to illuminate a target object;

a light collection path arrangement having a light collection waveguide which propagates, via a single optical fiber, a portion of spectrally dispersed light from said target object to a detector which forms an image of said target object accordingly; and

a diffractive element located at a distal end of said spectrally encoded imaging device to spectrally disperses said light at a distal end of said light collection waveguide to provide said portion of spectrally dispersed light;

wherein said light transmission path arrangement and said light collection path arrangement are optically isolated from one another.