Method and apparatus for optical imaging via spectral encoding

• US 9,513,276 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2014
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tearney, Guillermo J., Bouma, Brett E., Yelin, Dvir
• Primary Examiner(s): Lyons, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US14/311,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20150049339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0068 Confocal scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0073 by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections A61B5/0066 takes precedence
• 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: G01B 9/02 Interferometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02027 Two or more interferometric channels or interferometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02049 characterised by particular mechanical design details
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02064 by particular adjustment of coherence gate, i.e. adjusting position of zero path difference in low coherence interferometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02087 Combining two or more images of the same region
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02091 Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/04 Measuring microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1765 Method using an image detector and processing of image signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/25 Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4795 spatially resolved investigating of object in scattering medium in vivo A61B
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6458 Fluorescence microscopy fluorescence microscopes per se G02B21/0076 and G02B21/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6486 Measuring fluorescence of biological material, e.g. DNA, RNA, cells G01N21/6428 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/419 : computed tomograph
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/046 : using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4833 : of solid biological material, e.g. tissue samples, cell cultures tissue in vivo A61B5/00; cell suspensions G01N33/48735
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0028 : specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for endoscopes, ophthalmoscopes, attachments to conventional microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 : of the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/243 : Objectives for endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2461 : Illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 : Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports

Abstract

Exemplary method, apparatus and arrangement can be provided for obtaining information associated with a sample such as a portion of an anatomical structure. The information can be generated using first data, which can be based on a signal obtained from a location on the sample, and second data, where the second data can be obtained by combining a second signal received from the sample with a third reference signal. An image of a portion of the sample can also be generated based on the information. For example, the first data can be associated with spectral encoding microscopy data, and the second data can be associated with optical coherence tomography data.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one imaging first arrangement configured to provide first data associated with a first signal at least one of received from or provided to at least one region of at least one structure, wherein the region has a linear dimension that is not more than about 10 microns;

at least one second arrangement which includes a coherence ranging system that is configured to provide second data associated with (i) a second signal at least one of received from or forwarded to the at least one structure, and (ii) a third signal at least one of received from or provided to a reference, wherein the first and second data are provided substantially simultaneously by the first and second arrangements; and

at least one computer third arrangement configured to generate further data based on the first and second data.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one computer third arrangement is further configured to generate at least one of a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image based on the further data.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second data are associated with approximately the same location on the at least one structure.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least imaging first arrangement and the coherence ranging system are provided in at least one of a probe or a single enclosure.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a mechanical transducer positioning arrangement configured to position at least one of the probe or the single enclosure at a particular location relative to the structure based on at least one of the first data or the second data.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least imaging first arrangement and the coherence ranging system include at least one common component.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one common component is provided in a wavelength swept-source arrangement.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one imaging first arrangement is configured to obtain confocal microscopy information.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the confocal microscopy information is reflectance confocal microscopy information.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one imaging first arrangement is configured to obtain spectral encoding microscopy information.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coherence ranging system is configured to obtain optical coherence tomography information.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coherence ranging system is configured to obtain optical coherence tomography information associated with a signal provided by a source arrangement having a plurality of wavelengths, and further comprising a plurality of detectors configured to detect a spectral interference between the second and third signals based on the wavelengths.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coherence ranging system is configured to obtain optical coherence tomography information associated with a signal provided by a source arrangement whose wavelength varies over time.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one computer third arrangement is further configured to control at least one of the at least one imaging first arrangement or the coherence ranging system based on previously-obtained at least one of the first data or the second data.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one computer third arrangement is further configured to generate an image based on the first and second data.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one computer third arrangement is further configured to generate at least one first image based on the first data and at least one second image based on the second data, wherein the first and second images are associated with one another based on the first and second data.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lens focusing arrangement configured to control at least one of a focal length or a focal position associated with at least one of the at least one imaging first arrangement or the coherence ranging system based on at least one of the first data or the second data.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first data is associated with at least one first location within the at least one region, and the second data is associated with at least one second location of the at least one structure.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one structure is an anatomical structure.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one lens focusing arrangement configured to control at least one of a focal length or a focal position associated with at least one of the at least one imaging first arrangement or the coherence ranging system when at least one of the first data or the second data are being acquired.

21. A method for obtaining particular data associated with at least one structure, comprising:

with an imaging system, obtaining first data associated with a first signal at least one of received from or provided to at least one region of the at least one structure, wherein the region has a linear dimension that is not more than about 10 microns;

with a coherence ranging system, retrieving second data associated with (i) a second signal at least one of received from or provided to the at least one structure, and (ii) a third signal at least one of received from or provided to a reference, wherein the first and second data are provided substantially simultaneously; and

using a computer system, generating the particular data based on the first and second data.