Live being optical analysis system and approach

• US 9,636,020 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2014
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Inventors: Flusberg, Benjamin A., Cocker, Eric David, Jung, Juergen Claus, Schnitzer, Mark Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoffa, Angela M
• Application Number:
  US14/322,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20150057549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/026 for the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• 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 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0064 Body surface scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0068 Confocal scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• 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 5/0079 using mirrors, i.e. for self-examination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/44 Raman spectrometry; Scattering spectrometry ; Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/4406 Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6408 with measurement of decay time, time resolved fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
• 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 21/65 Raman scattering

Abstract

Analysis of live beings is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a light-directing arrangement such as an endoscope is mounted to a live being. Optics in the light-directing arrangement are implemented to pass source light (e.g., laser excitation light) into the live being, and to pass light from the live being for detection thereof. The light from the live being may include, for example, photons emitted in response to the laser excitation light (i.e., fluoresced). The detected light is then used to detect a characteristic of the live being.

Claims

1. An imaging system capable of capturing cellular or higher resolution optical images of one or more cells in a target region of a subject in vivo, the imaging system comprising:

(a) a base plate configured to be affixed on the subject, wherein the base plate maintains a consistent position relative to the subject;

(b) a light-directing arrangement, wherein the light-directing arrangement includes a light source configured to provide source light to the one or more cells, wherein the source light induces a response light from the one or more cells;

(c) a light detector configured to receive the response light and to generate data signals corresponding to the detected light for generating cellular or higher resolution optical images of the one or more cells of the subject in vivo; and

(d) a housing adapted to be removably attached to the base plate while the base plate remains affixed on the subject, wherein the housing encloses the light-directing arrangement, and wherein the housing comprises compact dimensions amendable to permit affixation on an adult mouse.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the imaging system further comprises optics which direct the source light to the one or more cells.

3. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the housing encloses at least one of the optics and the light detector.

4. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the housing encloses both of the optics and the light detector.

5. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the optics further comprises a gradient index (GRIN) lens.

6. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the optics further comprises a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror.

7. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the optics further comprises an objective lens that is configured to (i) provide an optical path for the source light from the light source to the one or more cells and (ii) provide an optical path for the response light from the one or more cells to the light detector.

8. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the optics further comprises a piezo scanner configured to scan the source light across the target region.

9. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the imaging system further comprises one or more conduits which provides a physical path from the housing to the light detector.

10. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the light detector is further configured to transmit the data signals to an image processing device configured to generate the cellular or higher resolution optical images.

11. The imaging system of claim 10, wherein the light detector is wirelessly coupled to the image processing device.

12. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to permit the subject to freely move about as would under regular living conditions during the imaging of the one or more cells when the housing is mounted.

13. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the subject is a mouse.

14. The imaging system of claim 13, wherein the housing is configured to be fixed onto a head of the mouse.

15. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the target region comprises solid tissue.

16. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the target region comprises brain tissue.

17. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the optical images comprise fluorescent images.

18. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the light-directing arrangement is configured to move relative to the base plate.

19. The imaging system of claim 18, wherein the light-directing arrangement is configured to move axially relative to the base plate.

20. The imaging system of claim 18, wherein the light-directing arrangement is configured to move laterally relative to the base plate.

21. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the base plate is configured to be affixed on the subject via fasteners or adhesives glue.