Orbital angular momentum and fluorescence-based microendoscope spectroscopy for cancer diagnosis

• US 9,662,019 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2015
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nxgen Partners Ip, LLC (NxGen Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nxgen Partners Ip, LLC (NxGen Partners LLC)
• Inventors: Ashrafi, Nima, Ashrafi, Solyman, Linquist, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): GETZOW, SCOTT M
• Application Number:
  US14/681,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20150289766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/000094 extracting biological structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00039 provided with input arrangements for the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0646 with illumination filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0035 adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for performing an endoscopic procedure for detecting cancerous tissue includes a detection probe for detecting the cancerous tissue. The detection probe includes a first fiber for emitting an ultraviolet light beam having an orthogonal function applied thereto and a second fiber for receiving emissions from tissues responsive to the ultraviolet light beam emitted for the first fiber. An ultraviolet emission source generates the ultraviolet light beam. Orthogonal function circuitry applies the orthogonal function twist to the ultraviolet light beam. Detection circuitry detects fluorescence and orthogonal function within the emissions from the tissues received over the second fiber.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing an endoscopic procedure for detecting cancerous tissue, comprising:

a detection probe for detecting the cancerous tissue, the detection probe including a first fiber for emitting an ultraviolet light beam having an orthogonal function applied thereto and a second fiber for receiving emissions from tissues responsive to the ultraviolet light beam emitted for the first fiber;

an ultraviolet emission source for generating the ultraviolet light beam;

orthogonal function processing circuitry for applying the orthogonal function to the ultraviolet light beam; and

detection circuitry for detecting fluorescence and orthogonal function within the emissions from the tissues received over the second fiber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet emission source comprises:

a plurality of LEDs, each of the LEDs emitting ultraviolet light and a different wavelength; and

a switch for selecting between the plurality of LEDs responsive to a control input.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection probe further comprises:

a third fiber for providing images of tissues near the probe;

a scope connected to the third fiber for providing the images taken through the third fiber; and

a focusing mechanism for focusing an image being provided by the scope.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprises:

at least one fourth fiber for providing an illumination beam for generating the images taken through the third fiber; and

a white light illumination source for generating the illumination beam.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further including a timing control circuit for controlling illumination of the white light illumination source and the ultraviolet emission source, wherein white light illumination source and the ultraviolet emission source are controlled to be turned on at separate time periods.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a photo detection circuit for generating the images of tissues responsive to information received over the third fiber.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a photo detection circuit for generating the images of tissues responsive to information received over the third fiber.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a filter for filtering white light from the detection circuitry.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a display interface for generating a visual display of the information detected by the detection circuitry.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detection circuitry compares the fluorescence and the orthogonal function within the emissions from the tissues with stored fluorescence and orthogonal function signatures of cancerous and non-cancerous tissues to detect the cancerous tissue.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a filter for filtering white light from the detection circuitry.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a display interface for generating a visual display of the information detected by the detection circuitry.

13. An method for detecting cancerous tissue using an endoscopic procedure, comprising:

generating the ultraviolet light beam;

applying an orthogonal function to the ultraviolet light beam;

applying the ultraviolet light beam having the orthogonal function applied thereto to tissue through a first optical fiber of a detection probe;

receiving a reflected ultraviolet light beam having the orthogonal function applied thereto from the tissue through a second fiber of the detection probe; and

detecting fluorescence and orthogonal function within the emissions from the tissues received over the second fiber.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of generating comprises:

generating a plurality of ultraviolet light beams using a plurality of LEDs, each of the LEDs emitting a different wavelength; and

selecting between the plurality of ultraviolet light beams using a switch responsive to a control input.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

taking images of the tissue using a scope through a third fiber in the detection probe; and

focusing an image being provided by the scope.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprises:

generating an illumination beam using a white light illumination source; and

providing the illumination beam for generating the images taken through the third fiber through a fourth fiber.

17. The method of claim 16 further including controlling illumination of the white light illumination source and the ultraviolet emission source to be turned on at separate time periods.

18. The method of claim 13 further including filtering white light from the detection circuitry.

19. The method of claim 13 further including generating a visual display of the information detected by the detection circuitry.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of detecting further comprises comparing the fluorescence and the orthogonal function within the emissions from the tissues with stored fluorescence and orthogonal function signatures of cancerous and non-cancerous tissues to detect the cancerous tissue.

21. A detection probe for performing an endoscopic procedure for detecting cancerous tissue, comprising:

a first fiber for emitting an ultraviolet light beam having an orbital angular momentum twist applied thereto;

a second fiber for receiving emissions from tissues responsive to the ultraviolet light beam emitted for the first fiber;

a third fiber for providing images of tissues near the probe;

at least one fourth fiber for providing an illumination beam for generating the images taken through the third fiber;

a flexible sheet for enclosing the first fiber, the second fiber, the third fiber and the at least one fourth fiber.

22. The detection probe of claim 21 further including:

an ultraviolet emission source for generating the ultraviolet light beam;

orbital angular momentum circuitry for applying the orbital angular momentum twist to the ultraviolet light beam; and

detection circuitry for detecting fluorescence and orbital angular momentum within the emissions from the tissues received over the second fiber.

23. The detection probe of claim 22, wherein the ultraviolet emission source comprises:

a plurality of LEDs, each of the LEDs emitting ultraviolet light and a different wavelength; and

a switch for selecting between the plurality of LEDs responsive to a control input.

24. The detection probe of claim 22 wherein the detection circuitry compares the fluorescence and the orbital angular momentum within the emissions from the tissues with stored fluorescence and OAM signatures of cancerous and non-cancerous tissues to detect the cancerous tissue.

25. The detection probe of claim 21, wherein the detection probe further comprises:

a scope connected to the third fiber for providing the images taken through the third fiber; and

a focusing mechanism for focusing an image being provided by the scope.

26. The detection probe of claim 21 further including a timing control circuit for controlling illumination of the white light illumination source and the ultraviolet emission source, wherein white light illumination source and the ultraviolet emission source are controlled to be turned on at separate time periods.

27. The detection probe of claim 21 further including a filter for filtering white light from the detection circuitry.

28. An apparatus for performing an endoscopic procedure for detecting cancerous tissue, comprising:

a detection probe for detecting the cancerous tissue, the detection probe including;

a first fiber for emitting an ultraviolet light beam having an orbital angular momentum twist applied thereto;

a second fiber for receiving emissions from tissues responsive to the ultraviolet light beam emitted for the first fiber;

a third fiber for providing images of tissues near the probe;

a scope connected to the third fiber for providing the images taken through the third fiber;

at least one fourth fiber for providing an illumination beam for generating the images taken through the third fiber;

an ultraviolet emission source for generating the ultraviolet light beam;

a white light illumination source for generating the illumination beam;

orbital angular momentum circuitry for applying the orbital angular momentum twist to the ultraviolet light beam;

detection circuitry for detecting fluorescence and orbital angular momentum within the emissions from the tissues received over the second fiber, wherein the detection circuitry compares the fluorescence and the orbital angular momentum within the emissions from the tissues with stored fluorescence and OAM signatures of cancerous and non-cancerous tissues to detect the cancerous tissue.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the ultraviolet emission source comprises:

a plurality of LEDs, each of the LEDs emitting ultraviolet light and a different wavelength; and

a switch for selecting between the plurality of LEDs responsive to a control input.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 further including a timing control circuit for controlling illumination of the white light illumination source and the ultraviolet emission source, wherein white light illumination source and the ultraviolet emission source are controlled to be turned on at separate time periods.