Method and apparatus for microscopic imaging

• US 9,733,460 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2015
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kang, Dongkyun, Kim, Minkyu, Tearney, Guillermo J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rahaman, Mohammed
• Application Number:
  US15/110,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20160334610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1025 for confocal scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0068 Confocal scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4795 spatially resolved investigating of object in scattering medium in vivo A61B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0008 Microscopes having a simple construction, e.g. portable microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0028 specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for endoscopes, ophthalmoscopes, attachments to conventional microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0064 multi-spectral or wavelength-selective arrangements, e.g. wavelength fan-out, chromatic profiling G02B21/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2453 of the proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/215 by non-intrusive coupling means, e.g. acoustic couplers

Abstract

Apparatus and method for facilitating a microscopic imaging of at least one anatomical structure can be provided. For example, with a spectrally-encoded confocal microscopy (SECM) system, it is possible to provide at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to the anatomical structure(s). In addition, a mobile device can be provided which can communicate with the SECM system. The mobile device can have a sensor arrangement, and with such sensor arrangement, it is possible to receive at least one second electro-magnetic radiation that is based on the first radiation(s) from at least one section of the SECM system. The mobile device can further include a computer arrangement, with which it is possible to display at least one portion of the anatomical structure(s) as a microscopic image based on the second radiation(s) received by the sensor arrangement.

Claims

1. An apparatus for facilitating a microscopic imaging of at least one anatomical structure, comprising:

a spectrally-encoded confocal microscopy (SECM) system configured to provide at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to the at least one anatomical structure; and

a mobile device communicating with the SECM system, and including a sensor arrangement that is configured to receive at least one second electro-magnetic radiation that is based on the at least one first electro-magentic radiation from at least one section of the SECM system, the mobile device further including a computer arrangement which is configured to display at least one portion of the at least one anatomical structure as a microscopic image based on the at least one second radiation received by the sensor arrangement,

wherein the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation is originated from a radiation source residing in the mobile device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microscopic image is a confocal image of the at least one portion.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SECM system includes an optical arrangement which facilitates a motionless scan of the at least one anatomical structure via the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SECM system includes a relay optical arrangement which facilitates a transmission of the at least one second radiation to the sensor arrangement.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SECM system includes an internal energy storage arrangement.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a waveguide arrangement provided between the SECM system and the at least one anatomical structure.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the waveguide arrangement is configured to (i) forward the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to the at least one anatomical structure, and (ii) receive the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation from the at least one anatomical structure.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising first and second waveguide arrangements provided between the SECM system and the at least one anatomical structure.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first waveguide arrangement is configured to forward the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to the at least one anatomical structure, and the second waveguide arrangement is configured to receive the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation from the at least one anatomical structure.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SECM system comprises an optical configuration that focuses the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation toward the at least one anatomical structure.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SECM system comprises an optical configuration that focuses the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation directly unto the at least one anatomical structure.

12. A method for facilitating a microscopic imaging of at least one anatomical structure, comprising:

with a spectrally-encoded confocal microscopy (SECM) system, providing at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to the at least one anatomical structure;

with a sensor arrangement of a mobile device, receiving at least one second electro-magnetic radiation that is based on the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation from at least one section of the SECM system; and

with a computer arrangement of the mobile device, displaying at least one portion of the at least one anatomical structure as a microscopic image based on the at least one second radiation received by the sensor arrangement,

wherein the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation is originated from a radiation source residing in the mobile device.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the microscopic image is a confocal image of the at least one portion.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising, with an optical arrangement of the SECM system, facilitating a motionless scan of the at least one anatomical structure via the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising, with a relay optical arrangement of the SECM system, facilitating a transmission of the at least one second radiation to the sensor arrangement.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the SECM system includes an internal energy storage arrangement.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein a waveguide arrangement is provided between the SECM system and the at least one anatomical structure.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising, with the waveguide arrangement:

forwarding the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to the at least one anatomical structure; and

receiving the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation from the at least one anatomical structure.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein first and second waveguide arrangements are provided between the SECM system and the at least one anatomical structure.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

with the first waveguide arrangement, forwarding the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to the at least one anatomical structure; and

with the second waveguide arrangement, receiving the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation from the at least one anatomical structure.

21. The method according to claim 12, wherein the providing procedure is performed using an optical configuration of the SECM system by focusing the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation toward the at least one anatomical structure.

22. The method according to claim 12, wherein the providing procedure is performed using an optical configuration of the SECM system by focusing the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation directly unto the at least one anatomical structure.