Apparatus and method for providing diffuse spectroscopy co-registered with optical frequency domain imaging

• US 9,968,261 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2014
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Motafakker-Fard, Ali, Vacas Jacques, Paulino, Tearney, Guillermo, Rosenberg, Mireille
• Primary Examiner(s): Cook, Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEHLKE, CAROLYN A
• Application Number:
  US14/165,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20150272442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 600473, 600475-478
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/00 Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence; image processing per se G06T; details of algorithms for analysing medical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• 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: G01B 9/02091 Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/4757 Geometry 0/45° or 45/0°
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/4761 Mirror arrangements, e.g. in IR range
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/474 Details of optical heads therefor, e.g. using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4795 spatially resolved investigating of object in scattering medium in vivo A61B
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/55 Specular reflectivity

Abstract

An apparatus can be provided according to certain exemplary embodiments. For example, the apparatus can include a waveguiding first arrangement providing at least one electromagnetic radiation. A configuration can be provided that receives and splits the at least one electromagnetic radiation into a first radiation and a second radiation. The apparatus can further include a waveguiding second arrangement which has a first waveguide and a second waveguide, whereas the first waveguide receives the first radiation, and the second waveguide receives the second radiation. The first arrangement, the second arrangement and the configuration can be housed in a probe.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first waveguide which is configured to receive at least one first electromagnetic radiation;

a second waveguide which is configured to receive at least one second electromagnetic radiation;

at least one third waveguide; and

a combiner which is configured to receive and combine the at least one first electromagnetic radiation and the at least one second electromagnetic radiation into the at least one third waveguide,

wherein the first waveguide, the second waveguide, and the combiner are rotatably housed in a probe.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a drive shaft which at least partially encloses the at least one third waveguide.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lens which is provided at an end of at least one of the first waveguide or the second waveguide.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one lens is provided in an optical path of at least one of the at least one first electromagnetic radiation or the at least one second electromagnetic radiation.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first waveguide receives the first electromagnetic radiation and the second waveguide receives the second electromagnetic radiation from the at least one biological structure.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first electromagnetic radiation received by the first waveguide is provided from a first location of the at least one biological structure and the second electromagnetic radiation received by the second waveguide is provided from a second location of the at least one biological structure, the second location being different from the first location.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one lens comprises a first lens and a second lens, wherein the first lens causes the first wavequide to receive the first electromagnetic radiation from the first location and the second lens causes the second waveguide to receive the second electromagnetic radiation from the second location, the first location and the second location being spatially separated from one another.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the spatial separated distance is at least 1 mm.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the spatial separated distance is at least 2 mm.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the spatial separated distance is at least 10 mm.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transparent optical sheath enclosing the first waveguide, the second waveguide and the combiner.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third waveguide includes a double-clad fiber.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one third waveguide includes a triple-clad fiber.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one third waveguide has a refractive index profile that is rotationally symmetric.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first waveguide or the second waveguide is a single mode optical fiber or a multimode optical fiber.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the probe is at least one of a catheter or an endoscope.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the probe is an in vivo probe configured to be provided within at least one anatomical structure.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one third waveguide is housed in the probe.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one third waveguide is provided outside of the probe.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a rotary junction which is configured to rotate at least one of the first, second or third waveguides or the combiner;

an optical coherence tomography system which receives the at least one first radiation; and

a spectroscopy system which receives the at least one second radiation.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the spectroscopy system is a near infra-red spectroscopy system.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

a first waveguide which is configured to receive at least one first electromagnetic radiation;

a second waveguide which is configured to receive at least one second electromagnetic radiation;

at least one third waveguide;

a rotary junction which provides at least one electro-magnetic radiation;

a rotatable combiner which is connected to the rotary junction and configured to receive and combine the at least one first electromagnetic radiation and the at least one second radiation into the third waveguide; and

wherein the first waveguide and the second waveguide are housed in a probe.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the first and second waveguides are configured to be rotated within the probe.