Near-infrared laser diodes used in imaging applications

• US 10,201,283 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2018
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omni Medsci, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omni Medsci, Inc.
• Inventors: Islam, Mohammed N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rahman, Md M
• Application Number:
  US16/029,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20180317776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 219 Days
• Field of Search: 356300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/146 for optical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/02 specially adapted for a particular organ or body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/104 Monochromatic plural sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1208 Prism and grating
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/2826 Multispectral imaging, e.g. filter imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 : using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/108 : for measurement in the infrared range
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/14 : using refracting elements, e.g. prisms G01J3/18, G01J3/26 take precedence prisms per se G02B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/1838 : Holographic gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/28 : Investigating the spectrum using colour filters G01J3/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 : Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/42 : Absorption spectrometry; Double beam spectrometry; Flicker spectrometry; Reflection spectrometry beam switching arrangements G01J3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/453 : by correlation of the amplitudes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/38 : by using light G01M3/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3595 : using FTIR
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/399 : Diode laser
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/35 : using infrared light G01N21/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3563 : for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 : using near infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/39 : using tunable lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/85 : Investigating moving fluids or granular solids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/88 : Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9508 : Capsules; Tablets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 : Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/061 : Sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/06113 : Coherent sources; lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 : LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/08 : Optical fibres; light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/12 : Circuits of general importance; Signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/129 : Using chemometrical methods
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/02 : Food
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/025 : Fruits or vegetables
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/15 : Medicinal preparations ; Physical properties thereof, e.g. dissolubility drug screening with animal cells G01N33/5008
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/442 : Resins, plastics
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/49 : Blood chemical methods for determining blood cell populations G01N33/5094; chemical analysis of blood groups or blood types G01N33/80
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0092 : Nonlinear frequency conversion, e.g. second harmonic generation [SHG] or sum- or difference-frequency generation outside the laser cavity nonlinear frequency conversion per se G02F1/35
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/06758 : Tandem amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/302 : in an optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A smart phone or tablet includes pulsed laser diodes generating light with near-infrared wavelengths between 700-2500 nanometers. First lenses direct light from the laser diodes to tissue. An array of pulsed laser diodes generates light with near-infrared wavelengths between 700-2500 nanometers. Second lenses form light from the array into spots directed on the tissue. An infrared camera synchronized to the laser diodes and the array generates data based on light reflected from the tissue. The smart phone or tablet generates a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image using the data from the infrared camera. The smart phone or tablet includes a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a display, a voice input module, and a speaker.

Claims

1. A smart phone or tablet, comprising:

one or more laser diodes configured to be pulsed and to generate light having one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers;

a first one or more lenses configured to receive at least a portion of the light from the one or more laser diodes and to direct at least some of the received light to tissue comprising skin;

an array of laser diodes configured to be pulsed and to generate light having one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers;

a second one or more lenses configured to receive at least a portion of the light from the array of laser diodes, the array of laser diodes and the second one or more lenses configured to form a plurality of spots and to direct at least some of the plurality of spots to the tissue;

an infrared camera configured to be synchronized to the one or more laser diodes, and to receive at least a portion of light from the one or more laser diodes that is reflected from the tissue, wherein the infrared camera generates data based at least in part on the received light, and wherein

the infrared camera is further configured to be synchronized to the array of laser diodes;

the infrared camera further configured to;

generate a first signal responsive to light received while the one or more laser diodes and the array of laser diodes are off; and

generate a second signal responsive to light received while at least some of the one or more laser diodes or some of the array of laser diodes are on, the light received while at least some of the laser diodes are on including at least some light reflected from the tissue from either the one or more laser diodes, or the array of laser diodes;

wherein the smart phone or tablet is configured to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image using a difference between the first signal and the second signal, and using at least part of the data from the infrared camera;

wherein the two-dimensional or three-dimensional image is used in part to identify one or more features corresponding to the skin; and

the smart phone or tablet further comprising a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a display, a voice input module, and a speaker.

2. The smart phone or tablet of claim 1, further comprising an assembly in front of the array of laser diodes configured to form at least in part the plurality of spots.

3. The smart phone or tablet of claim 1, wherein the one or more features corresponding to the skin include veins, arteries, or capillaries in the tissue.

4. The smart phone or tablet of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes or at least a portion of the array of laser diodes comprises one or more distributed Bragg reflectors.

5. The smart phone or tablet of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one or more laser diodes or at least one portion of the array of laser diodes has a modulation frequency, and wherein the infrared camera is configured to use a lock-in technique that detects the modulation frequency.

6. The smart phone or tablet of claim 5, wherein the infrared camera is configured to perform filtering at the modulation frequency, wherein the modulation frequency has a phase, and wherein the infrared camera is configured to lock onto the phase.

7. A smart phone or tablet, comprising:

one or more laser diodes comprising at least one laser diode configured to be pulsed and to generate light having one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers;

a first one or more lenses configured to receive at least a portion of the light from the one or more laser diodes and to direct at least some portion of the received light to tissue comprising skin;

an array of laser diodes configured to be pulsed and to generate light having one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers;

a second one or more lenses configured to receive at least a portion of the light from the array of laser diodes, the array of laser diodes and the second one or more lenses configured to form the light into a plurality of spots and to direct at least some of the spots to the tissue;

an infrared camera configured to be synchronized to the at least one laser diode of the one or more laser diodes and to receive at least a portion of light reflected from the tissue from the one or more laser diodes, wherein the infrared camera generates data based at least in part on the received light, and wherein

the infrared camera is further configured to be synchronized to the array of laser diodes;

wherein the smart phone or tablet is configured to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image using at least part of the data from the infrared camera; and

the smart phone or tablet further comprising a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a display, a voice input module, and a speaker.

8. The smart phone or tablet of claim 7, wherein the infrared camera is further configured to:

generate a first signal while the one or more laser diodes and the array of laser diodes are off; and

generate a second signal while at least one of the one or more laser diodes or at least one of the array of laser diodes are on, in response to received light including at least some light from the at least one of the one or more laser diodes reflected from the tissue, or at least some light from the array of laser diodes reflected from the tissue;

wherein the smart phone or tablet is further configured to use a difference between the first signal and the second signal to at least in part generate the two-dimensional or three-dimensional image.

9. The smart phone or tablet of claim 7, wherein the second one or more lenses comprises a cylindrical lens in front of at least a portion of the array of laser diodes, and wherein the plurality of spots is formed at least in part by using an assembly in front of the array of laser diodes.

10. The smart phone or tablet of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes or at least a portion of the array of laser diodes comprises one or more distributed Bragg reflectors.

11. The smart phone or tablet of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the one or more laser diodes or at least one portion of the array of laser diodes has a modulation frequency, and wherein the infrared camera is configured to use a lock-in technique that detects the modulation frequency.

12. The smart phone or tablet of claim 11, wherein the infrared camera is configured to perform filtering at the modulation frequency, and wherein the modulation frequency has a phase, and wherein the infrared camera is further configured to lock onto the phase.

13. The smart phone or tablet of claim 7, wherein the two-dimensional or three-dimensional image is used in part to identify one or more features corresponding to the skin.

14. The smart phone or tablet of claim 13 wherein the one or more features corresponding to the skin include veins, arteries, or capillaries in the tissue.

15. A smart phone or tablet, comprising:

one or more laser diodes comprising at least one laser diode configured to be pulsed and to generate light having one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers;

a first one or more lenses configured to receive at least a portion of the light from the one or more laser diodes and to direct at least some of the received light to tissue comprising skin;

an array of laser diodes configured to be pulsed and to generate light having one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers;

a second one or more lenses configured to receive at least a portion of the light from the array of laser diodes, the array of laser diodes and the second one or more lenses configured to form a plurality of spots at least in part by using an assembly in front of the array of laser diodes, and to direct at least some of the plurality of spots to the tissue;

an infrared camera configured to be synchronized to the at least one of the one or more laser diodes and to receive at least a portion of light reflected from the tissue from at least one of the one or more laser diodes, wherein the infrared camera generates data based at least in part on the received light, and wherein

the infrared camera is further configured to be synchronized to the array of laser diodes;

wherein the smart phone or tablet is configured to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image using at least part of the data from the infrared camera; and

the smart phone or tablet further comprising a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a display, a voice input module, and a speaker.

16. The smart phone or tablet of claim 15, wherein at least some of the one or more laser diodes or at least a portion of the array of laser diodes comprises one or more distributed Bragg reflectors.

17. The smart phone or tablet of claim 16, wherein the two-dimensional or three-dimensional image is used in part to identify one or more features corresponding to the skin.

18. The smart phone or tablet of claim 17, wherein the at least one of the one or more laser diodes, or at least a portion of the array of laser diodes, has a modulation frequency, and wherein the infrared camera is configured to use a lock-in technique that detects the modulation frequency.

19. The smart phone or tablet of claim 18 wherein the infrared camera is configured to perform filtering at the modulation frequency, wherein the modulation frequency has a phase, and wherein the infrared camera is configured to lock onto the phase.

20. The smart phone or tablet of claim 19, wherein the infrared camera is further configured to:

generate a first signal in response to light received while the one or more laser diodes and the array of laser diodes are off; and

generate a second signal in response to light received while at least one of the one of more laser diodes or at least one laser diode of the array of laser diodes are on, the received light including at least some light from the at least one of the one or more laser diodes reflected from the tissue or at least some light from the array of laser diodes reflected from the tissue;

wherein the smart phone or tablet is further configured to use a difference between the first signal and the second signal to, at least in part, generate the two-dimensional or three-dimensional image.