Near infra red fluorescence imaging for visualization of blood vessels during endoscopic harvest
First Claim
1. A method for enhancing endoscopic identification and dissection of a blood vessel in tissue during endoscopic harvest, comprising the steps of:
- introducing an endoscope to a target region containing a blood vessel to be harvested;
injecting ICG into the bloodstream;
illuminating the blood vessel in situ, via a multi-mode light source, with excitation light capable of exciting fluorescence in the ICG;
capturing, via a camera, fluorescence and color images of the blood vessel in situ;
providing, via a processor, video signals to a display to facilitate visualization of the blood vessel in situ;
locating the blood vessel to be harvested by observing the ICG fluorescence; and
harvesting the located blood vessel for use in a subsequent procedure.
18 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Endoscopic identification and dissection of a blood vessel in tissue during endoscopic harvest can be enhanced by injecting a bolus of ICG into the bloodstream, illuminating the target vessels with excitation light capable of exciting fluorescence in the ICG, and locating the vessel to be harvested by observing the ICG fluorescence. Moreover, collapsed blood vessel may be harvested by inserting an endoscope into the collapsed blood vessel, injecting into the collapsed blood vessel a bolus containing ICG to re-inflate the blood vessel, illuminating the target vessels with excitation light capable of exciting fluorescence in the ICG; and locating the re-inflated blood vessel by observing the ICG fluorescence.
312 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for enhancing endoscopic identification and dissection of a blood vessel in tissue during endoscopic harvest, comprising the steps of:
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introducing an endoscope to a target region containing a blood vessel to be harvested; injecting ICG into the bloodstream; illuminating the blood vessel in situ, via a multi-mode light source, with excitation light capable of exciting fluorescence in the ICG; capturing, via a camera, fluorescence and color images of the blood vessel in situ; providing, via a processor, video signals to a display to facilitate visualization of the blood vessel in situ; locating the blood vessel to be harvested by observing the ICG fluorescence; and harvesting the located blood vessel for use in a subsequent procedure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12)
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7. A method for identifying and dissecting a collapsed blood vessel during endoscopic harvest, comprising the steps of:
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inserting a needle-tipped catheter introduced through a port of an endoscope into the collapsed blood vessel; injecting, via the catheter, into the collapsed blood vessel a bolus containing ICG to re-inflate the blood vessel; illuminating the blood vessel in situ, via a multi-mode light source, with excitation light capable of exciting fluorescence in the ICG; capturing, via a camera, fluorescence and color images of the blood vessel in situ; providing, via a processor, video signals to a display to facilitate visualization of the blood vessel in situ; and locating the re-inflated blood vessel to be harvested by observing the ICG fluorescence. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 20)
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13. A method for enhancing endoscopic identification and dissection of a blood vessel in tissue during endoscopic harvest, comprising the steps of:
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introducing an endoscope to a target region containing a blood vessel to be harvested; injecting ICG into the bloodstream; illuminating the blood vessel in situ, via a multi-mode light source, with excitation light capable of exciting fluorescence in the ICG; capturing, via a camera, fluorescence and color images of the blood vessel in situ; providing, via a processor, video signals to a display to facilitate visualization of the blood vessel in situ; and harvesting the visualized blood vessel for use in a subsequent procedure. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification