Method and apparatus for detecting electro-magnetic reflection from biological tissue

• US 20010027273A1
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Kansas
• Original Assignee: University of Kansas
• Inventors: Flock, Stephen T., Waner, Milton, Fink, Louis
• Granted Patent: US 7,006,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/473
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/373 using light, e.g. by using optical scanners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/502 Headgear, e.g. helmet, spectacles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150748 Having means for aiding positioning of the piercing device at a location where the body is to be pierced means for aiding positioning of devices for bringing media into the body A61M5/427, locating blood vessels A61B5/489
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/427 Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates

Abstract

A system and method is provided to view an anatomical structure such as a blood vessel in high contrast with its surrounding tissue. The system and method may be used to produce an image of an anatomical structure using reflected electromagnetic radiation singularly scattered from target tissue. The system and method may also provide same-side illumination and detection of reflected electromagnetic radiation in a convenient integral imaging device. The system and method may also provide helmet mounted imaging technology in a single integral helmet which allows the wearer to view an anatomical structure located within a patient such that the image is continuously oriented according to the orientation of the helmet wearer'"'"'s head. The system and method may also be used in the performance of venipuncture. The system and method may provide for improved contrast between any anatomical structure and its surrounding tissue for use in any imaging system.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a light source;

an image detector which detects light from said light source which is reflected from a biological target tissue;

and a monitor which displays an image of an internal anatomical structure received from said image detector.

2. The imaging apparatus of

claim 1

wherein said light source is polychromatic source.

3. The imaging apparatus of

claim 1

wherein said light source is a monochromatic source within the infrared range.

4. The imaging apparatus of

claim 3

wherein said monochromatic light source illuminates within the range of 700-900 nm.

5. The imaging apparatus of

claim 1

wherein said image detector is a charge coupled device infrared camera.

6. The imaging apparatus of

claim 1

wherein said image detector is a video camera.

7. The imaging apparatus of

claim 1

wherein said image detector is a liquid crystal television detector.

8. The imaging apparatus of

claim 1

further comprising a contrast enhancing element.

9. The imaging apparatus of

claim 8

wherein said contrast enhancing element includes means for eliminating light outside the wavelength of interest.

10. The imaging apparatus of

claim 8

wherein said contrast enhancing element includes means for reducing multiply scattered light in the tissue region of interest.

11. The imaging apparatus of

claim 8

wherein said contrast enhancing element includes at least one bandpass filter.

12. The imaging apparatus of

claim 11

wherein said bandpass filter passes wavelengths around 800 nm.

13. The imaging apparatus of

claim 8

wherein said contrast enhancing element includes a digital processor filter.

14. The imaging apparatus of

claim 8

wherein said contrast enhancing element includes at least one collimator.

21. An imaging apparatus as in

claim 1

wherein said light source and said image detector are part of a single integral unit.

27. An imaging apparatus as in

claim 8

wherein said light source illuminates with at least two wavelengths and said image detector is connected to a digitizing frame grabber.

28. An imaging apparatus as in

claim 8

wherein said light source illuminates with at least two wavelengths and said monitor rapidly alternates display of the image reflected at each respective wavelength.

29. An imaging apparatus as in

claim 8

wherein said contrast enhancing element includes an exogenous dye absorbed within the biological tissue;

and

a digitizing frame grabber connected to said image detector.

30. An imaging apparatus as in

claim 8

wherein said contrast enhancing element includes a monoclonal antibody attached to the target biological tissue;

and

a digitizing frame grabber connected to said image detector.

31. An imaging apparatus as in

claim 8

wherein said contrast enhancing element includes a molecule collected on plaque within a blood vessel;

and

a digitizing frame grabber connected to said image detector.

32. An imaging apparatus as in

claim 1

wherein said image detector is a liquid crystal television detector and said light source and said detector are phase modulated in synchronicity.

33. An imaging apparatus as in

claim 1

wherein said image detector is a is a photorefractive crystal.

35. A method for imaging an anatomical structure as in

claim 32

wherein said step of illuminating further comprises illuminating with a wavelength of between 700-900 nm.

36. A method for imaging an anatomical structure as in

claim 32

wherein said step of detecting further comprises detecting with a charge coupled device infrared camera.

37. A method for imaging an anatomical structure as in

claim 32

further comprising the step of bandpass filtering the light of interest.

15. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a light source;

an image detector which detects light from said light source transmitted through biological target tissue;

a monitor which receives and displays image information from said image detector; and

a contrast enhancing element which includes a first polarizing optical element in the path of incident light between said light source and said biological tissue and a second polarizing optical element in the path of the transmitted light between the non-light source side of the tissue and said image detector.

16. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a light source;

an image detector which detects light from said light source reflected from a biological target tissue;

a monitor which receives and displays image information from said image detector; and

a contrast enhancing element which includes a first polarizing optical element in the path of incident light between said light source and said biological tissue and a second polarizing optical element in the path of the reflected light between the said biological tissue and said image detector.

17. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a light source;

an image detector which detects light from said light source transmitted through biological target tissue;

a monitor which receives and displays image information from said image detector; and

a contrast enhancing element including a modulation source and a light phase modulator connected to said modulation source.

18. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a light source;

an image detector which detects light from said light source reflected from a biological target tissue;

a monitor which receives and displays image information from said image detector; and

a contrast enhancing element including a modulation source and a light phase modulator connected to said modulation source.

19. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a light source;

an image detector which detects light from said light source transmitted through biological target tissue;

a monitor which receives and displays image information from said image detector; and

a contrast enhancing element including an illumination intensity modulation source.

22. An imaging apparatus as in

claim 19

wherein said single integral unit comprises a helmet.

20. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a light source;

an image detector which detects light from said light source reflected from a biological target tissue;

a monitor which receives and displays image information from said image detector; and

a contrast enhancing element including an illumination intensity modulation source.

23. An imaging apparatus as in

claim 20

wherein said monitor is part of said helmet.

24. An imaging apparatus as in

claim 20

wherein said light source is coupled to an optical fiber bundle.

25. An imaging apparatus as in

claim 20

wherein said image detector is an infrared sensitive video camera and said light source is a diode laser.

26. An imaging apparatus as in

claim 20

wherein said single integral unit is an automated piece of surgical equipment.

34. A method for imaging an anatomical structure comprising illuminating a biological target tissue;

detecting the reflected image from said biological target tissue;

displaying said reflected image on a monitor.