Optical imaging method, and an apparatus for optical imaging

• US 20040081621A1
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arne Hengerer, Frank Arndt, Marcus Pfister, Thomas Mertelmeier
• Original Assignee: Arne Hengerer, Frank Arndt, Marcus Pfister, Thomas Mertelmeier
• Inventors: Pfister, Marcus, Hengerer, Arne, Mertelmeier, Thomas, Arndt, Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/345,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20040081621A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/9.6
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• 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: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/44 Raman spectrometry; Scattering spectrometry ; Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6417 Spectrofluorimetric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6419 Excitation at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6421 Measuring at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6423 Spectral mapping, video display
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6439 with indicators, stains, dyes, tags, labels, marks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6471 Special filters, filter wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0627 Use of several LED's for spectral resolution
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/03 Combinations of cameras with lighting apparatus; Flash units

Abstract

In an imaging method, an object to be examined is treated with an optically activatable contrast medium and illuminated via a plurality of LEDs. Luminescent light excited by the irradiation is detected by a detector. The LEDs have emission wavelengths preferably different from one another. There are preferably different spectral filter combinations present that respectively include as a structural unit, an excitation filter for selecting an excitation wavelength from the radiation output by the excitation source, and a luminescence filter for filtering out wavelengths above the expected emission maximum of the luminescent light.

Claims

1. An imaging method, comprising:

treating an object to be examined with an optically activatable contrast medium;

irradiating the object to be examined by an excitation source; and

detecting luminescent light excited by the irradiation by a detector, wherein an illumination unit including a plurality of LEDs is used as excitation source.

2. The imaging method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the LEDs include mutually different emission wavelengths.

3. The imaging method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a plurality of identical LEDs are used in relation to each emission wavelength used.

4. The imaging method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the emission wavelengths of the LEDs are adapted to the excitation wavelengths desired for a plurality of different contrast media.

5. The imaging method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the emission spectra of the LEDs yield a quasi-continuous emission band in combination.

6. The imaging method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a filter arrangement is used in order to select an excitation wavelength from the emission band, the filter arrangement being introducable into the excitation beam path and including spectral properties adapted to the contrast medium.

7. The imaging method as claimed in claim 1, wherein light emitted by the LEDs is guided to the object via an assigned optical conductor.

8. The imaging method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the LEDs are used in an array-like arrangement.

9. The imaging method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a diffuser is connected downstream of the LEDs.

18. An imaging method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the imaging method is for small animal imaging.

19. The imaging method as claimed in claim 3, wherein emission wavelengths of the LEDs are adapted to the excitation wavelengths desired for a plurality of different contrast media.

20. The imaging method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the emission spectra of the LEDs yield a quasi-continuous emission band in combination.

21. The imaging method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the emission spectra of the LEDs yield a quasi-continuous emission band in combination.

22. The imaging method as claimed in claim 2, wherein light emitted by the LEDs is guided to the object via an assigned optical conductor.

23. The imaging method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the LEDs are used in an array-like arrangement.

24. The imaging method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a diffuser is connected downstream of the LEDs.

25. An apparatus for performing the imaging method of claim 1.

10. An apparatus for optical imaging, comprising:

an excitation source for irradiating an object to be examined, wherein the object is treated with an optically activatable contrast medium;

a detector for detecting luminescent light that has been excited by the excitation source, wherein the excitation source includes a plurality of LEDs.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the LEDs include mutually different emission wavelengths.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the emission spectra of the LEDs yield a quasi-continuous emission band in combination.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the apparatus is for small animal imaging.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the emission spectra of the LEDs yield a quasi-continuous emission band in combination.

13. An apparatus for optical imaging, comprising:

an excitation source for irradiating an object to be examined, wherein the object is treated with an optically activatable contrast medium;

a detector for detecting luminescent light that has been excited by the excitation source; and

a filter arrangement including, as a structural unit, a spectral filter combination as follows,

an excitation filter for selecting an excitation wavelength from radiation output by the excitation source, and

a luminescence filter for filtering out wavelengths above the expected emission maximum of the luminescent light.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the excitation filter and the luminescence filter are arranged at least one of at and on a common support.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the filter arrangement includes a filter wheel for changing one spectral filter combination to another spectral filter combination that is designed in such a way that different spectral filter combinations are used for different angular positions.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the apparatus is for small animal imaging.

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the filter arrangement includes a filter wheel for changing one spectral filter combination to another spectral filter combination that is designed in such a way that different spectral filter combinations are used for different angular positions.

16. A set of a plurality of spectral filter combinations that are prepared for mutually different contrast media, each of the spectral filter combinations comprising:

an excitation filter for selecting an excitation wavelength, suitable for the respective contrast medium, from irradiation output by an excitation source; and

a luminescence filter for filtering out wavelengths above the expected emission maximum of the luminescent light emitted by the contrast medium.

17. The set as claimed in claim 16, wherein the excitation filter and the luminescence filter of one of the spectral filter combinations are respectively arranged at least one of at and on a common support.

30. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

means for treating an object to be examined with an optically activatable contrast medium;

means for irradiating the object to be examined by an excitation source; and

means for detecting luminescent light excited by the irradiation by a detector, wherein an illumination unit including a plurality of LEDs is used as excitation source.

31. An apparatus for optical imaging, comprising:

excitation means for irradiating an object to be examined, wherein the object is treated with an optically activatable contrast medium;

detection means for detecting luminescent light that has been excited by the excitation means, wherein the excitation means includes a plurality of LEDs.

32. An apparatus for optical imaging, comprising:

excitation means for irradiating an object to be examined, wherein the object is treated with an optically activatable contrast medium;

detection means for detecting luminescent light that has been excited by the excitation means; and

a filter arrangement including, as a structural unit, a spectral filter combination as follows,

excitation filtering means for selecting an excitation wavelength from radiation output by the excitation means, and

luminescence filter means for filtering out wavelengths above the expected emission maximum of the luminescent light.

33. A set of a plurality of spectral filter combinations that are prepared for mutually different contrast media, each of the spectral filter combinations comprising:

excitation filter means for selecting an excitation wavelength, suitable for the respective contrast medium, from irradiation output by an excitation source; and

luminescence filter means for filtering out wavelengths above the expected emission maximum of the luminescent light emitted by the contrast medium.