Multi-mode internal imaging
First Claim
1. A system for providing multiple types of imaging data for an internal portion of an object, the system comprising:
- a light imaging system for providing light data related to light emitted from a light source located inside the object, the light imaging system including an imaging chamber comprising an interior cavity, and a camera configured to capture light data from the object while the object is in the interior cavity;
a second imaging system configured to provide imaging data for the internal portion of the object and having a receiving area that allows the internal portion to be imaged while the object is in the receiving area; and
an object handling system for transferring the object between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the second imaging system.
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Abstract
The invention described herein provides systems and methods for multi-modal imaging with light and a second form of imaging. Light imaging involves the capture of low intensity light from a light-emitting object. A camera obtains a two-dimensional spatial distribution of the light emitted from the surface of the subject. Software operated by a computer in communication with the camera may then convert two-dimensional spatial distribution data from one or more images into a three-dimensional spatial representation. The second imaging mode may include any imaging technique that compliments light imaging. Examples include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer topography (CT). An object handling system moves the object to be imaged between the light imaging system and the second imaging system, and is configured to interface with each system.
56 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A system for providing multiple types of imaging data for an internal portion of an object, the system comprising:
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a light imaging system for providing light data related to light emitted from a light source located inside the object, the light imaging system including an imaging chamber comprising an interior cavity, and a camera configured to capture light data from the object while the object is in the interior cavity;
a second imaging system configured to provide imaging data for the internal portion of the object and having a receiving area that allows the internal portion to be imaged while the object is in the receiving area; and
an object handling system for transferring the object between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the second imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for providing multiple types of imaging data for an internal portion of an object, the system comprising:
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a light imaging system for providing light data related to light emitted from a light source located inside the object, the light imaging system including an imaging chamber comprising an interior cavity, and a camera configured to capture light data from the object while the object is in the interior cavity;
a computer tomography system including an X-ray producer configured to emit X-rays that pass through the object while resting on a portable stage included in the object handling system and positioned in the receiving area, and an array of X-ray sensors that receive the X-rays;
an object handling system for transferring the object between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the computer tomography system; and
a processing device in logical communication with the light imaging system, in logical communication with the computer tomography system, and in logical communication with the object handling system, wherein the processor combines three-dimensional spatial information provided by the computer tomography system with three-dimensional functional information provided by the light imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for providing multiple types of imaging data for an internal portion of an object, the system comprising:
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a light imaging system for providing light data related to light emitted from a light source located inside the object, the light imaging system including an imaging chamber comprising an interior cavity, and a camera configured to capture light data from the object while the object is in the interior cavity;
a magnetic resonance imaging system including a tubular cavity passing through a magnetic resonance imaging magnet, the tubular cavity comprising the receiving area that receives the object while resting on a stage included in the object handling system;
an object handling system for transferring the object between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the second imaging system; and
at least one processing device in logical communication with the light imaging system, in logical communication with the magnetic resonance imaging system, and in logical communication with the object handling system, wherein the processor combines three-dimensional spatial information provided by the magnetic resonance imaging system with three-dimensional functional information provided by the light imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for providing multiple types of imaging data for an internal portion of an object, the system comprising:
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a light imaging system for providing light data related to light emitted from a light source located inside the object, the light imaging system including an imaging chamber comprising an interior cavity, and a camera configured to capture light data from the object while the object is in the interior cavity;
a second imaging system configured to provide imaging data for the internal portion of the object and having a receiving area that allows the internal portion to be imaged while the object is in the receiving area; and
an object handling system for transferring the object between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the second imaging system, wherein the object handling system includes a light seal that is configured to interface with a light seal on an exterior wall of the imaging chamber and provide a substantially light tight seal between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the space outside the imaging chamber while the portable stage is within the interior cavity of the imaging chamber. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for providing multiple types of imaging data for an internal portion of an object, the system comprising:
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a light imaging system for providing light data related to light emitted from a light source located inside the object, the light imaging system including an imaging chamber comprising an interior cavity, and a camera configured to capture light data from the object while the object is in the interior cavity;
a nuclear medicine imaging system including one or more sensors that detect radioactive emissions produced by a radioactive substance within the object when the object is in a receiving area for the nuclear medicine imaging system, wherein the nuclear medicine imaging system is one of a positron emission tomography system and a single photon emission computed tomography system; and
an object handling system for transferring the object between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the second imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for providing multiple types of imaging data for an internal portion of an object, the system comprising:
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a light imaging system for providing light data related to light emitted from a light source located inside the object, the light imaging system including an imaging chamber comprising an interior cavity, and a camera configured to capture light data from the object while the object is in the interior cavity;
a positron emission tomography system including one or more sensors that detect radioactive emissions produced by a radioactive substance within the object when the object is in a receiving area for the nuclear medicine imaging system, and including a circular gamma ray detector array that includes a set of scintillation crystals each connected to a photomultiplier tube; and
an object handling system for transferring the object between the interior cavity of the light imaging system and the receiving area of the second imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for obtaining multiple types of imaging data for an object, the method comprising:
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capturing light data emitted from a light source located inside the object while the object is in the interior cavity of a light imaging system, wherein the interior cavity of the light imaging chamber contains between about 103 to about 1010 photons/second/centimeter squared/steradian when the light data is captured; and
obtaining imaging data of an internal portion of the object while the object is in a receiving area of a second imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification