Medical and veterinary imaging and diagnostic procedures utilizing optical probe systems

• US 8,914,098 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2010
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OPROBE, LLC
• Original Assignee: OPROBE, LLC
• Inventors: Brennan, Jeffrey, Humayun, Mark, Caffey, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): REMALY, MARK DONALD
• Application Number:
  US12/718,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 356246-255, 356/479, 600/407, 600476-480
• US Class Current: 600/478
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00207 with hand gesture control or hand gesture recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00694 with means correcting for movement of or for synchronisation with the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2048 using an accelerometer or inertia sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3735 Optical coherence tomography [OCT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3954 magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0008 provided with illuminating means A61B3/117 takes precedence; goniolenses used for laser treatment A61F9/009; illuminating means for optical instruments G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/10 Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/102 for optical coherence tomography [OCT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0073 by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections A61B5/0066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4245 involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5276 : due to motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0166 : Sensors, electrodes or the like for guiding the catheter to a target zone, e.g. image guided or magnetically guided
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 : Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/00 : Radiation therapy ultrasound therapy A61N7/00; devices or apparatus applicable to both therapy and diagnosis A61B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

An imaging method includes providing a handpiece having a probe tip insertable into human or animal tissue disposed at an end thereof, and, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe connected to the handpiece such that a functionality of the OCT probe is provided at the probe tip. The probe tip is disposed adjacent to or into human or animal tissue. Imaging of the tissue, measuring at least one of a feature size or a quantifiable characteristic of a structure in the tissue for biometry analysis, and/or performing a diagnostic procedure on the tissue or a device implanted in the tissue is performed with the OCT probe.

Claims

1. An imaging method, the method comprising:

providing a handpiece having (a) a probe tip insertable into human or animal tissue and disposed at an end thereof, and connected thereto, (b) an optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe and (c) a second probe, such that a functionality of the OCT probe and a second functionality associated with the second probe are provided at the probe tip;

disposing the probe tip adjacent to or into an ocular tissue;

measuring, with the OCT probe, at least one of a feature size or a quantifiable characteristic of a structure in the ocular tissue for biometry analysis; and

performing the second functionality on the articular cartilage tissue,

wherein the functionality of the OCT probe is provided by a first one of a plurality of distinct parallel waveguides provided within a single optical fiber disposed within the probe tip and the second functionality is provided by a second one of the plurality of distinct parallel waveguides within the single optical fiber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe tip is disposed into the tissue via a cannulated incision.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe tip is disposed into the tissue via an open incision or an orifice.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second probe being selected from the group consisting of:

an endoillumination probe, a laser therapy probe, an ultrasound imaging probe, an electrocautery probe, an RF ablation probe, a cryosurgical probe, an irrigator, and a mechanical probe.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of a feature size or a quantifiable characteristic of a lens capsule is measured with the OCT probe.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of a feature size or a quantifiable characteristic of a retina is measured with the OCT probe.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring a feature size or quantifiable characteristic comprises quantifying quality of a treatment burn on a retina.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the feature size or quantifiable characteristic comprises at least one of a corneal angle or a corneal thickness.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the feature size or quantifiable characteristic comprises at least one of a thickness, an integrity, or an anatomical variation of a capsular bag.

10. The method of claim 1, the feature size or quantifiable characteristic comprises a thickness of a retina.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring a feature size or quantifiable characteristic comprises measuring a volume of an intra-ocular fluid.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the intra-ocular fluid comprises subretinal fluid.

12. An imaging method, the method comprising:

providing a handpiece having (a) a probe tip insertable into human or animal tissue and disposed at an end thereof, and connected thereto, (b) an optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe and (c) a second probe, such that a functionality of the OCT probe and a second functionality associated with the second probe are provided at the probe tip;

disposing the probe tip adjacent to or into articular cartilage tissue;

measuring, with the OCT probe, at least one of a feature size or a quantifiable characteristic of a structure in the articular cartilage tissue for biometry analysis; and

performing the second functionality on the articular cartilage tissue,

wherein the functionality of the OCT probe is provided by a first one of a plurality of distinct parallel waveguides provided within a single optical fiber disposed within the probe tip and the second functionality is provided by a second one of the plurality of distinct parallel waveguides within the single optical fiber.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein measuring a feature size or quantifiable characteristic comprises quantifying a grade of chondromalacia in the articular cartilage tissue.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the feature size or quantifiable characteristic comprises at least one of a thickness or a density of the articular cartilage tissue.