WO2018161384A1

WO2018161384A1 - Oct system for respiratory tract

Info

Publication number: WO2018161384A1
Application number: PCT/CN2017/078565
Authority: WO
Inventors: 蔡志岗; 高峻; 宋李烟; 李佼洋; 王福娟; 李百灵
Original assignee: 广州永士达医疗科技有限责任公司
Priority date: 2017-03-09
Filing date: 2017-03-29
Publication date: 2018-09-13
Also published as: CN106880339A

Abstract

An OCT system for the respiratory tract, the system comprising: an external operation device (101), an image processing module (102), an optical interference module (103), an OCT optical probe module (104) and an external display device (105), wherein a control operation is carried out by means of the external operation device (101); reflected light from a detected respiratory tract tissue is acquired by means of the OCT optical probe module (104); the reflected light is processed by means of the optical interference module (103); an image is reconstructed by means of the image processing module (102); and the image is displayed by means of the external display device (105). Provided is a system for detecting a respiratory tract tissue by means of OCT, and the problem in the prior art of not being able to detect a respiratory tract tissue by means of OCT is solved.

Description

A respiratory OCT system

Technical field

The invention relates to the field of medicine, and in particular to a respiratory OCT system.

Background technique

OCT (Optical coherence Tomography) is a high-resolution imaging technology developed rapidly in the past decade. It is based on the principle of low-coherence light interference and combined with confocal microscopy to detect different depth layers of biological tissues. The time-delay and echo intensity signals of the backscattered wave echoes of the incident weak coherent light are scanned to obtain a high-resolution microstructure of the sample in two or three dimensions, thereby obtaining a tomographic image of the sample to be non-destructive. OCT imaging technology eliminates the need for any developer, has no ionization and fluorescence effects, and is more secure than traditional imaging techniques, known as "optical biopsy."

Compared with other imaging technologies such as X-ray detection, MRI, CT, and ultrasound, OCT imaging has extremely high resolution (on the order of micrometers); compared with conventional laser confocal microscopy, OCT has significant imaging depth. The advantage is the ability to image high resolution of several micrometers of tissue below the epidermis. Most of the core technologies of traditional optical detection use fiber bundles for photo-conduction imaging or CCD technology for imaging. Such endoscopic probes can only detect lesions on the surface of tissues. However, early lesions mainly occur at depths of 1-3 mm below the epidermis. Therefore, the traditional optical endoscopic probe is not able to prevent the detection of early lesions. Medical imaging using the principle of ultrasound is also a commonly used method. Using this method, deeper tissue information below the surface of the biological tissue can be obtained, but the resolution is only a millimeter. Level, it is easy to cause missed diagnosis of early cancer lesions.

In the respiratory system, an airway with an inner diameter of less than 2 mm is called a small airway, and mainly includes bronchioles, terminal bronchus, respiratory bronchus, and bronchus with a smaller inner diameter, wherein the small airway of the lung is one of the smallest visible regions of the lung. Small pulmonary airway disease is a disease that occurs in the small airway area of the lung. The clinical features of this type of disease are mainly obstructive lesions. The common features are chronic airway obstruction caused by lung parenchyma and small airway damage, increased respiratory resistance and pulmonary insufficiency. , including chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis, etc. Further, since the normal bronchus has an epithelial layer of a substantially constant thickness, it is medically suspected that the thickness at the inner wall portion of the bronchus is a lesion portion as compared with the portion where the normal portion is enlarged. Specifically, the epithelial layer suspected of being lesioned may have papillary processes on the surface, thickening of the epithelial layer, and random proliferation of cells, and the thickness of the epithelial layer at the lesion site may increase as compared with the normal site. Typically, changes in the pulmonary vasculature, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are characterized by thickening of the vessel wall, which begins in the early stages of the disease. At present, the OCT system has a fairly mature application in the field of ophthalmic examination, and is mainly used in the detection of human cardiovascular and digestive diseases in the field of human intervention. OCT systems used in the ophthalmology field use laser light source wavelengths mostly in the 800 nm band, which has near-perfect performance for eyeball imaging. For the human body lumen field, especially epithelial tissue, densely distributed organelles are equivalent. A high scattering medium limits the penetration depth of optical imaging in the 800 nm band; while the OCT system used in the digestive tract field has an optical probe size of almost 2 mm or more, which cannot be directly applied to the respiratory tract (especially small airways). Detection of lesions.

Summary of the invention

In view of this, the present invention provides a respiratory OCT system to solve the problem that the existing OCT technology cannot detect respiratory tissue.

Specifically, the present invention is achieved by the following technical solutions:

The present invention provides a respiratory OCT system, the respiratory OCT system comprising:

An external operating device for inputting a control instruction to the image processing module;

An image processing module, configured to forward the control instruction to the optical interference module, receive an electrical signal of the measured respiratory tissue sent by the optical interference module, reconstruct the electrical signal, and reconstruct the reconstructed electrical signal Send to an external display device;

An optical interference module, configured to receive a control command sent by the image processing module, generate probe light, send the probe light to the OCT optical probe module, and receive the reflected light of the measured respiratory tissue sent by the OCT optical probe module. Converting the reflected light into an electrical signal and transmitting the electrical signal to an image processing module;

The OCT optical probe module is configured to receive the probe light sent by the optical interference module, irradiate the measured airway tissue by the probe light, receive the reflection of the probe light by the measured airway tissue, and send the reflected light to the optical Interference module

An external display device, configured to receive a display signal sent by the image processing module.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the control operation is performed by the external operation device, the image is displayed by the image processing module, the reflected light is processed by the optical interference module, and the reflected light of the measured respiratory tissue is obtained by the OCT optical probe module, and displayed by the external display device. The image provides a system for detecting respiratory tissue through OCT.

DRAWINGS

1 is a structural diagram of a respiratory OCT system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic diagram of a respiratory OCT system provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail herein, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The following description refers to the same or similar elements in the different figures unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present invention. Instead, they are merely examples of devices and methods consistent with aspects of the invention as detailed in the appended claims.

The terminology used in the present invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular forms "a", "the" and "the" It should also be understood that the term "and/or" as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used to describe various information in the present invention, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish the same type of information from each other. For example, the first information may also be referred to as the second information without departing from the scope of the invention. Similarly, the second information may also be referred to as the first information. Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein can be interpreted as "in... "or" or "when" or "in response to the determination."

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a respiratory OCT system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of description, only parts related to the embodiment of the present invention are shown, including:

The external operating device 101 is configured to input a control instruction to the image processing module 102.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the control instruction may be input by the medical personnel, or may be automatically input by the terminal according to a preset program. The external operating device 101 includes, but is not limited to, a keyboard, a mouse, and a foot switch.

The image processing module 102 is configured to forward the control instruction to the optical interference module 103, receive an electrical signal of the measured respiratory tissue sent by the optical interference module 103, reconstruct the electrical signal, and reconstruct the The electrical signal is sent to the external display device 105.

In the embodiment of the present invention, after receiving the control instruction, the image processing module 102 forwards the control instruction to the optical interference module 102, so that the optical interference module 102 can perform subsequent operations according to the control instruction.

In addition, the image processing module 102 also receives an electrical signal of the measured airway tissue transmitted by the optical interference module 103, reconstructs the electrical signal, and transmits the reconstructed electrical signal to the external display device 105.

The reconstruction of the interference signal includes:

After the measured airway tissue is irradiated, an optical signal of reflected light is generated, and the optical signal is converted into an electrical signal in the frequency domain by the optical interference module, and the electrical signal is transmitted from the data acquisition card to the DMA (Direct Memory Access). In the form of digital data The computer-controlled GPU performs an inverse Fourier transform on the electrical signal in the frequency domain, so that the electrical signal in the frequency domain becomes a spatial domain signal. The output airspace signal is transformed by coordinate transformation, and the coordinate system is changed from polar coordinate to rectangular coordinate, and output to the external display device in the form of the system default gradient grayscale image.

When the medical personnel perform a respiratory disease examination on the patient, the false color form can be used to indicate the different depths of the detected tissue, and the images of the different depths are output to the external display device; the medical personnel can perform the single reconstructed image through the foot switch. The frame screenshot is saved, and the respiratory lesion feature recognition function can also be activated during the detection process. During the activation of the respiratory lesion feature recognition function, the image processing module searches and matches the feedback reconstructed image with the respiratory symptom image feature library, and has a high degree of approximation. The area is highlighted in the false color on the external display device, and the medical personnel are reminded by voice; the average thickness of the epithelial layer of each branch of the normal human respiratory tract can also be loaded during the detection process, and the medical image of the measured respiratory tract image is displayed on the external display device. The corresponding branch tissue can be selected to load its normal human epithelial layer average thickness data and represented by a differential color line, superimposed on the reconstructed image for comparison.

The image processing module includes: an image data acquisition card, a GPU, and the like. The optical signal is converted into a frequency domain electrical signal through the optical interference module. The electrical signal is transmitted to the memory through a direct memory access (DMA) channel and saved in the form of digital data, and the computer controls the GPU to perform inverse Fourier on the frequency domain signal. Transform to make the signal a spatial signal. The output airspace signal is coordinate-transformed, and the coordinate system is changed from polar coordinates to rectangular coordinates and output to an external display device.

The image processing module further includes a scale function that quantitatively measures the absolute size and relative position of the condition of the airway tissue being measured.

The optical interference module 103 is configured to receive a control instruction sent by the image processing module 102, generate probe light, and send the probe light to the OCT optical probe module 104 to receive the measured respiratory tissue sent by the OCT optical probe module 104. The reflected light converts the reflected light into an electrical signal and transmits the electrical signal to image processing module 102.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the optical interference module 103 receives the control instruction sent by the image processing module 102, generates the probe light according to the control instruction, sends the probe light to the OCT optical probe module 104, and further receives the OCT optical probe module. The transmitted light of the measured airway tissue transmitted by 104 converts the reflected light into an electrical signal while transmitting the electrical signal to the image processing module 102.

The specific implementation of the optical interference module 103 is as follows:

The output of the swept laser in the optical interference module: a broadband laser with a center wavelength of 1300 nm and a bandwidth of 110 nm. The broadband laser passes through the fiber splitter, so that 98% of the energy enters the sample optical path, and 2% of the energy enters the reference optical path. The sample optical path enters the OCT optical probe module through the fiber optic ring connector. The OCT optical probe module detects the measured airway tissue, and the sample light containing the sample information is coupled into the optical fiber ring connector through the triangular prism and enters the optical interference module. After the reference beam path passes through the control delay line, it interferes with the signal reflected from the sample path. The interference signal is photoelectrically converted by amplifying and balancing the photodetector to obtain an electrical signal.

The optical interference module includes at least the following devices: a frequency sweeping laser, a fiber splitter, a fiber optic ring connector, an amplification balanced photo probe, a control delay line, a polarization controller, and a digital to analog converter.

The OCT optical probe module 104 is configured to receive the detection sent by the optical interference module 103 Light, the detected airway tissue is irradiated by the probe light, receives the reflection of the probe light by the measured airway tissue, and transmits the reflected light to the optical interference module 103.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the OCT optical probe module 104 is a device for finally performing illumination, which irradiates the probe light to the respiratory tissue to be tested, and at the same time, the OCT optical probe module 104 collects the illumination of the detected respiratory tissue by the detected respiratory tissue. The reflected light is transmitted to the optical interference module 103.

The specific implementation of the OCT optical probe module 104 is as follows:

Receiving the probe light, the probe light is irradiated to the respiratory tissue to be tested through the OCT optical probe module along the exit port through the probe body, and the probe light containing the measured tissue characteristic information is coupled into the fiber optic ring connector through the triangular prism, and finally sent to the optical interference. Module. When medical personnel perform a respiratory disease examination on a patient, the OCT optical probe module is controlled by the fiberoptic bronchoscope to enter the main bronchus from the upper respiratory tract, and the microprobe body extends out of the distal end of the channel cavity into the sub-segment bronchus, and the steering handle is controlled by the fiber bronchoscope. The steering torque is transmitted to guide the micro-probe into the bronchioles, and the disease is examined for tissues in different regions of the tested respiratory tract.

The OCT optical probe comprises: a micro probe body, an enhanced light guiding fiber, a probe hose, and an optical optical rotating interface. Among them, the use of each part is as follows: OCT optical probe needs to be used with fiberoptic bronchoscope (fiber bronchoscope); the fiber bronchoscope is provided with channel cavity and steering control handle; micro probe body, enhanced light guiding fiber The main bronchus enters the main bronchus through the upper airway through the channel cavity, and the microprobe body extends out of the distal end of the channel cavity into the sub-segment bronchus, and the steering torque is transmitted through the fiber steering steering handle to guide the micro-probe into the secondary bronchiole.

The external display device 105 is configured to receive the display signal sent by the image processing module 102.

The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative, wherein the units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, ie may be located A place, or it can be distributed to multiple network units. Some or all of the modules may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the objectives of the solution of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand and implement without any creative effort.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a respiratory OCT system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalents, improvements, etc., which are made within the spirit and principles of the present invention, should be included in the present invention. Within the scope of protection.

Claims

A respiratory OCT system, characterized in that the respiratory OCT system comprises:

An external operating device for inputting a control instruction to the image processing module;

An image processing module, configured to forward the control instruction to the optical interference module, receive an electrical signal of the measured respiratory tissue sent by the optical interference module, reconstruct the electrical signal, and reconstruct the reconstructed electrical signal Send to an external display device;

An optical interference module, configured to receive a control command sent by the image processing module, generate probe light, send the probe light to the OCT optical probe module, and receive the reflected light of the measured respiratory tissue sent by the OCT optical probe module. Converting the reflected light into an electrical signal and transmitting the electrical signal to an image processing module;

The OCT optical probe module is configured to receive the probe light sent by the optical interference module, irradiate the measured airway tissue by the probe light, receive the reflection of the probe light by the measured airway tissue, and send the reflected light to the optical Interference module

An external display device, configured to receive a display signal sent by the image processing module.
The respiratory channel OCT system of claim 1 wherein said optical interference module comprises:

Swept lasers, fiber splitters, fiber optic ring connectors, amplified balanced photo probes, control delay lines, polarization controllers, and digital to analog converters.
The respiratory OCT system of claim 1 wherein said OCT optical probe comprises: a microprobe body, an enhanced light guiding fiber, a probe hose, and a fiber optic optical interface.
The respiratory OCT system of claim 1 wherein said map Like the processing module, including: image data acquisition card, GPU.
The respiratory tract OCT system of claim 4 wherein said image processing module further comprises: a library of respiratory condition image features for comparison with images of the measured airway tissue.
The respiratory tract OCT system according to claim 4, wherein said image processing module further comprises: a normal human respiratory bronchial epithelial average thickness database for comparison with an image of the measured airway tissue.
The respiratory tract OCT system of claim 4 wherein said image processing module further comprises: a scale function for quantitatively measuring an absolute size and a relative position of a condition of the measured respiratory tissue.