KR102266349B1 - Hybrid imaging system for animal experiment and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fusion imaging system and method for animal experiments for photodiagnosis and phototherapy of animals, and more particularly, to a stage on which an animal to be subjected to photodiagnosis and phototherapy is placed, and infrared rays having two or more different wavelengths It relates to a fusion imaging system and method for animal experiments that can simultaneously perform two or more treatments by two or more wavelengths by simultaneously irradiating them.

Description

Fusion imaging system and method for animal experiments {Hybrid imaging system for animal experiment and method thereof}

The present invention relates to a fusion imaging system and method for animal experiments for photodiagnosis and phototherapy of animals, and more particularly, to a stage on which an animal to be subjected to photodiagnosis and phototherapy is placed, and infrared rays having two or more different wavelengths It relates to a fusion imaging system and method for animal experiments that can simultaneously perform two or more treatments by two or more wavelengths by simultaneously irradiating them.

Recently, diagnosis and treatment methods using various optical methods for the purpose of precise cancer diagnosis and treatment have been developed. Photodiagnosis of tumor tissue enables precise, real-time imaging of tumor tissue compared to cancer diagnosis through existing blood tests and tissue biopsy, and phototherapy is more precise than conventional surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy and gene therapy. It has the advantage of being able to have an invasive effect.

Among the technologies using various optical methods, in the field of cancer diagnosis, a technology for precisely tracking tumor tissue using a near-infrared fluorescence signal has proven its diagnostic effectiveness, and research for clinical application is being actively conducted. In addition, with respect to cancer treatment, photodynamic therapy (PDT), in which a photosensitizer is administered to the tumor tissue, and irradiated with light of a specific wavelength to induce heat dissipation or generation of reactive oxygen species, thereby necrosis of the tumor tissue (Photodynamic therapy: PDT) Phototherapy techniques are reported to be useful.

However, due to mutual distortion of the visible light image, the near-infrared image, and the far-infrared image, there is a problem in that the photodiagnosis technique and the phototherapy technique cannot be simultaneously performed.

Due to this problem, Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1903423 [Hybrid imaging system for photodiagnosis and phototherapy] (hereinafter referred to as "prior art") uses an optical method to simultaneously acquire a visible light image or a near-infrared image and a far-infrared image. Disclosed is a hybrid imaging system capable of simultaneously performing photodiagnosis and phototherapy.

However, for phototherapy and photodiagnosis of tumor tissues such as cancer, experiments on animals are important and must be carried out continuously.

However, in the case of animals, it is difficult to control the movement, so there is a problem in that it is difficult to proceed with animal experiments through the hybrid imaging system of the prior art.

In addition, since the prior art can apply only the PDT phototherapy technology using one laser wavelength, there is a problem in that a separate device must be provided in order to perform phototherapy using another laser wavelength.

In addition, the prior art has to manually adjust the focus in order to focus, and to manually adjust the position of the laser irradiator one by one to irradiate the laser to the treatment position of the therapist or laboratory animal, or to the position where the therapist and the experimental laser are irradiated. There was a problem that I had to manually adjust them one by one.

Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1903423 (2018.10.04. Announcement)

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stage on which an animal to be subjected to photodiagnosis and phototherapy is placed, and to simultaneously irradiate infrared rays having two or more different wavelengths to perform two or more treatments using two or more wavelengths. An object of the present invention is to provide an experimental fusion imaging system and method.

A fusion imaging system for animal experiments according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes: a stage in which the laboratory animal is placed in a central portion so as not to move; a light source unit irradiating two or more near-infrared rays having different wavelengths to a predetermined body part of the animal placed on the stage; a light distribution unit distributing a near-infrared light reflected from the near-infrared light irradiated to the animal from the light source unit and a light-heat signal reflecting heat generated in the body part of the animal to which the near-infrared light is irradiated; a fluorescence imaging camera outputting a near-infrared fluorescence image by photographing the near-infrared distributed by the light distribution unit; a photothermal signal measuring camera for photographing the photothermal signal distributed by the light distribution unit and outputting a photothermal signal image; and controlling the light source to irradiate at least one of two or more near-infrared rays having different wavelengths, thereby processing the near-infrared fluorescence image input from the fluorescence imaging camera and the photothermal signal image input from the photothermal signal measuring camera It is characterized in that it includes a control module for displaying.

The system further comprises: a stage moving unit that moves the stage forward, backward, left and right, wherein the control module controls the stage moving unit to irradiate near infrared rays to the body part of the animal placed on the stage.

The moving unit may include: a forward/backward moving unit for moving the stage back and forth; and a left/right moving unit configured to move the stage left and right by moving the front/rear moving unit left and right.

The fluorescence imaging camera may include a lens condensing near-infrared rays incident through the light distribution unit; a filter for filtering signals other than the near-infrared rays condensed through the lens and outputting only the near-infrared rays; and a camera unit for generating and outputting a near-infrared fluorescence image by near-infrared light input through the filter.

The fluorescence imaging camera further comprises a camera moving unit for adjusting a focus by moving the camera unit up and down to adjust a distance from the fixed filter and lens, wherein the control module controls the camera moving unit to control the camera unit. It is characterized in that the focus control according to the movement is performed.

The light source unit may include: a first light source for generating and irradiating a first near-infrared light having a wavelength of 660 nm; and

A second light source generating and irradiating a second near-infrared light having a wavelength of 808 nm, wherein the control module is selected from one or more of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), and selected from photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy It is characterized in that at least one or more of the first light source and the second light source are driven according to one or more treatments.

A method for fusion imaging for animal experiments according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes: a phototherapy event monitoring process in which a control module monitors whether a phototherapy event occurs; a treatment mode selection process in which the control module selects at least one of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) to set a treatment mode when a phototherapy event occurs; a treatment process in which the control module irradiates at least any one of a first near-infrared light and a second near-infrared light according to the selected treatment mode to the treatment body part of the experimental animal mounted on the stage; and when the control module starts treatment by irradiation of near-infrared rays, a near-infrared fluorescence image according to any one or more of the first and second near-infrared rays through a fluorescence imaging camera and any one or more of the first near-infrared rays and the second near-infrared rays It characterized in that it includes a treatment monitoring process of monitoring the treatment process by acquiring a photothermal signal image according to the heat generated when irradiating the body part of the animal.

The method further comprises: a treatment position adjustment process in which the control module controls the stage moving unit to move the stage on which the experimental animal is placed up, down, left and right to adjust the body part of the animal to be irradiated with near-infrared rays.

The method may further include a focus adjustment process in which the control module controls the camera moving unit to adjust the focus by adjusting the distance between the camera unit and the lens of the fluorescence imaging camera.

Since the present invention has a stage on which the experimental animal can be placed and fixed, a fixing means for fixing the experimental animal can be provided on the stage, thereby minimizing the movement of the animal.

In addition, since the present invention can move the stage forward, backward, left and right, there is an effect of accurately and easily irradiating a laser to a body part of an animal that is not easy to control.

In addition, the present invention has the effect of easily adjusting the focus by allowing the distance between the camera and the lens to be adjusted.

In addition, since the present invention can irradiate two or more lasers of different wavelengths, there is an effect of performing a plurality of phototherapy and photodiagnosis using lasers of different wavelengths.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a fusion imaging system for animal experiments according to the present invention.
2 is a view for explaining the movement configuration of the stage of the fusion imaging system for animal experiments according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view showing the detailed configuration of the control module of the fusion imaging system for animal experiments according to the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a fusion imaging method for animal experiments according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the fusion imaging system for animal experiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the fusion imaging method in the system will be described.

1 is a view showing the configuration of a fusion imaging system for animal experiments according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the movement configuration of a stage of the fusion imaging system for animal experiments according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2 , the fusion imaging system for animal experiments according to the present invention includes a stage 10 , a light source unit 30 , a light distribution unit 40 , a photothermal signal measuring camera 50 , and a fluorescence imaging camera 60 . and a control module 100 , and may further include a stage moving unit 20 and a camera moving unit 70 according to an embodiment.

The stage 10 is a place where the experimental animal 1 is placed. Although not shown in the drawing, the stage 10 is provided with an animal fixing means for preventing the animal from moving. Animal immobilization means are not shown because various methods are provided by known techniques.

The stage 10 should be configured within a range in which the light source irradiated from the light source unit 30 can be irradiated.

The stage moving unit 20 configured according to the embodiment is configured at the lower part of the stage 10 , and moves the stage 10 forward, backward, left and right under the control of the control module 100 . Since the stage 10 is moved forward, backward, left and right, the body part of the animal 1 to which the light source emitted from the light source unit 30 is irradiated can be adjusted without adjusting the light source unit 30 .

As shown in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the stage moving unit 20 moves the front and rear moving unit 22 for moving the stage 10 forward and backward and the front and rear moving unit 22 by moving the front and rear moving unit 22 left and right. It may be configured to include a left and right moving unit 21 for moving the stage 10 left and right.

The light source unit 30 includes a first light source 31 irradiating the first light to the animal 1 placed on the stage 10 and a second light source 32 irradiating the second light to the animal 1 according to the present invention. includes

The wavelength of the light irradiated by the first light source 31 and the wavelength of the light irradiated by the second light source 32 are different from each other, and in some embodiments, the first light emitted from the first light source 31 is a near-infrared light of 660 nm. and the second light emitted from the second light source 32 is preferably near-infrared rays of 808 nm. 1 illustrates a case in which the light source unit 30 includes two light sources, it may be configured to include three or more light sources emitting three or more light sources having different wavelengths.

The light distribution unit 40 receives the light heat signal for the near infrared rays reflected from the near infrared rays irradiated to the animal 1 from the light source unit 30 and the heat generated in the body parts of the animal 1 to which the near infrared rays are irradiated. , the near-infrared rays are transmitted and input to the fluorescence imaging camera 60 , and the photothermal signal is refracted and emitted to the photothermal signal measuring camera 50 .

A thermal imaging camera 50 captures the light-to-heat signal distributed from the light distribution unit 40 , generates a light-to-heat signal image, and then outputs it to the control module 100 .

A fluorescence imaging camera (Near-infrared (NIR) Imaging Camera) 60 outputs the near-infrared fluorescence image to the control module 100 by photographing the transmitted near-infrared rays distributed by the light distribution unit 40 .

The fluorescence imaging camera 60 includes a camera unit 61 , a filter 62 , and a lens 63 , the filter 62 and the lens 63 fixed according to an embodiment, and the camera unit 61 . In order to adjust the distance of , it may further include a camera moving unit 70 for moving the camera unit 61 up and down under the control of the control module 100 . In the fluorescence imaging camera 60 , the distance between the camera unit 61 and the lens 63 is adjusted under the control of the control module 100 , so that the focus of photographing the animal 1 may be adjusted. The moving method of the camera moving unit 70 may be a condenser method, a linear servo actuator method, or the like.

The control module 100 controls the light source unit 30 to irradiate at least one of two or more near-infrared rays having different wavelengths, and accordingly, the near-infrared fluorescence image and light heat input from the fluorescence imaging camera 60 . The light-to-heat signal image input from the signal measurement camera 50 is processed and displayed.

The detailed configuration and operation of the control module 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 below.

3 is a view showing the detailed configuration of the control module of the fusion imaging system for animal experiments according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the control module 100 includes a storage unit 110 , a display unit 120 , an input unit 130 , a stage movement driver 140 , an NIR movement driver 150 , a light driver 160 , and a controller ( 170).

The storage unit 110 includes a program area for storing a control program for controlling the overall operation of the control module 100 according to the present invention, a temporary area for temporarily storing data generated during execution of the control program, and during execution of the control program. It includes a data area for semi-permanently storing generated data and data necessary for executing the control program. The data area may store a photothermal signal image and a near-infrared fluorescence image obtained by photographing an animal being treated on the stage 10 .

The display unit 120 displays information according to the operation of the control module 100, information generated by the operation, and the like in any one or more of text, graphic, image, video, and the like. The display unit 120 displays a near-infrared fluorescence image, a light-to-heat signal image, and the like according to the present invention.

The input unit 130 moves the stage 10 through the stage moving unit 20 , and includes an operation means including any one or more of a key, a button, a switch, and the like for adjusting the focus of the fluorescence imaging camera 60 , and a display. A mouse that displays a cursor on the unit 120 and moves the cursor to change the coordinates on the display unit 120, and generates commands such as selection, execution, and deletion for an object at the position where the cursor is placed, the display unit 120 ), including any one or more of a touchpad that is integrally configured on the screen and outputs a location signal corresponding to a location on the screen to be touched, provides a user interface means through which a user can input various information and commands.

The stage movement driving unit 140 receives the control of the control unit 170 and outputs a driving signal to the forward/rearward movement unit 22 of the stage moving unit 20 , the forward/backward movement driving unit 141 , and the left and right movement of the stage moving unit 20 . and a left and right movement driving unit 142 for outputting a driving signal to the unit 21 .

The camera movement driving unit 150 outputs a driving signal for moving the camera moving unit 70 up and down to the camera moving unit 70 .

The light driving unit 160 includes a first light source driving unit 161 for outputting a first light source driving signal to the first light source 31 and a second light source driving unit 162 for outputting a second light source driving signal to the second light source 32 . ) is included.

The image processing unit 170 is connected to the fluorescence imaging camera 60 and the photothermal signal measuring camera 50, and processes the near-infrared fluorescence image and the photothermal signal image input from the fluorescence imaging camera 60 according to a preset format and outputs the image. do.

The controller 180 controls the overall operation of the control module 100 according to the present invention.

Specifically, the controller 180 provides a user graphic interface means to the user through the display unit 120 and the input unit 130 , and controls the stage movement driving unit 140 according to the user's manipulation command to control the stage 10 . Adjust the position so that the near-infrared rays emitted from the light source unit 30 can be irradiated to a specific body part of the animal 1 placed on the stage 10 .

In addition, the controller 180 controls the camera movement driver 150 to adjust the focus through the camera movement unit 70 .

In addition, the controller 180 displays the near-infrared fluorescence image and the photothermal signal image processed through the image processing unit 170 on the display unit 120 .

4 is a flowchart illustrating a fusion imaging method for animal experiments according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the controller 180 determines whether a phototherapy event occurs ( S111 ). The phototherapy event may be generated when the user inputs a phototherapy command through the input unit 130 , or may be generated when the animal 1 is placed on the stage 10 . In the latter case, the stage 10 should be configured with a pressure sensor for detecting the raising of the animal 1 .

When a phototherapy event occurs, the controller 180 controls the stage moving unit 20 according to the user's manipulation through the input unit 130 to move the stage 10 forward, backward, left and right to adjust the treatment site of the experimental animal 1 . do (S113).

When the treatment site of the animal 1 is adjusted, the controller 180 controls the camera moving unit 70 in response to the user's manipulation to adjust the focus of the fluorescence imaging camera 60 (S115).

When the focus is adjusted, the controller 180 selects one or more of a photodynamic therapy (PDT) and a photothermal therapy (PTT) to set a treatment mode ( S117 ).

When the treatment mode is set, the controller 180 controls the light driving unit 160 to use any one or more of the first light source 31 and the second light source 32 of the light source unit 30 among the first near infrared rays and the second near infrared rays. Any one or more is irradiated to the treatment site of the animal 1 to initiate treatment (S119).

When treatment is started, the controller 180 receives the near-infrared fluorescence image and the photothermal signal image output from the fluorescence imaging camera 60 and the photothermal signal measurement camera 50 through the image processing unit 170 and displays it on the display unit 120 . to monitor the phototherapy status (S121).

On the other hand, it is common knowledge in the art that the present invention is not limited to the typical preferred embodiments described above, but can be improved, changed, replaced, or added in various ways within the scope of the present invention. Those who have will be able to understand it easily. If implementation by such improvement, change, substitution or addition falls within the scope of the appended claims below, the technical idea should also be regarded as belonging to the present invention.

10: stage 20: stage moving part
21: left and right moving part 22: forward and backward moving part
30: light source 31: first light source
32: second light source 40: light distribution unit
50: photothermal signal measurement camera 60: fluorescence image camera
61: camera unit 62: filter
63: lens 70: camera moving part
100: control module

Claims (9)

a stage in which the laboratory animal is placed immovably in the center;
a light source unit irradiating two or more near-infrared rays having different wavelengths to a predetermined body part of the animal placed on the stage;
a light distribution unit distributing a near-infrared light reflected from the near-infrared light irradiated to the animal from the light source unit and a light-heat signal reflecting heat generated in the body part of the animal to which the near-infrared light is irradiated;
a fluorescence imaging camera outputting a near-infrared fluorescence image by photographing the near-infrared distributed by the light distribution unit;
a photothermal signal measuring camera for photographing the photothermal signal distributed by the light distribution unit and outputting a photothermal signal image; and
The light source unit is controlled to irradiate at least one of two or more near-infrared rays having different wavelengths, and accordingly, the near-infrared fluorescence image input from the fluorescence imaging camera and the photothermal signal image input from the photothermal signal measurement camera are processed and displayed including a control module that
The fluorescence imaging camera,
a lens condensing near-infrared rays incident through the light distribution unit;
a filter for filtering signals other than the near-infrared rays condensed through the lens and outputting only the near-infrared rays; and
and a camera unit for generating and outputting a near-infrared fluorescence image by near-infrared light input through the filter.
According to claim 1,
Further comprising a stage moving unit for moving the stage forward, backward, left and right,
The control module is
A fusion imaging system for animal experiments, characterized in that the stage moving unit is controlled so that near-infrared rays are irradiated to the body part of the animal placed on the stage.
3. The method of claim 2,
The moving unit,
a forward and backward movement unit for moving the stage forward and backward; and
Convergence imaging system for animal experiments, characterized in that it comprises a left and right moving unit for moving the stage left and right by moving the front and rear moving unit left and right.
delete According to claim 1,
The fluorescence imaging camera,
Further comprising a camera moving unit for adjusting the focus by moving the camera unit up and down to adjust the distance between the fixed filter and the lens,
The control module is
Convergence imaging system for animal experiments, characterized in that by controlling the camera moving unit to perform focus control according to the movement of the camera unit.
a stage in which the laboratory animal is placed immovably in the center;
a light source unit irradiating two or more near-infrared rays having different wavelengths to a predetermined body part of the animal placed on the stage;
a light distribution unit distributing a near-infrared light reflected from the near-infrared light irradiated to the animal from the light source unit and a light-heat signal reflecting heat generated in the body part of the animal to which the near-infrared light is irradiated;
a fluorescence imaging camera outputting a near-infrared fluorescence image by photographing the near-infrared distributed by the light distribution unit;
a photothermal signal measuring camera for photographing the photothermal signal distributed by the light distribution unit and outputting a photothermal signal image; and
The light source unit is controlled to irradiate at least one of two or more near-infrared rays having different wavelengths, and accordingly, the near-infrared fluorescence image input from the fluorescence imaging camera and the photothermal signal image input from the photothermal signal measurement camera are processed and displayed including a control module that
The light source unit,
a first light source for generating and irradiating a first near-infrared light having a wavelength of 660 nm; and
A second light source for generating and irradiating a second near-infrared light having a wavelength of 808 nm,
The control module is
Selecting any one or more of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), and driving at least any one or more of the first light source and the second light source according to one or more treatments selected from photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy A fusion imaging system for animal experiments.
a phototherapy event monitoring process in which the control module monitors whether a phototherapy event is generated;
a treatment mode selection process in which the control module selects at least one of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) to set a treatment mode when a phototherapy event occurs;
a treatment process in which the control module irradiates at least one of a first near-infrared and a second near-infrared light according to the selected treatment mode to the treatment body part of the experimental animal mounted on the stage; and
When the control module starts treatment by irradiation with near-infrared rays, a near-infrared fluorescence image according to any one or more of the first and second near-infrared rays through a fluorescence imaging camera and any one or more of the first near-infrared and second near-infrared rays Convergence imaging method for animal experiments, characterized in that it includes a treatment monitoring process of monitoring the treatment process by acquiring a photothermal signal image according to the heat generated when irradiating a body part of the body.
8. The method of claim 7,
Convergence imaging method for animal experiments, characterized in that the control module controls the stage moving unit to move the stage on which the experimental animal is placed up, down, left and right to adjust the body part of the animal to be irradiated with near-infrared rays.
8. The method of claim 7,
Convergence imaging method for animal experiments, characterized in that the control module further comprises a focus adjustment process to adjust the focus by controlling the distance between the camera unit and the lens of the fluorescence imaging camera by controlling the camera moving unit.

Images