KR20150085235A

KR20150085235A - Intracoronary imaging device and analysis method for the same

Info

Publication number: KR20150085235A
Application number: KR1020140004900A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 하진용
Original assignee: 세종대학교산학협력단
Priority date: 2014-01-15
Filing date: 2014-01-15
Publication date: 2015-07-23
Also published as: KR101576846B1

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a cardiovascular imaging device capable of improving detection sensitivity of a plaque lipid component comprises: a first optical coupler to couple a first light source and a second light source; an interferometer to output a light signal interfered by receiving a light signal, which is output through the first optical coupler, through a standard stage and a sample stage; a photodetector to detect an interference signal including information on a blood vessel from the light signal output through the interferometer; and an image processing part to detect a lipid plaque component of the blood vessel by imaging a cross section of the blood vessel based on the interference signal.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a cardiovascular imaging apparatus,

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a cardiovascular imaging apparatus and a method for analyzing blood vessels of the cardiovascular imaging apparatus.

Currently, various types of diagnostic instruments are used in the medical field, and among these diagnostic instruments, devices using optical sensors are attracting attention. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a new technology that enables microscopic observation of microstructures up to several millimeters in depth in a non-contact, non-invasive manner, Dimensional image.

Conventional cardiovascular OCT imaging technology has been commercialized by implementing an optical imaging system as a center wavelength ~ 1300nm light source. However, the bandwidth of the conventional system light source (1240 ~ 1350nm) is the next generation cardiovascular imaging technique, spectroscopic OCT, which is a lipid (lipid), a key component of unstable plaque, ) Is not easily detected.

A related prior art is Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2013-0137329 entitled " Optical coherence tomography apparatus, public date: December 20, 2012. "

One embodiment of the present invention provides a cardiovascular imaging apparatus and a blood vessel analyzing method that can improve detection sensitivity of a lipid plaque component by analyzing blood vessels using a light source selected in consideration of the absorption rate of plaque lipid components.

The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned problem (s), and another problem (s) not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

A cardiovascular imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first optical coupler coupling first and second light sources; An interferometer for receiving an optical signal output through the first optical coupler through a reference end and a sample end and outputting an interference optical signal; A photodetector for detecting an interference signal including information on a blood vessel from an optical signal output through the interferometer; And an image processor for detecting a lipid plaque component of the blood vessel by imaging the cross section of the blood vessel based on the interference signal.

The cardiovascular imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include an optical variable filter for varying a wavelength of the first and second light sources.

The optical variable filter may determine a wavelength band of the first and second light sources based on the absorption rate of the lipid plaque component and may vary wavelengths of the first and second light sources in the determined wavelength band.

The optical variable filter may be varied by determining the first and second light sources as the center wavelength bands of 1285 to 1300 nm and 1210 nm, respectively.

The first and second light sources use an SOA (Semiconductor Optical Amplifier) serving as an optical amplifier for amplifying an optical signal input into a broadband light source having a bandwidth of 80 to 90 nm with a 3 dB bandwidth.

The interferometer includes a second optical coupler for distributing the optical signal output through the first optical coupler to the reference end and the sample end; A first circulator for irradiating an optical signal inputted through the reference end with a reference mirror, receiving an optical signal reflected from the reference mirror and outputting the optical signal to the optical detector; A second circulator for irradiating an optical signal input through the sample stage to the blood vessel, receiving an optical signal reflected from the blood vessel, and outputting the optical signal to the optical detector; And a third optical coupler for combining the optical signals output from the optical detector and dividing the optical signals into first and second optical signals according to wavelengths.

The length of the optical path of the reference end may coincide with the length of the optical path of the sample end to generate the interference signal.

The reference mirror may be displaced in order to match the length of the optical path of the reference end with the end of the sample.

The optical signal of the sample stage is incident on the surface of the blood vessel through the second circulator and a rotary junction which is a device for rotating the optical endoscope and through the lens of the optical endoscope, Reflected or scattered light may be output to the photodetector through the rotary junction and the second circulator.

A cardiovascular imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a data collector for collecting the interference signal detected through the photodetector and extracting information about the blood vessel necessary for imaging a cross section of the blood vessel from the interference signal, As shown in FIG.

The first optical coupler may selectively receive and output only the second light source according to the setting of the user.

A method for analyzing a blood vessel of a cardiovascular imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: coupling a first light source and a second light source in a first optical coupler; Receiving an optical signal output through the first optical coupler through a reference end and a sample end in an interferometer and outputting an interference optical signal; Detecting, in the photodetector, an interference signal including information on the blood vessel from the optical signal output through the interferometer; And imaging the cross-section of the blood vessel based on the interference signal to detect a lipid plaque component of the blood vessel.

The method of analyzing a blood vessel of a cardiovascular imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include the step of varying a wavelength of the first and second light sources in an optical variable filter.

Wherein the step of varying the wavelengths of the first and second light sources comprises: determining wavelength bands of the first and second light sources based on the absorption rate of the lipid plaque component; And varying wavelengths of the first and second light sources in the determined wavelength band.

Wherein outputting the interfered optical signal comprises: distributing, in a second optical coupler of the interferometer, an optical signal output through the first optical coupler to the reference end and the sample end; Irradiating an optical signal inputted through the reference end with a reference mirror in a first circulator of the interferometer and receiving an optical signal reflected from the reference mirror and outputting the optical signal to the optical detector; Irradiating the blood vessel with an optical signal input through the sample stage in a second circulator of the interferometer, receiving an optical signal reflected from the blood vessel, and outputting the optical signal to the optical detector; And combining the optical signal output from the third optical coupler of the interferometer to the optical detector and dividing the optical signal into first and second optical signals according to wavelengths.

A method for analyzing a blood vessel of a cardiovascular imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: collecting, in a data collector, the interference signal detected through the photodetector, And extracting the information on the information.

The details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the detection sensitivity of the lipid plaque component can be improved by analyzing the blood vessel using the selected light source in consideration of the absorption rate of the plaque lipid component.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a blood vessel analysis using a light source having a center wavelength of 1285 to 1300 nm and a 1210 nm light source having a maximum absorption rate of a plaque lipid is performed, Can be obtained.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a cardiovascular imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the interferometer of FIG.
3 is a graph showing the absorption rate of plaque lipid components according to wavelengths.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for analyzing blood vessels of a cardiovascular imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of outputting an interference signal through an interferometer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages and / or features of the present invention, and how to accomplish them, will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is capable of many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, To fully disclose the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a cardiovascular imaging apparatus and a blood vessel analyzing method capable of extracting lipid components using one or more light sources and a method of analyzing blood vessels using a conventional method of absorbing a first light source of 1285 to 1300 nm and a lipid component A second light source of 1210 nm is used. At this time, when a high-resolution image is not necessary, only the second light source can be used.

In order to implement a single mode interferometer suitable for a 1210 nm light source, an HI1060 optical fiber based optical component should be used in one embodiment of the present invention, but it may cause implementation problems due to high cost.

Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present invention, a cardiovascular imaging apparatus can be implemented using a low-cost SMF 28e optical fiber-based optical component for 1285 to 1300 nm currently commercialized, and the cardiovascular imaging apparatus can perform post-processing ), And the lipid component, which is spectroscopic information of the vascular plaque, can be detected through a predetermined algorithm.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a cardiovascular imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1, a cardiovascular imaging apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first light source 110, a second light source 120, an optical variable filter 130, a first optical coupler 140, An interferometer 150, a photodetector 160, a data collector 170, and an image processor 180.

The first light source 110 may be a light source having a center wavelength of 1285 to 1300 nm. The first light source 110 uses an SOA (Semiconductor Optical Amplifier) serving as an optical amplifier for amplifying an optical signal input into a broadband light source having a bandwidth of 80 to 90 nm with a 3 dB bandwidth.

The second light source 120 may be implemented as a light source having a wavelength band of 1210 nm where the absorption rate of the lipid component is the highest. The second light source 120 uses an SOA (Semiconductor Optical Amplifier) which functions as an optical amplifier for amplifying an optical signal input into a broadband light source having a bandwidth of 80 to 90 nm with a 3 dB bandwidth. In an embodiment of the present invention, only the second light source 120 may be used when a high-resolution image is not required. Meanwhile, as another embodiment related to the second light source 120, the bandwidth of 1210 nm may be 40 to 50 nm in addition to 80 to 90 nm.

3 is a graph showing the absorption rate of plaque lipid components according to wavelengths. As shown in FIG. 3, it can be seen that the absorption rate of plaque lipid components is the highest at a wavelength band of 1210 nm. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, as described above, a light source having a wavelength band of 1210 nm can be used as the second light source 120. [

The optical variable filter 130 serves to vary the wavelength of the first and second light sources. To this end, the optical variable filter 130 determines the wavelength bands of the first and second light sources 110 and 120 based on the absorption rate of the lipid plaque component in the blood vessel, The wavelengths of the two light sources 110 and 120 can be varied.

That is, the optical variable filter 130 determines the first light source 110 as a conventional wavelength band of 1285 to 1300 nm and changes the wavelength of the second light source 120 to 1210 nm, which is the highest absorption rate of the lipid plaque component As shown in FIG.

The first optical coupler 140 couples the first and second light sources 110 and 120. The first optical coupler 140 may include a multiple coupler that multiplexes a plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths. The first optical coupler 140 may selectively receive and output only the second light source 120 among the first and second light sources 110 and 120 according to a user's setting. That is, in the present embodiment, only the second light source 120 can be used through the selective output through the first optical coupler 140 when a high-resolution image is not required.

The interferometer 150 receives the optical signal output through the first optical coupler 140 through the reference and sample stages and outputs the interference optical signal. Here, the reference stage and the sample stage refer to a path for generating an interference signal according to the optical path difference in the interferometer 150. The reference end is an optical path existing at a position connected to the reference mirror among the optical paths having the flow of the distribution light, and the sample end is an optical path between the optical path having the flow of the distribution light, to be.

2, the interferometer 150 includes a second optical coupler 210, a first circulator 220, a reference mirror 230, a second circulator 240, and a third optical coupler 250 ). &Lt; / RTI > 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the interferometer of FIG.

The second optical coupler 210 may divide the optical signal output through the first optical coupler 140 into the reference end and the sample end. The second optical coupler 210 may include an optical splitter that distributes the optical signal output through the first optical coupler 140 to the reference end and the sample end of the interferometer 150, respectively.

Here, the length of the optical path of the reference end preferably coincides with the length of the optical path of the sample end in order to generate the interference signal.

The first circulator 220 irradiates an optical signal inputted through the reference end with a reference mirror 230 and receives an optical signal reflected from the reference mirror 230 to be transmitted to the optical detector 160). Here, the position of the reference mirror 230 may be displaced to match the length of the optical path of the reference end and the end of the sample.

The second circulator 240 irradiates an optical signal input through the sample stage to the blood vessel 280 and receives an optical signal reflected from the blood vessel 280 and outputs the optical signal to the optical detector 160 .

Here, the path of the optical signal input to the sample stage is as follows. That is, the optical signal of the sample stage is transmitted through the second circulator 240 and the rotary junction 250, which is a device for rotating the optical endoscope, through the lens 260 of the optical endoscope, Light reflected or scattered on the surface of the blood vessel 280 may be output to the photodetector 160 through the rotary junction 250 and the second circulator 240 have.

The third optical coupler 270 may combine the optical signals output to the optical detector 160 and divide the optical signals into first and second optical signals according to wavelengths. The third optical coupler 270 includes an optical coupler for combining and outputting optical signals inputted from the reference and sample ends, respectively, and outputting the split optical signals, and a light splitter . &Lt; / RTI > Accordingly, the photodetector 160 can receive the first and second optical signals.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, the photodetector 160 receives an optical signal output through the interferometer 150 and detects an interference signal including information on a blood vessel. That is, the photodetector 160 can detect the interference signal from the first and second optical signals input through the third optical coupler 270 of the interferometer 150.

The data collector 170 collects the interference signal detected through the photodetector 160 and extracts information about the blood vessel 280 necessary for imaging the cross section of the blood vessel 280 from the interference signal .

The image processing unit 180 detects the lipid plaque component of the blood vessel 280 by imaging the cross section of the blood vessel 280 based on the interference signal. At this time, the image processor 180 processes the interference signal to detect a plaque lipid component, which is desired spectroscopic information.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for analyzing blood vessels of a cardiovascular imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, at step 410, a first optical coupler 140 of the cardiovascular imaging device 100 couples a first light source 110 and a second light source 120. Here, the first and second light sources 110 and 120 may be variably processed into different wavelengths by the optical variable filter 130 of the cardiovascular imaging apparatus 100.

That is, the first light source 110 may be implemented as a light source having a center wavelength of 1285 to 1300 nm, and the second light source 120 may be implemented as a 1210 nm wavelength light source having the highest absorption rate of a lipid component. have.

Next, in step 420, the interferometer 150 of the cardiovascular imaging apparatus 100 receives the optical signal output through the first optical coupler 140 through the reference end and the sample end, Output.

Next, in step 430, the photodetector 160 of the cardiovascular imaging apparatus 100 detects an interference signal including information on the blood vessel from the optical signal output through the interferometer 150. [

Next, in step 440, the data collector 170 of the cardiovascular imaging apparatus 100 collects the interference signal detected through the photodetector 160 and imaged the cross-section of the blood vessel from the interference signal Extract necessary information about the blood vessel.

Next, in step 450, the image processing unit 180 of the cardiovascular imaging apparatus 100 detects a lipid plaque component of the blood vessel by imaging the cross-section of the blood vessel based on the interference signal.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of outputting an interference signal through an interferometer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 and 5, in step 510, the second optical coupler 210 of the interferometer 150 transmits the optical signal output through the first optical coupler ("140" in FIG. 1) And the sample stage.

Next, in step 520, the first circulator 220 of the interferometer 150 irradiates the optical signal input through the reference end to a reference mirror 230.

In step 530, the first circulator 220 of the interferometer 150 receives the optical signal reflected from the reference mirror 230 and outputs the optical signal to the optical detector 160.

Next, in step 540, the second circulator 240 of the interferometer 150 irradiates the optical signal inputted through the sample stage to the blood vessel 280.

The second circulator 240 of the interferometer 150 receives the optical signal reflected from the blood vessel 280 and outputs the optical signal to the optical detector 160 in step 550.

Next, in step 560, the third optical coupler 270 of the interferometer 150 combines the optical signals output to the optical detector 160 and divides the optical signals into first and second optical signals according to wavelengths.

Embodiments of the present invention include computer readable media including program instructions for performing various computer implemented operations. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, local data files, local data structures, etc., alone or in combination. The media may be those specially designed and constructed for the present invention or may be those known to those skilled in the computer software. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tape, optical recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, magneto-optical media such as floppy disks, and ROMs, And hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute the same program instructions. Examples of program instructions include machine language code such as those produced by a compiler, as well as high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined by the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, Modification is possible. Accordingly, the spirit of the present invention should be understood only in accordance with the following claims, and all equivalents or equivalent variations thereof are included in the scope of the present invention.

110: first light source
120: second light source
130: Optical variable filter
140: first optical coupler
150: Interferometer
160: Photodetector
170: Data collector
180:
210: second optical coupler
220: First circulator
230: Reference mirror
240: Second circulator
250: Rotary junction
260: Lens
270: blood vessel
280: third optical coupler

Claims

A first optical coupler coupling the first and second light sources;
An interferometer for receiving an optical signal output through the first optical coupler through a reference end and a sample end and outputting an interference optical signal;
A photodetector for detecting an interference signal including information on a blood vessel from an optical signal output through the interferometer; And
An image processing unit for imaging a cross section of the blood vessel based on the interference signal and detecting a lipid plaque component of the blood vessel,
Wherein the cardiovascular imaging device comprises:

The method according to claim 1,
An optical variable filter for varying a wavelength of the first and second light sources,
Wherein the cardiovascular imaging device further comprises:

3. The method of claim 2,
The optical variable filter
Wherein the wavelength band of the first and second light sources is determined based on the absorption rate of the lipid plaque component and the wavelength of the first and second light sources is varied in the determined wavelength band.

The method of claim 3,
The optical variable filter
Wherein the first and second light sources are respectively determined to have a central wavelength band of 1285 to 1300 nm and 1210 nm, and the first and second light sources are varied.

The method according to claim 1,
The first and second light sources
A semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) serving as an optical amplifier for amplifying an optical signal input into a broadband light source having a bandwidth of 80 to 90 nm in terms of 3dB bandwidth.

The method according to claim 1,
The interferometer
A second optical coupler for distributing the optical signal output through the first optical coupler to the reference end and the sample end;
A first circulator for irradiating an optical signal inputted through the reference end with a reference mirror, receiving an optical signal reflected from the reference mirror and outputting the optical signal to the optical detector;
A second circulator for irradiating an optical signal input through the sample stage to the blood vessel, receiving an optical signal reflected from the blood vessel, and outputting the optical signal to the optical detector; And
A third optical coupler for combining optical signals output to the optical detector and dividing the optical signals into first and second optical signals according to wavelengths;
Wherein the cardiovascular imaging device comprises:

The method according to claim 6,
The length of the optical path of the reference end is
And coincides with the length of the optical path of the sample stage to generate the interference signal.

8. The method of claim 7,
The reference mirror
Wherein the position is displaced in order to match the length of the optical path of the reference end and the end of the sample.

The method according to claim 6,
The optical signal of the sample stage
A rotary junction that is a device for rotating the optical endoscope, and a light source that is incident on a surface of the blood vessel through the lens of the optical endoscope, and light reflected or scattered on a surface of the blood vessel is reflected by the second circulator, And is output to the photodetector through the rotary junction and the second circulator.

The method according to claim 1,
A data collector for collecting the interference signal detected through the photodetector and extracting information about the blood vessel necessary for imaging the cross section of the blood vessel from the interference signal;
Wherein the cardiovascular imaging device further comprises:

The first optical coupler
And selectively inputs and outputs only the second light source according to the setting of the user.

In the first optical coupler, coupling the first and second light sources;
Receiving an optical signal output through the first optical coupler through a reference end and a sample end in an interferometer and outputting an interference optical signal;
Detecting, in the photodetector, an interference signal including information on the blood vessel from the optical signal output through the interferometer; And
A step of imaging the cross section of the blood vessel based on the interference signal and detecting a lipid plaque component of the blood vessel in the image processing unit
The method comprising the steps of:

13. The method of claim 12,
In the variable optical filter, a step of varying wavelengths of the first and second light sources
The method further comprising the step of:

14. The method of claim 13,
The step of varying wavelengths of the first and second light sources
Determining a wavelength band of the first and second light sources based on the absorption rate of the lipid plaque component; And
Varying wavelengths of the first and second light sources in the determined wavelength band
The method comprising the steps of:

13. The method of claim 12,
The step of outputting the interfered optical signal
Distributing an optical signal output through the first optical coupler to the reference end and the sample end in a second optical coupler of the interferometer;
Irradiating an optical signal inputted through the reference end with a reference mirror in a first circulator of the interferometer and receiving an optical signal reflected from the reference mirror and outputting the optical signal to the optical detector;
Irradiating the blood vessel with an optical signal input through the sample stage in a second circulator of the interferometer, receiving an optical signal reflected from the blood vessel, and outputting the optical signal to the optical detector; And
Coupling the optical signal output from the third optical coupler of the interferometer to the optical detector and dividing the optical signal into first and second optical signals according to wavelengths;
The method comprising the steps of:

16. The method of claim 15,
The optical signal of the sample stage
A rotary junction that is a device for rotating the optical endoscope, and a light source that is incident on a surface of the blood vessel through the lens of the optical endoscope, and light reflected or scattered on a surface of the blood vessel is reflected by the second circulator, And output to the photodetector through the rotary junction and the second circulator.

13. The method of claim 12,
Collecting the interference signal detected through the photodetector in a data collector and extracting information about the blood vessel necessary for imaging the cross section of the blood vessel from the interference signal
The method further comprising the step of: