WO2008024101A1 - Fibroscope optique avec à la fois éclairage non résonant et collecte/imagerie résonante pour de multiples modes de fonctionnement - Google Patents

Fibroscope optique avec à la fois éclairage non résonant et collecte/imagerie résonante pour de multiples modes de fonctionnement Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2008024101A1
WO2008024101A1 PCT/US2006/032545 US2006032545W WO2008024101A1 WO 2008024101 A1 WO2008024101 A1 WO 2008024101A1 US 2006032545 W US2006032545 W US 2006032545W WO 2008024101 A1 WO2008024101 A1 WO 2008024101A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
optical fiber
light
internal site
tissue
scanner
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2006/032545
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Eric Seibel
Richard Johnston
Timothy Soper
Charles Melville
Original Assignee
University Of Washington
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by University Of Washington filed Critical University Of Washington
Priority to JP2009525530A priority Critical patent/JP2010501246A/ja
Priority to EP06801970A priority patent/EP2059838A4/fr
Priority to PCT/US2006/032545 priority patent/WO2008024101A1/fr
Publication of WO2008024101A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008024101A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/00064—Constructional details of the endoscope body
    • A61B1/00071—Insertion part of the endoscope body
    • A61B1/0008—Insertion part of the endoscope body characterised by distal tip features
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/00064—Constructional details of the endoscope body
    • A61B1/00071—Insertion part of the endoscope body
    • A61B1/0008—Insertion part of the endoscope body characterised by distal tip features
    • A61B1/00096—Optical elements
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/00163—Optical arrangements
    • A61B1/00165—Optical arrangements with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/00163—Optical arrangements
    • A61B1/00172—Optical arrangements with means for scanning
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/04—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances
    • A61B1/043—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances for fluorescence imaging
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
    • A61N5/06—Radiation therapy using light
    • A61N5/0601—Apparatus for use inside the body
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B23/00—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices
    • G02B23/24—Instruments or systems for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes
    • G02B23/2407—Optical details
    • G02B23/2423—Optical details of the distal end
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B23/00—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices
    • G02B23/24—Instruments or systems for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes
    • G02B23/2407—Optical details
    • G02B23/2461—Illumination
    • G02B23/2469—Illumination using optical fibres
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B23/00—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices
    • G02B23/24—Instruments or systems for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes
    • G02B23/26—Instruments or systems for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes using light guides
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B26/00—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements
    • G02B26/08—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
    • G02B26/10—Scanning systems
    • G02B26/103—Scanning systems having movable or deformable optical fibres, light guides or waveguides as scanning elements
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/012—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
    • A61N5/06—Radiation therapy using light
    • A61N2005/063—Radiation therapy using light comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B2207/00—Coding scheme for general features or characteristics of optical elements and systems of subclass G02B, but not including elements and systems which would be classified in G02B6/00 and subgroups
    • G02B2207/114—Two photon or multiphoton effect

Definitions

  • an optical therapy is typically provided by a laser that is connected to a single large-core multimode optical fiber.
  • the distal end of this multimode optical fiber is introduced into the body by hand and is advanced so that its tip physically contacts the tissue of interest at an internal site.
  • the optical beam emerging from the distal tip of the optical fiber is scanned by hand onto the tissue, or an optical diffuser attached to the distal end of the optical fiber is employed to diffusely spread the optical radiation dose across the tissue of interest.
  • Imaging the tissue of interest before and after the therapy (and monitoring the efficacy or extent of the therapy) is typically done using a flexible or rigid endoscope that channels a monitoring optical fiber to the region of interest within the body.
  • an optical fiber is commonly introduced with a nonimaging catheter, and imaging of the procedure is done externally to the patient's body, using such conventional imaging methods, such as fluoroscopy.
  • a scanning fiber endoscope SEE
  • CatheterScope technology enable optical radiation to be introduced into the body in devices used for minimally invasive medical procedures, such as flexible endoscopes, rigid laparoscopes, bronchoscopes, and other rigid or flexible scopes, as well as introduction via catheters.
  • the optical radiation can be delivered to the tissue in one of several ways, such as by being coupled directly to a resonant fiber scanner core and/or cladding, or can be delivered using single or dual or multi cladding optical fibers, or delivered via an optical fiber in the more traditional way, but in parallel with a separate resonant optical fiber scanner.
  • a previously developed SFE technology uses a resonant optical fiber scanner to deliver light to a site, and in this approach, the light spot is always moving across the plane of illumination. If a large therapeutic dose of optical radiation is required, then an extremely high-power laser must turn on and off for the instant in time when the scanning fiber tip is aligned with the required illumination pixels that correspond to the region of interest where therapy is to be delivered.
  • the previously proposed direct integration of the optical therapy with the SEE imaging is therefore limited in the level of optical power that can be delivered in this short interval of time. Overcoming this limitation can be costly.
  • Various exemplary embodiments of scanning probes have been developed for use in carrying out a number of different functions within a patient's body, by selectively operating in a plurality of different modes that use a plurality of different types of light.
  • certain embodiments of the probe are useful for implementing at least two different modes.
  • the different modes can include imaging a site using visible light, performing diagnosis of medical conditions at the site using light that is useful in measuring condition of the tissue at the site, rendering therapy to the site with relatively high-power light of appropriate waveband, and monitoring the site to determine the results of therapy rendered - for example, in real-time.
  • an SFE probe In connection with diagnosis of a medical condition, one embodiment of an SFE probe has been developed that uses a resonant scanner to image an internal site or collect light from the site.
  • the SFE probe is able to determine a scattering angle of light from the site, and this information can be used, for example, in diagnosing cancer, based upon the size of cell nuclei determined as a function of the scattering angle measured and the frequency or wavelength of the light.
  • Absorption of light by the tissue relative to depth of light penetration (at a desired wavelength) can be determined, since the absorption is proportional to optical path length, which can be varied by the radius of a spiral scan provided by the scanner in the SEE probe from a point or beam of illumination.
  • an axial length between a probe and a surface of tissue can be determined using the scanner in an exemplary SFE probe to collect light reflected from the illuminated tissue.
  • an exemplary optical fiber system for illuminating an internal site within a body of a patient with different types of light in different modes and responding to light received from the internal site.
  • the system includes a plurality of light sources that produce the different types of light.
  • An illumination optical fiber having a distal end is selectively coupled to the plurality of light sources to convey the light for a current mode to the distal end of the illumination optical fiber, to illuminate the internal site.
  • a scanning driver or actuator adapted to be energized by a drive signal is included and is connected to the scanning optical fiber adjacent to its distal end.-
  • the scanning driver or actuator is configured to drive a scanner so as to scan at least a portion of the internal site in a desired pattern.
  • a light sensor or detector is coupled to the scanner optical fiber to receive the light that it conveys. In response, the light sensor produces an output signal indicative of at least one parameter of the light received from the internal site.
  • the method includes the steps of conveying one of a plurality of different types of light from a source selected for use in a current mode of the at least two modes, toward a distal end of an illumination optical fiber.
  • the light emitted from the distal end of the illumination optical fiber is directed onto the internal site; the distal end of the illumination optical fiber can be stationary or relatively slowly movable with a non- resonant motion.
  • At least a portion of the internal site is scanned to collect received light.
  • the received light from at least the portion of the internal site is conveyed through a scanner optical fiber and toward a proximal end of the scanner optical fiber.
  • the received light is detected, producing an output signal in response thereto.
  • At least one parameter of at least a portion of the internal site is determined using the output signal, for the current mode that is then being implemented.
  • Yet another aspect is directed to an optical fiber scope for illuminating an internal site within a body of a patient with a plurality of different types of light during a plurality of different modes, and responding to light received from the internal site.
  • the optical fiber scope includes a plurality of different light sources producing different types of light for illuminating the internal site.
  • An elongate housing is disposed at a distal end of the optical fiber scope.
  • a scanner is disposed generally centrally at the distal end of the optical fiber scope.
  • the scanner is driven to move in a desired pattern at approximately a resonant frequency and configured so that received light from at least a desired portion of the internal site is collected by the scanner and conveyed through a scanner optical fiber toward a proximal end of the scanner optical fiber.
  • a plurality of illuminating optical fibers having distal ends are spaced apart and disposed around the scanner, within the elongate housing.
  • the plurality of illuminating optical fibers convey light from a selected one of the plurality of different light sources toward the distal ends of the illuminating optical fibers during operation in a current mode. The light emitted from the distal ends of the illuminating optical fibers is then directed to the internal site.
  • a sensor is coupled to the scanner optical fiber and is responsive to the received light that is conveyed through the scanner optical fiber.
  • the sensor produces an output signal that can be processed to provide data relating to tissue at the internal site for the current mode that is being implemented by the optical fiber scope.
  • FIGURE 1 is a schematic elevational view of a distal end of an exemplary probe having non-resonant illumination optical fibers and a resonant scanning optical fiber that is collecting light and/or imaging an internal site in a patient's body;
  • FIGURE 2 is a schematic elevational view of a distal end of another exemplary probe having non-resonant illumination optical fibers and a resonant scanning mirror that is collecting light and/or imaging an internal site in a patient's body;
  • FIGURE 3 is a schematic elevational view of a distal end of yet another exemplary probe that is adapted for carrying out relatively high-power laser therapy using ultra-fast laser pulses and monitoring a site by imaging using non-confocal or pseudo-confocal multi-photon scanning of an internal site using a resonant optical fiber scanner;
  • FIGURES 4A - 4E respectively illustrate a spiral scan pattern, a linear scanning pattern that rotates about a central axis, a raster scanning pattern, a propeller scan pattern that rotates about a central axis, and a Lissajous scan pattern, as examples of some of the different resonant scanning patterns that can be employed;
  • FIGURE 5 schematically illustrates a distal end of an exemplary probe, showing a plurality of optical fibers that are used for different purposes grouped around a resonant scanner;
  • FIGURE 6 schematically illustrates another exemplary embodiment for a probe having non-resonant illumination optical fibers on opposite sides of a scanning optical fiber, and using a plurality of lenses for focusing on an internal site;
  • FIGURE 7 is a schematic block diagram of a scanning system that employs a probe in accord with one exemplary embodiment
  • FIGURE 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the relationship between specular and diffuse light reflecting from a tissue surface
  • FIGURE 9 is a controller for the scanning system that is usable, for example, to determine a distance between a distal portion of a probe and a surface;
  • FIGURE 10 is a schematic illustration showing the functional relationship between illumination optical fibers and a scanner relative to an internal site surface
  • FIGURES HA - HC illustrate three different specular reflection patterns at different distances between the distal end of a probe and the surface of internal tissue
  • FIGURES 1 ID - 1 IE illustrate two different illumination patterns at the same distance between the distal end of a probe and the surface of internal tissue when the probe is rotated during illumination and when illumination is displaced radially while probe is being rotated
  • FIGURE 12 illustrates an exemplary scanning device having a resonant scanning optical fiber that can be driven to scan a region in any of a plurality of different scan patterns, including a variable radius circular, or a spiral scanning mode, and when imaging the region, collects light from the region that is illuminated by light from a plurality of illumination optical fibers disposed around a lens assembly at the distal end of the scanning device;
  • FIGURE 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one exemplary embodiment that uses a fluid-filled balloon to move illumination optical fibers (non- resonantly) to selectively change where light emitted therefrom is incident on an internal surface;
  • FIGURE 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one side of another exemplary embodiment that uses bimorph displacers to move illumination optical fibers to selectively change where light emitted therefrom is incident on an internal surface;
  • FIGURES 15 A - 15B are schematic sectional isometric views of a distal portion (one of the four illumination optical fibers has been cut away to simplify the view) of an exemplary embodiment similar to that of FIGURE 13, respectively illustrating positions of the illumination fibers when a balloon is generally not inflated, and alternative positions of the illuminating optical fibers after a pressurized fluid has at least partially inflated the balloon to a greater extent;
  • FIGURE 15C - 15D are schematic isometric views of a distal portion of the exemplary embodiment of FIGURES 15 A and 15B, respectively illustrating positions of the illumination fibers when the balloon is generally not inflated, and the alternative positions of the illuminating optical fibers when fluid is used to at least partially inflate the balloon;
  • FIGURE 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one side of a distal portion of yet another exemplary embodiment of an exemplary SFE probe, wherein a cable or line extending proximally through a lumen is used to move an
  • FIGURE 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary SFE probe in which a Fourier transform lens is employed to determine scattering and thus, the size of a cellular component or particle that has scattered the light;
  • FIGURE 18 illustrates a cross-sectional view of still another exemplary embodiment of a probe that enables both high resolution imaging and capturing different scattering angles, using a Fourier transform lens and a longitudinally movable, resonant optical fiber scanner;
  • FIGURE 19 is a cross-sectional view of a probe that includes illumination optical fibers coupled to light sources of different characteristics, e.g., for measuring/mapping local diffuse reflections collected in an inner cladding of a scanning optical fiber, as well as high resolution imaging using a singlemode core of the scanning optical fiber;
  • FIGURE 20 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary SEE probe (having a scanner - not visible) that includes the two illumination optical fibers of FIGURE 19, and 12 other multimode optical fibers that can be used for various functions;
  • FIGURE 21 is a schematic axial view of an internal site that is illuminated with light from the two illumination optical fibers, illustrating vectors for the light emitted from each different illumination optical fiber, which has different properties;
  • FIGURE 22 is an exemplary functional block diagram illustrating the functional components and signal flow in a system that employs an SFE probe such as those described herein, for any one or more of imaging, monitoring, rendering diagnoses, and providing therapy to an internal site in a patient's body.
  • each of the plurality of exemplary embodiments disclosed herein is usable in a system for selectively implementing at least two different modes using different types of light.
  • the plurality of different modes include: (1) a diagnostic mode used to determine a condition of tissue at an internal site by responding to light received from the tissue to determine parameters indicative of the tissue condition; (2) an imaging mode used to produce an image of the internal site using imaging (e.g., using visible light - monochromatic or light with red, green, and blue (RGB) components); (3) a therapy mode for administering therapy to tissue at the internal site using a relatively high-power therapy light; and, (4) a monitoring mode, which is used to assess the condition of tissue at the internal site before, after, and/or during administration of therapy to the internal site, by imaging the site.
  • the modes implemented by each exemplary embodiment discussed below are not always specifically indicated, but will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, based upon the disclosure.
  • an objective lens system is not shown.
  • an objective lens system for probes that are used in endoscopy applications of this technology, it is contemplated that one of many possible different combinations of objective lens system would likely be included for use, both to provide high magnification focus (and imaging), and to ensure high light collection efficiency, using large numerical aperture optics.
  • Exemplary objective lens systems that might be included are shown in FIGURES 3, 6, 12, 13, and 17 - 19.
  • an imaging lens system might be disposed between the resonant scanner and the illuminated tissue, to collect light at greater efficiencies using the increased numerical aperture optics.
  • the objective lens system can be designed for tissue contact and/or water immersion at the distal (i.e., front) surface thereof.
  • FIGURE 1 A first exemplary embodiment of a probe 30 that is suitable for using a resonant scanner to collect light or image an internal site 44 within the body of a patient (not shown) is illustrated in FIGURE 1.
  • Probe 30 includes a housing 32, only a distal portion of which is shown in the schematic view. Within housing 32 is disposed a plurality of illumination optical fibers 34. Only two such illumination optical fibers are illustrated in this Figure, but as will be evident from the discussion below, it is also contemplated the SFE probe can include only a single illumination optical fiber, as well as more than two such optical fibers.
  • illumination optical fibers 34 each includes a displacer 36, which is illustrated simply as a schematic block in this Figure, and is intended to represent a mechanism for non- resonantly moving the illumination optical fiber so as to change the direction in which it emits illumination light, thereby selectively changing where the illumination light is incident on internal site 44.
  • each of the illumination optical fibers can include a rod lens 38, for example, a gradient index (GRIN) lens, to more effectively focus light emitted from the illumination optical fibers on the internal site.
  • GRIN gradient index
  • illumination light 40 emitted through rod lenses 38 is incident on the internal site and is focused at points 42.
  • the illumination optical fibers can have relatively large multimode cores and will thus be able to carry relatively high intensity light at appropriate selected wavelengths to achieve various different functions, as described in detail below.
  • one or more illumination optical fibers can comprise singlemode optical fibers.
  • Probe 30 can be employed in a variety of different applications.
  • the illumination light conveyed through illumination optical fibers 34 and directed to internal site 44 may be simply white light (i.e., with red, green, and blue components) suitable for illuminating the internal surface, or can be monochromatic.
  • a therapeutic optical radiation can normally be conveyed through illumination optical fibers 34 at sufficiently high-power and with sufficient pulse width or duration to achieve the desired therapeutic effect, and without damaging illumination optical fibers 34.
  • illumination light 40 can be focused at other spots or to a single spot, such as spot 46, increasing the effective power delivered to the internal site and reducing any coherence effects.
  • a scanning optical fiber 50 which is driven to move in a desired pattern at a resonant or near-resonant frequency by a piezoceramic tube actuator 52, or other suitable scanning driver.
  • the scanning optical fiber can selectively be driven in a linear resonance or near-resonant motion, as indicated by the dash line position of optical fiber 50', or can be driven in a more complex two- dimensional motion, with a driving force applied relative to two orthogonal axes.
  • Scanning optical fiber 50 comprises the distal end of a singlemode (or multimode) optical fiber 54 that extends toward a proximal end (not shown) where the light that enters the scanning optical fiber can be sensed by a sensor or detector, or be used to produce an image on a display, as discussed in greater detail below.
  • one or more objective lenses may be disposed between the optical fiber 54 and internal site 44 to provide high-power magnification and greater light collection efficiency with high numerical aperture optics, as shown in other embodiments discussed below.
  • the scanning optical fiber can also alternatively comprise a multi-clad optical fiber or a combination multimode and singlemode optical fiber.
  • SFE probe 30 is configured and sized so that it can readily be introduced into the body of a patient in a variety of different devices that are used for minimally invasive medical procedures, such as flexible scopes, rigid laparoscopes, Rocco Scopes, and other rigid or flexible scopes, as well as in connection with catheters.
  • scanning optical fiber 50 can image internal site 44 independent of the delivery of illumination light 40 that is used for therapy, the scanning optical fiber can be employed for monitoring internal site 44 in real-time to determine the progress of the therapy and its effect on the internal site.
  • Illumination optical fibers 34 that are used for delivering illumination light to render therapy can also be used to collect infrared (IR) light received from the internal site for monitoring the heat generated during the therapy.
  • IR infrared
  • an illumination laser that is used for therapy and produces near-IR wavelength light can be separated from any collected thermal omissions and longer IR wavelengths using a dichroic beam splitter (not shown), such as a long-pass filter disposed at a 45° angle.
  • the therapeutic optical radiation emitted from illumination optical fibers 34 can be focused by rod lenses 38, which would then be specifically designed for the wavelengths of the therapeutic light.
  • a low-power near-IR light source can be selectively coupled to the proximal ends of illumination optical fibers 34, which are normally used to deliver much higher power light used for therapy.
  • the same sensor or optical detector that is coupled to the proximal end of singlemode (or multimode) optical fiber 54 and normally used for imaging the internal site or for monitoring the results or progress of rendering therapy is then used for mapping the pixel location within a red, green, and blue (RGB) image of the low- power JR spots of light. These spots of measured location, size, and shape will be recorded by the computer system that controls the scanning optical fiber.
  • RGB red, green, and blue
  • a colored circle can be drawn and displayed to the user around each of the spots at full-width-at-half-maximum of the measured optical power distribution during the initialization process.
  • the SEE probe can be maneuvered so that the imaged region of interest is encircled by one or more of the colored circles before the full higher power therapy light is administered through the illumination optical fibers, thereby ensuring that the therapy is delivered to the desired portion or region of the internal site, in registration with the image of the region provided by the scanning optical fiber.
  • the SEE probe can be designed and configured so that a plurality of beams of illumination light used for optical therapy are combined to a single spot within a imaging field of scanning optical fiber 50 to increase the total intensity of the therapy light that can be delivered to a desired region within scanned surface of internal site 44.
  • the total power delivered to the spot will be about four times that of the therapy light delivered from only one of the illumination optical fibers.
  • the plurality of illumination optical fibers can be configured so that the therapy light that they emit forms a square, rectangle, circle, or other shaped area that is about four times the area of a single spot.
  • the SEE probe can be moved manually, for example to sweep the distal end back and forth or rotate it, so that the optical therapy light is swept over the area of interest at internal site 44.
  • a user interface or display (not shown in FIGURE 1, but described in detail below), e.g., of false color, can provide an indication of tissue surface temperature as a real-time feedback of the condition of the tissue while optical therapy is being administered.
  • the scanning optical fiber can detect infrared light from the site being administered the optical therapy to provide an indication of the progression of the optical therapy or of the tissue response to the therapy.
  • scanning optical fiber 50 can instead be configured to image the internal site so as to respond to phosphorescence, auto-fluorescence ratio (wavelength or polarization), or extrinsic fluorescence intensity or emission lifetime (which may be particularly useful if the therapy is photodynamic therapy (PDT)).
  • PDT photodynamic therapy
  • an SFE probe 30' shown in FIGURE 2 includes a mirror scanner 56 having one or more reflective surfaces (not shown) driven at a resonant frequency or about a resonant frequency, to scan a desired region, such as spot 46 on internal site 44.
  • Mirror scanner 56 can include one or more moving micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) reflective surfaces, or may include one or more piezoelectric or galvanometer drivers coupled to reflective surfaces that are driven in orthogonal directions, e.g., to resonantly scan in the x-direction with one reflective surface and in the y-direction with the other reflective surface.
  • MEMS moving micro-electro-mechanical system
  • SEE probe 30' otherwise includes substantially the same components as probe 30, so that illumination light 40 emitted from the distal ends of illumination optical fibers 34 is directed to illuminate internal site 44 at points 42 or as otherwise desired.
  • the illumination optical fiber can direct the illumination light emitted at a desired region or point on internal site 44.
  • one or more objective scan lenses may be disposed between mirror scanner 56 and the internal site to provide both high optical magnification with greater numerical aperture, for focusing the illumination and collecting the optical signals.
  • amplified ultra-short laser pulses are focused onto the surface of the tissue.
  • these laser amplifiers operate in the near-infrared (NIR) region of the optical spectrum and have pulse durations in the femtosecond (fs) to picosecond (ps) range, although nanosecond (ns) to millisecond (ms) pulses at other optical frequencies may suffice.
  • NIR near-infrared
  • the light source can comprise an amplified fs-pulsed laser system with an output at about 800 nm wavelength.
  • Laser sources meeting this need are currently available from major USA manufacturers, such as Spectra-Physics, Newport Corporation, and Coherent Inc.
  • pulses at power levels at the tissue of around 1 micro Joule or greater are usually required.
  • photonic crystal optical fibers with hollow cores and/or large-area core diameters have been developed and are available, for example, from Crystal Fibre, Denmark.
  • a singlemode photonics crystal fiber and any rod, GRESf, or objective lens system can be used to focus the high-power laser illumination onto the internal site.
  • the ideal monitoring fiber may be a dual clad optical fiber that allows both high- resolution surface imaging from the singlemode core in addition to multimode light collection within the inner cladding, for monitoring the therapy.
  • a dual clad photonic crystal optical fiber is now available commercially from Crystal Fibre, Denmark. Standard singlemode or multimode optical fibers can be employed, as well as hollow core and band gap optical fibers.
  • the methods of monitoring can include straightforward endoscopic imaging with a scanned beam of visible wavelengths (e.g., red, green, and blue visible light), by collecting the backscattered light from the internal site. Additional methods of monitoring the laser therapy include the mapping of fluorescent light, thermal emissions, and by imaging the tissue with wavelengths of light outside the visible spectrum. Also, tissue optical properties can be assessed concurrently during the therapy or in time series to monitor the disease state of the remaining tissue using both non-resonant fiber-scanned illumination and resonant- scanning detection. Furthermore, the pattern of non-resonant scanning of the ablation process or other laser therapy can be monitored by resonant scanning to insure that the desired pattern of illumination is followed.
  • a scanned beam of visible wavelengths e.g., red, green, and blue visible light
  • An exemplary desirable approach for monitoring the laser ablation process and the depth of a fluorescent marker of disease in the tissue is multi-photon fluorescence imaging using relatively lower-power laser illumination, at ultra-short NlR optical frequencies. Advantages of using a non-confocal design for two-photon scanning fiber endoscopy are discussed below.
  • the NIR light penetrates tissue with less optical loss of scattering and absorption than occurs when using ultraviolet or visible wavelengths. Thus, the NIR light creates a sharp focal point within tissue, with minimal losses even though the NIR wavelength is longer than that of either ultraviolet or visible light. Only at the focal point is there sufficient optical power to produce measurable two-photon absorption. Therefore, all fluorescent photons transmitted from the tissue can be additive to the signal for measuring the fluorescence.
  • a 2-D fluorescence image By scanning the tissue in two dimensions, a 2-D fluorescence image can be generated. Typically, the original 2-D image is repeated for different axial depths (slices) to generate a 3-D fluorescence image. Since the technique for two- photon fluorescence imaging is most often used to generate 3-D images, the fluorescence signal from below the surface of the tissue has a very high probability of scattering before emerging from the tissue surface. Because the scattering redirects the effective source point from the fluorescing specie within the illumination volume to the last point of scattering before emerging from the tissue, a confocal optical design for collecting the fluorescence signal can eliminate most of the signal.
  • the SFE probe will need to be moved into position within a patient's body before performing two-photon imaging.
  • One method for accomplishing this is to guide the probe into position using an image created from backscatter of the illumination light from the surface of the tissue.
  • white light that includes red, green, and blue components
  • the NIR light that is used for the two-photon excitation of visible fluorescence.
  • the two-photon imaging mode would be using a single visible channel matched to the fluorescence emission, while the visible light imaging mode would use the red, green, and blue light sources and corresponding visible light detector(s).
  • visual imaging can be either full-color using three laser or other red, green, and blue light sources such as light emitting diodes or filtered arc lamps, or monochrome using a single laser or other light source that emits a single color of visible light.
  • this probe system should be capable of switching between the two-photon and standard visual imaging on-demand from the operator, on a frame-by-frame basis, with a separate display for each image or the part of a single image that is gathered via two- photon imaging, linked to another part that is gathered as a standard visual image.
  • one of the red, green, or blue visible light detectors can be used for two-photon fluorescence detection, or a separate optical detector can be used to generate the fluorescence images in response to two-photon light. It is also contemplated that this type of SFE probe would have the ability to overlay the two-photon fluorescence signal with a standard visible endoscopic image signal on a visual display.
  • FIGURE 3 illustrates a two-photon SFE probe 60 that includes two or more illumination optical fibers 62 having proximal ends connected to a relatively high intensity NIR laser light source.
  • rod lenses 64 disposed on the distal ends of illumination optical fibers 62 are rod lenses 64, which may, for example, comprise GRIN lenses that compensate for any large chromatic shifts between illumination light and collected optical signal.
  • the rod lenses cooperate with lenses 70 and 72 to focus NIR light 74 in an illumination field 76.
  • annular illumination field 76 can be created by the movement of the individual spots of illumination on the internal site.
  • Objective lenses 70 and 72 also focus the two-photon light that is received from the tissue at the internal site onto the distal end of scanning optical fiber 66.
  • the scanned region within illumination field 76 emits two-photon light 78 that enters scanning optical fibers 66, which is driven to scan in a desired scan pattern, at a resonant or near-resonant frequency of the scanning optical fiber, by piezoelectric two-axis driver 68.
  • the two-photon light is conveyed back to an appropriate light sensor and filtered to remove the excitation light (not shown) disposed at the proximal end of the scanning optical fiber. Additional light may be collected by using a dual-clad optical fiber for both illumination and collection or simply adding additional collection optical fibers that surround the central resonant scanner.
  • illuminated field 76 is disposed very near or in contact with the distal end of SFE probe 60, and can be held or moved, for example, by suction or mechanical means (not shown).
  • Contact via water-immersion or tissue-contact (oil-immersion) of the objective lens front surface may provide the image stability that may be required for high resolution imaging and high-power optics employed for administering laser therapies.
  • SFE probe 60 An exemplary application for SFE probe 60 would be in carrying out the technique discussed in an article entitled, "All-Optical Histology Using Ultrashort Laser Pulses,” by Philbert S. Tsai et al., Neuron, Vol. 39, 27-41, July 3, 2003. The article explains a technique that was used to automate the three-dimensional histological analysis of brain tissue, demonstrating the use of femtosecond laser pulses to iteratively cut and image fixed, as well as fresh, brain tissue. Probe 60 and the methods disclosed herein can clearly be effectively employed in carrying out such work, and for many other applications. Exemplary Scanning Patterns
  • FIGURES 4A - 4E illustrate several different scanning patterns that can be implemented by the scanning devices discussed herein, in connection with the various exemplary embodiments of the SFE probes.
  • FIGURE 4A illustrates a spiral scan pattern 90 that is achieved, for example, by driving the optical scanning fiber with a triangle modulated sine wave along a first axis, and with a triangle modulated cosine wave along an orthogonal second axis.
  • FIGURE 4B illustrates a linear scanning pattern 92 that rotates about a central axis
  • FIGURE 4C illustrates an exemplary raster scan pattern 94
  • FIGURE 4D illustrates an exemplary propeller scan pattern 96 that rotates about a central axis
  • FIGURE 4E illustrates an exemplary Lissajous scan pattern 98.
  • Many other scanning patterns can be achieved by driving the actuator for the scanning device with one or more appropriate drive signals.
  • FIGURE 5 illustrates a distal end of an exemplary SFE probe 100 that includes four illumination optical fibers 102, 104, 106, and 108 disposed peripherally around a central region 116, where a scanning device employed for imaging and/or optical diagnoses is disposed.
  • SFE probe 100 includes collection fibers 110, 112, and 114 disposed between adjacent pairs of the optical illumination fibers. These collection fibers are stationary and are operative to collect red, green, and blue light or other wavelength light received from the tissue at an internal site.
  • the collection fibers can be replaced with optical detectors or sensors that are disposed proximate to the distal end of the SEE probe.
  • the light collected by the collection fibers can be employed for imaging or determining a condition of the tissue at the internal site as part of the task of performing diagnosis or monitoring the tissue during or after optical therapy is applied via the illumination optical fibers.
  • larger lumens or conduits 118 can be used for introducing fluids to and removing fluids from the internal site, by varying an applied pressure, for such purposes as cleaning, rinsing, optical labeling, staining tissue, or removing cells or secretions.
  • the lumens or conduits may be of sufficient size to permit the passage of biopsy tools, needles, or brushes.
  • illumination optical fibers 122 can each be provided with separate lenses 124, while a lens 132 focuses light from the internal site into the distal end of a scanning optical fiber 130 that is resonantly driven by an actuator 128. Light entering the scanning optical fiber is then conveyed proximally to an appropriate detector or sensor (not shown) through an optical fiber 126.
  • an appropriate detector or sensor not shown
  • FIGURE 7 is a simplified block diagram illustrating an exemplary external control system 134 that is coupled to an SFE probe 131 through an interface and connector member 133.
  • SEE probe 131 and external control system 134 are generally configured as described below to determine a distance between the probe and tissue at an internal site 140, as a function of specular reflections from the surface of the tissue.
  • SFE probe 131 includes one or more illumination optical fibers 138 that convey illumination light to internal site 140, generally as described above.
  • the illumination light that is reflected from the surface of internal site 140 has two primary components, including a diffuse reflected portion and a spectral reflected portion.
  • the diffuse reflected portion spreads over a wider angle relative to the direction at which the illumination light is incident on the surface of the tissue at the internal site, and this angle is commonly referred to as the Lambertian angle.
  • the specular reflected portion is reflected from the tissue surface at the same angle at which it was incident to the surface.
  • the percentage of light that is absorbed by the tissue, or is diffusely reflected, or is specularly reflected depends on the material properties of the tissue surface and on the wavelength of the incident illumination light. Shiny or wet tissue surfaces generally have a higher spectral reflection component than do matte surfaces.
  • the light reflected from the tissue surface at internal site 140 enters a scanner 142, which, depending upon the exemplary embodiment employed, can be the distal end of a scanning optical fiber or a scanning mirror, as discussed above.
  • This light that is thus collected by the scanner is conveyed through an optical scanner waveguide 144, e.g., an optical fiber, to interface and connector member 133, which couples the light into external control system 134.
  • Scanner 142 is driven by a scanner driver or actuator 150 in response to a signal received from the external control system via interface and connector member 133.
  • External control system 134 includes a light source 136, which will typically comprise one or more laser sources that produce coherent light at one or more wavelengths for input to the proximal ends of illumination optical fibers 138, conveyed through interface and connector member 133.
  • light source 136 may also include any one or more of red, green, and blue light sources, an IR light source, and an ultraviolet light source.
  • the light source can be switchable from a continuous mode to a pulse mode, depending upon the application, or depending upon when the light sources are used, e.g., for imaging in one frame, rendering therapy in another frame, and for still other purposes in yet another frame of a sequence of frames. If light of a plurality of different wavelengths is produced by light source 136, a combiner may be employed to combine the different wavelengths, or the light of different wavelengths may be conveyed separately through different illumination optical fibers 138.
  • External control system also includes a controller 152, which may, for example, comprise one or more microprocessors, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a gate array, a logic device, or other form of computing device.
  • Controller 152 is employed to control scanner driver 150 by providing one or more appropriate drive signal(s) to achieve a desired scan pattern by driving scanner 142 at a resonant or near-resonant frequency.
  • Controller 152 may be coupled to a memory 154 in which machine language instructions are stored for controlling a central processing unit (CPU) or other computing device comprising controller 152 to carry out the functionality of the external control system, as disclosed herein.
  • CPU central processing unit
  • a display 146 is typically included to enable images of internal site 140 produced in response to the light received from the internal site by the scanner to be viewed by an operator.
  • an image storage device 148 can be provided for storing data corresponding to the image of the internal site derived from the light conveyed from scanner 142 for subsequent additional processing, display, or archival purposes.
  • a user interface 156 is provided to enable a user to enter control parameters, or carry out various desired functions with SFE probe 131, and for controlling the SFE probe as desired.
  • the user interface can include a keyboard, a keypad, a pointing device, or other appropriate mechanism for input of user control actions, selections, and values.
  • a power source 158 provides appropriate voltage and current levels to energize each of the electronic components included within external control 134.
  • controller 152 includes a spectral light/dispersed light separator 166 that is used for separating the spectral portion of the light received by the scanner from the diffuse portion. In response to the diffuse portion of the light, a signal is produced and input to an image processor 162. Signals produced in response to the spectral portion of the light are conveyed to a surface geometry processor 164.
  • Image data from image processor 162 are output from controller 152 and employed to drive display 146 to enable an operator to view images of the internal site.
  • surface geometry processor 164 can also transmit data to display 146, and part of this data can be dedicated to a geometrical data output 168.
  • geometry information can be superimposed on the conventional image of the internal site provided on display 146, or may be separated and shown on a different display, or at a different time than the image of the internal site.
  • image processor 162 can primarily use the dispersed portion of light reflected from the surface of the tissue at the internal site, the image processor can also use the spectral portion of the light.
  • surface geometry processor 164 can make some use of the dispersed light signals from spectral light/dispersed light separator 166.
  • spectral light/dispersed light separator 166, image processor 162, and service geometry processor 164 can comprise modules that include hardware and/or software. Machine language programming to carry out the functions such as the measurement of spectral light can be provided to controller 152 from a storage medium 170.
  • Storage medium 170 can comprise, for example, an optical disk, such as a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), or a digital versatile disk (DVD) that is read by a media drive 172.
  • Other alternatives for input of these program instructions and/or data include magnetic recording media, e.g., a floppy disk, or a removable hard disk, as well as a remote data source coupled to the controller via a network, a wireless connection, or the Internet.
  • FIGURE 8 A schematic representation illustrating the relationship between illumination light 180 incident on a tissue surface 182, a specular reflection 184, and diffuse reflections 188, is illustrated in FIGURE 8.
  • the angle of specular reflection 184 relative to a surface normal 186 is equal to the angle between illumination light 180 and the surface normal.
  • diffuse reflections 188 are distributed at various other angles relative to the surface normal.
  • FIGURE 10 schematically illustrates the geometrical relationship between the distal end of SFE probe 137 and tissue surface 182 in connection with illumination light 180 that is emitted from illumination optical fibers 138.
  • specular light 184 enters scanner 142 and is conveyed proximally through scanner optical fiber 144.
  • the distance d is really determined by controller 152 as a function of the scanner position relative to illumination light 180.
  • Spectral light/dispersed light separator 166 in controller 152 can include a threshold for separating the diffuse portion from the spectral portion.
  • Known image processing techniques can readily be used to identify a perimeter of the spectral portion of the light, an area, a cross-sectional size, a centroid, and the like.
  • FIGURE HA illustrates an image 200 that is produced when SFE probe 137 is employed to image a tissue surface that is normal to the axis of the SFE probe.
  • eight bright spots 202a define a spectral reflection pattern at the center of the image if the illumination optical fibers are symmetrically positioned about the scanning center of the scanner.
  • the specular reflection pattern can be problematic during image formation using SFE probe 137, because the high intensity of the spectral reflection relative to the diffuse reflected portion (on which the image is primarily based) tends to wash out or otherwise distort the desired image formation. Separation of the spectral portion, identification of the spectral pattern, filtering, and/or other image processing steps can be taken to reduce the effects of spectral reflection in the displayed image of the tissue surface.
  • the size of the spectral reflection pattern is determined at least in part by the magnitude of the scan provided by SFE probe 137 during imaging, which can be expressed as angular field of view (FOV), and by the distance between the scanner and tissue surface 182.
  • FOV angular field of view
  • the spectral reflection pattern will be larger when the scanner is closer to the surface and smaller as it is moved away from the surface, as will be evident by comparing the spectral reflection patterns comprising spots 202b and 202c in images 200 of FIGURES HB and HC, respectively, with the spectral reflection pattern in FIGURE HA.
  • the spectral reflection pattern size can be used to determine the distance between the distal end of the SFE probe and the tissue surface.
  • the tissue surface is assumed to be normal to the scan direction.
  • Certain parameters for SFE probe 137 are known. For example, r is the known distance between the center of the scanning optical fiber and illumination optical fibers 138; ⁇ max is the known maximum field of view of the scanner; and S IKa is the known number of scan spirals that form an image (assuming that a spiral scan pattern is used).
  • the distance d between the distal end of the probe and the tissue surface can be calculated by capturing the image and performing a binary threshold on the image data so that pixels in the image that receive specular reflections are assigned a binary value 0.
  • At least one connected image object corresponding to the distal end of the scanner should be identified in the connected image.
  • a pixel at the center of this connected object or to which it is closest is then determined, and remapping is used to determine a scan angle between the center of the image scan and the center or centroid of the connected object, S c .
  • the scan angle can be saved in a remapping lookup table for each pixel.
  • the distance from the distal end of the SFE probe to the tissue surface can be computed for each connected object and averaged to give a more accurate value.
  • the calculation becomes slightly more complex if the normal to the tissue surface is not aligned with the longitudinal axis of the SFE probe.
  • use of a plurality of illumination optical fibers readily enables the distance to be calculated relative to the central scanner.
  • FIGURE 1 ID An additional reason to measure the specular light reflection from tissue surface 182 is that at a fixed distance, d, the pattern of illumination can be monitored as that pattern is modified by non-resonant scanning.
  • image 200 of FIGURE 1 ID when the illumination beams are rotated with respect to the tissue orientation, the individual spots of FIGURES 1 IA-11C will create an annulus of illumination 204.
  • a corresponding illumination field 76 is also illustrated in FIGURE 3 when the entire SEE probe 60 is rotated with respect to the internal site.
  • FIGURE 1 IE when the illumination beams are directed inward toward the central optical axis concurrently with rotation with respect to the tissue, the individual spots of FIGURES 1 IA-11C will merge and create an area- filling pattern of illumination 206, following a spiral trajectory 208 over time.
  • the purpose of monitoring the varying non-resonant scan patterns of illumination is to provide therapeutic illumination over the entire area of interest with knowledge that no gaps of illumination have occurred.
  • HGURE 12 illustrates an exemplary SFE probe 220 that includes a scanning optical Moscow 222, which is driven to scan in a desired scan pattern at or near its resonant frequency, as indicated by its position in phantom view at reference numeral 222'.
  • a lens assembly 224 is provided at the distal end of SFE probe 220 and is employed for focusing the light being received by scanning optical fiber 222.
  • Two or more illumination optical fibers 226 are disposed peripherally around scanning optical fiber 222 and are used for conveying illumination light or therapy light to a desired internal site within the body of a patient (not shown).
  • illumination optical fibers 226 are fixed in position but may each include an optional rod lens 238 disposed at a distal end for more effectively focusing the light emitted from the illumination optical fiber.
  • Scanning optical fiber 222 is driven in a desired pattern by a piezoelectric tube actuator 230 relative to two orthogonal axes, in response to drive signals supplied to electrodes 232 and 234 through electrical leads 236, which extend proximally from SFE probe 220.
  • a single-axis (linear) scan pattern can, for example, be generated by applying voltage to one or to opposing electrodes 232 of piezoceramic tube actuator 230.
  • an oscillating periodic voltage e.g., a sine wave
  • an oscillating periodic voltage having a frequency at or near the mechanical resonant frequency of the base-excited scanning optical fiber cantilever
  • the amplitude of the tip motion can be mechanically amplified due to the mechanical resonance of the scanning optical fiber cantilever.
  • a second periodic voltage a cosine wave
  • electrodes 234 which are orthogonal to electrodes 232
  • the actuator causes the resonating fiber tip to move in an elliptical scanning pattern.
  • a signal useful for producing an image is generated by the optical fiber scanner shown in FIGURE 12 by directing the light from illumination optical fibers 226 onto a region at the internal site.
  • Light received from the region by the scanning optical fiber cantilever is focused using imaging lenses 224.
  • the imaging lenses focus and magnify a scanned portion of the internal site, by resonantly scanning the site with either a linear (one-dimensional), or with spiral or elliptical (two-dimensional) patterns.
  • a two-dimensional (2-D) space-filling scanning pattern is formed.
  • Illumination optical fibers 226 that surround the optical fiber scanner are used to provide the illumination light that is reflected from the tissue at the internal site for generating the 2-D image or for collecting light used to evaluate other parameters of the tissue.
  • illumination optical fibers 226 are large- core multimode optical fibers having a high-numerical aperture (NA), which provides excellent light delivering efficiency.
  • NA high-numerical aperture
  • new large-core, but singlemode photonic crystal optical fibers may be used to deliver 0.5 Watt or more of optical power.
  • optical fiber cantilever 222 which is used for scanned light collection or for imaging, can comprise, for example, a small diameter singlemode core as part of a multi-clad optical fiber that has a large NA multimode inner cladding, for added functionality.
  • the use of fixed illumination optical fibers will not be of any disadvantage, since there will be no need to modify the direction or focal point of the illumination optical fibers as they emit light directed toward the internal site.
  • it may be necessary to selectively modify the direction in which light is emitted from the illumination optical fibers for example, by changing the angular orientation of the illumination optical fibers, and in some cases, modifying the focal point of the illumination optical fibers.
  • optical properties of tissue can be measured by illuminating the tissue surface with a point source or a focused beam of light and then measuring the reflectance of the tissue as a function of wavelength and spatial distance from the point source.
  • the local tissue optical properties of transport scattering coefficient and absorption coefficients can be calculated.
  • Diffusion theory of light transport in tissue is the theoretical framework for modeling light-tissue interactions in the optical window of red to IR optical frequencies or in the 600 nm to 1300 nm wavelength range.
  • the optical properties of absorption and scattering coefficients within this optical window are useful for determining how much laser light is reaching different depths in the tissue and what fraction of this light is being absorbed, for laser therapies such as photodynamic therapy, laser heating, and laser ablation.
  • a point of illumination can be delivered using one or more optical fibers, while the spatial distribution of the diffuse reflectance can be detected using either a scanned optical fiber, as shown in FIGURE 1, or a mirror scan system, as shown in FIGURE 2.
  • Optical lens systems can be used between the illumination optical fiber and the tissue surface to focus the irradiating light to illuminate a smaller area on the tissue surface, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 6.
  • the illuminating light from each optical fiber can be focused on the tissue surface as individual point sources or the light can be combined into a single central point of illumination, as shown in FIGURE 8.
  • a single and central point of light illumination it may be desirable to employ scanned detection in a slowly expanding spiral or simply using a circular pattern at the desired radial distance from this central illumination point source, using a resonant fiber scanner or mirror scanner like those discussed above. Because the each scan cycle in a circular pattern is at a constant radial distance from the central point source, all light detected from this circular pattern can be averaged (to reduce noise in the measurement), producing an accurate determination of diffuse reflectance at this specific radial distance R(p). The radial distance (p) can be varied over a wide range by simply changing the scan angle of the resonant scanner.
  • the relative spatial distribution of light reflectance can be measured for a wide range of radial distances.
  • an absolute measure of reflectance from the single point source can be estimated by integrating these spatial measurements over this limited range of radii that were measured and then scaling this value to determine an estimated reflectance profile if all radii were to be measured, assuming homogenous and semi-infinite tissue properties.
  • R(p) can be measured using a resonant scan system after illumination by one or more optical fibers. Each optical fiber can be metered to quantitatively relate this incident illumination to the measured R(p).
  • a specific exemplary embodiment uses the illumination at a single and central point source, with R(p) detection employing a circular or spiral scan pattern that averages the detected diffuse reflectance R at a slowly varying distance (p) from the central point source.
  • the resonant scan detection system can provide a wide and variable range of measured R(p) by simply adjusting the drive signal to the scanner to make the scan grow larger or smaller.
  • the resonant fiber scanner has been demonstrated to provide more than twice the image resolution of standard coherent fiber bundle or a micro-camera chip for flexible endoscopy, as reported by EJ. Seibel, R.S. Johnston, and CD.
  • the R(p) measurement can be made at a number of locations on the tissue surface deep within the human body using a small and accurate resonant fiber scanning device that overcomes technical challenges that previously have made the local measurement of optical properties impractical.
  • FIGURE 13 illustrates the distal end of an SFE probe 240 that includes a first exemplary embodiment that enables illumination optical fibers 252 to be selectively moved (i.e., slowly and not at a resonant rate), so that the direction along which illumination light 256 is emitted from optional rod lenses 254 can be varied as desired.
  • SEE probe 240 has a housing 242 in which a scanning optical fiber 244 is driven to move at a resonant or near-resonant frequency and in a desired scanning pattern by a driver (not shown in this view).
  • Light 260 from an internal site 258 is received by scanning optical fiber 244 after the light has passed through a transparent cover 268 disposed at the distal end of the SFE probe, and then through lenses 250, 248, and 246.
  • the distal end of illumination optical fibers 252 (including rod lens 254 - if provided) is selectively moved radially inward relative to the longitudinal center of SEE probe 240 by inflating a balloon 264 with a fluid conveyed through one or more lumens 262 that extend from a pressurized source disposed adjacent to the proximal end of the SHE probe.
  • the pressurized fluid within balloon 264 inflates it so that it applies a force against the distal end of illumination optical fiber 252 directed radially inward.
  • the natural stiffness of the illumination optical fibers tends to resist the deflecting force applied by balloon 264 as it is inflated.
  • a spring e.g., a helical spring, or flat spring running along the longitudinal axis of the illumination optical fiber
  • other mechanism that exerts an outwardly directed force can be provided to bias the distal ends of the illumination optical fibers radially outwardly, so as to resist the force applied by the balloon.
  • a ring (or one or more tabs) 266 can serve as stops that preclude the radially- outward movement of the illumination optical fibers/rod lenses beyond a desired limit.
  • FIGURE 15A is a cut-away view of the distal end of an alternative SHE probe 270 showing illumination optical fibers 252 and rod lenses 254 disposed and angled radially inward at a position wherein a balloon 272 (disposed between the illumination optical fibers and the outer surface of a scanner lens housing 274) is generally deflated.
  • the illumination optical fiber and rod lenses are angled more radially outwardly in response to balloon 272 being selectively inflated with a pressurized fluid supplied from a source (not shown) disposed at the proximal end of the SFE probe.
  • FIGURES 15C and 15D are isometric views of SHE probe 270 respectively corresponding to FIGURES 15 A and 15B, showing an elastomeric cover 276.
  • FIGURE 14 illustrates a partial cut-away view of an exemplary SFE probe 280, which includes one or more illumination optical fibers 252 having an optional rod lens 254.
  • SFE probe 280 does not include a balloon for moving the one or more illumination optical fibers to a different angular orientation. Instead, it employs an electromechanical actuator or piezoelectric bimorph bender 284 that is held in place by a clamping screw/support 286 that extends proximally of a stop 288. Stop 288 prevents the radially outward motion of the illumination optical fiber(s) beyond a desired limit.
  • An electric lead 292 extends through a lumen 282 from a power source (not shown) that is disposed at a proximal end of the SHE probe.
  • the current in electrical lead 288 is extremely low and the voltage is relatively low; and one or both of these parameters can be selectively controlled to move the illumination optical fiber(s) with the electromechanical actuator or piezoelectric bimorph bender 284 to a desired angular orientation.
  • a low- friction and non-conductive tip 290 is provided at the end of the electromechanical actuator or piezoelectric bimorph bender where it contacts an illumination optical fiber.
  • a spring (not shown) longitudinally extending along the illumination optical fiber, or a helical spring (also not shown) extending radially and connected to housing 242 can optionally be employed to provide a radially outwardly directed biasing force opposing the radially inwardly directed force provided by electromechanical actuator or piezoelectric bimorph bender 284.
  • FIGURE 16 A partial cut-away view of the distal end of still another exemplary embodiment of an SEE probe 300 having means for moving the illumination optical fibers is illustrated in FIGURE 16.
  • SFE probe 300 includes a cable or wire 302 that is coupled around illumination optical fiber 252 (or around rod lens 254) via a loop 306 and which extends proximally through a lumen 304.
  • a stop 288 prevents the radially outward travel of the illumination optical fiber or rod lens beyond a desired limit.
  • a helical spring 308 is coupled to a nib 310 on the inside surface of housing 242 and is used for producing a biasing force directed radially inwardly against illumination optical fiber 252 (or rod lens 254).
  • the force applied to the illumination optical fiber or rod lens compresses helical spring 308 and moves the illumination optical fiber radially outwardly to change its angular orientation and the direction in which light emitted from the illumination optical fiber travels toward an internal site.
  • the helical spring moves the illumination optical fiber 252 and rod lens 254 radially inward.
  • FIGURE 17 The distal end of an exemplary SEE probe 320 designed to endoscopically measure scattering angles at a Fourier transform plane using one or more illumination optical fibers 324 is illustrated in FIGURE 17.
  • the distal end of each illumination optical fiber is provided with a rod lens 326 to provide an effective point source illumination.
  • a resonant scanning optical fiber 338 Also included within the SEE probe is a resonant scanning optical fiber 338.
  • SFE probe 320 is disposed in a housing 322 that supports a Fourier transform lens 330 having a focal length, /.
  • Light 328 conveyed through the illumination optical fibers can be collimated or semi-collimated by rod lenses 326 and is directed by Fourier transform lens 330 as light 332, to a localized region 334 on the internal site.
  • the rod lenses can be configured to adjust the location and degree of collimation of the illumination light effective point source.
  • Light 336 that is scattered from particles at region 334 enters Fourier transform lens 330, which produces semi- collimated light 337 that is collected by scanning optical fiber 338.
  • the signal produced by a detector (not shown in this Figure) that is coupled to the proximal end of the scanning optical fiber is used to determine the scattering angle of the collected light. This scattering angle is indicative of the relative size of the particles that caused the scattering.
  • Measurement of scattering angle can be very useful for diagnosing tissue condition at the internal site. For example, it is well known that cancer cells tend to have a substantially larger nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio (nuclear diameter divided by cell diameter) than normal cells. Accordingly, measuring the normalized scattering of light from the internal site enables a sharper peak to be identified for the larger cancer cell nuclei, compared to that of normal cell nuclei. [0078] The technique that can be employed for determining scattering angle is well known to those of ordinary skill in this art and further details need not be provided in this disclosure.
  • an exemplary technique is disclosed in an article entitled, "Fourier-Domain Angle-Resolved Low Coherence Interferometry through an Endoscopic Fiber Bundle for Light-Scattering Spectroscopy," by John W. Pyhtila, Jeffrey D. Boyer, Kevin J. Chalut, and Adam Wax, OPTICS LETTERS, Vol. 31, No. 6, March 15, 2006, and in an article entitled, "Determining Nuclear Morphology Using an Improved Angle-Resolved Low Coherence Interferometry System,” by John W. Pyhtila, Robert N. Graf, and Adam Wax, OPTICS EXPRESS 3473, Vol. 11, No. 25, December 15, 2003.
  • the conventional approach disclosed in these two articles uses an optical fiber bundle and a bare stationary singlemode optical fiber disposed behind a ball-lens objective and does not have the ability to image with the SFE.
  • the articles note the ability to select depth of light scattering within tissue using coherence effects, while it is contemplated that instead, standard polarization filtering could be used for this purpose.
  • the present approach employs scanned light to measure and map tissue optical properties, which is more efficient.
  • An exemplary range of scattering angles for cell components such as the nuclei of cells that can be measured with the system shown in FIGURE 17 is from about 5° to about 30°.
  • the minimum scattering angle is limited by the focal length of the Fourier transform lens, which in this exemplary embodiment, is about 3 mm, while the maximum scattering angle is limited by the radius of the spiral scanning pattern, r, which is produced by scanning optical fiber 338, and is about 1 mm for a maximum scattering angle of 30°.
  • the scanning optical fiber will, in one exemplary embodiment, comprise a dual clad, singlemode optical fiber to ensure that the collection efficiency is increased for sampling scattering at various angles, while enabling high resolution imaging of the internal site. For example, in sequential frames, the scattering angle can be measured, and the internal site then imaged using the scanning optical fiber.
  • a collimating micro-lens e.g., a ball lens
  • the scanning optical fiber can more effectively be used for imaging the internal site
  • one or more additional optical fibers e.g., an optical fiber not being used to provide illumination light
  • FIGURE 18 Yet another alternative embodiment for both imaging the internal site and capturing different scattering angles for particles at the internal site is shown in FIGURE 18, which is discussed below.
  • illumination optical fibers By using a plurality of illumination optical fibers, it is possible to employ illumination light at two or more substantially different wavelengths, to enable different penetration depths in tissue at the internal site and to change the relative scattering angle for tissue structures at the different depths. Also, using a plurality of illumination optical fibers 324 can facilitate providing illumination light having different optical polarizations and may reduce noise from laser or other light source speckle. To differentiate light scattering from the tissue surface regions (e.g., epithelial layer) and not from deeper regions of the tissue, polarization filtering can be used. To implement this technique of filtering out multiply-scattered photons from single-scattered photons or only a few-scattered photons, linearly polarized illumination light can be used.
  • illumination fibers 324 can be polarization-preserving optical fibers.
  • a wire-grid polarization filter can optionally be placed at the distal tip of the probe 339 with characteristics that match the polarization of the illumination and will then attenuate any polarization shifts due to multiple scattering events.
  • illumination optical fibers 342 convey light from one or more different light sources through rod lenses 344, which at least partially collimate the light and direct it at the internal site as light 348.
  • a piezoelectric tube actuator 350 is mounted to a sliding collar 354 that includes an annular groove 358, which limits a longitudinal movement of the piezoelectric tube actuator and scanning optical fiber 352 to a total distance equal to ⁇ z, which corresponds to the distance between the image plane and the transform plane.
  • Illumination optical fibers 342 include a stop 356, which engages groove 358.
  • a similar sliding arrangement could be employed to move the illuminating delivery system and objective lens system, which includes lenses 360 and 362, in one exemplary embodiment.
  • the distal end of scanning optical fiber 352 is positioned on the transform plane, while when imaging the internal site, the piezoelectric tube actuator and scanning optical fiber are moved longitudinally, so that the distal end of the scanning optical fiber is disposed on the image plane.
  • a similar movement over a distance ⁇ z could instead be applied to the objective lens system to position it so as to change the distal end of the scanning optical fiber to be at either the transform plane or the image plane, depending upon whether a scattering angle is being determined, or the object plane at the internal site is being imaged.
  • An exemplary SFE probe 364, illustrated in FIGURE 19, is configured both for high resolution imaging and higher reflectance light collection, which is useful in measuring and/or mapping local diffuse reflection from a tissue surface at an internal site.
  • a first illumination optical fiber 368a conveys illumination light 372a through an optional rod lens 370a, so that the light is focused on an internal site.
  • a second illumination optical fiber 368b conveys illumination light 372b through a rod lens 370b, which focuses the light on the internal site.
  • Light 374a and light 374b corresponding respectively to illumination light 372a and 372b, is reflected from the internal site into lenses 376a, 376b, and 376c, which are disposed adjacent a transparent window 377 and focus the reflected light into the distal end of a scanning optical fiber 378.
  • scanning optical fiber 378 is a dual clad, singlemode core optical fiber.
  • the singlemode core conveys the reflected light to a detector that is disposed at a proximal end of the scanning optical fiber.
  • Optional spatial filtering may be employed in a confocal geometry of illumination and collection through the same singlemode dual clad optical fiber core to selectively collect light from a desired axial depth.
  • the inner multimode cladding layer of the scanning optical fiber which has a substantially great numerical aperture (NA) than the singlemode core, can be employed for higher reflectance light collection (i.e., for collecting more light reflected from the internal site), which can be useful in detecting certain characteristics of the collected light, and thus, evaluating the condition of the tissue from where the light is collected.
  • illumination optical fiber 368a might convey either monochrome light or red, green, and blue light to illuminate the internal site for imaging or for other purposes
  • illumination optical fiber 368b might convey polarized light or light of specific wavelength intended for diagnostic purposes.
  • the scanning optical fiber can then sequentially image the internal site with the singlemode core, and then collect the light used for diagnostic or other purposes using the inner cladding layer.
  • the sequence of imaging and collecting light can alternate frame-by-frame, or can be carried out in some other desired sequence.
  • an SEE probe can include other optical fibers besides the one or more illumination optical fibers and a scanning optical fiber.
  • FIGURE 20 illustrates the distal end face of an exemplary SEE probe 380 that includes a housing 382 with a first illumination optical fiber 384, a second illumination optical fiber 386, six multimode optical fibers 388 (identified individually as "A” - “F'), and six multimode optical fibers 390 (identified individually as "G" - “L”), grouped around a central scanning aperture, behind which is disposed the scanning optical fiber (not specifically shown in this Figure).
  • polarization filtering may be employed.
  • cross- polarization filtering can be used.
  • the illumination fibers would be polarization preserving optical fibers of a specific orientation.
  • the polarization filter used in HGURE 19 would be disposed centrally, filtering photons striking the resonant scanned optical fiber only, and the polarization filter will be orthogonal or cross axis with respect to the illumination polarization axis.
  • One or more of the plurality of multimode optical fibers 388 and 390 can be employed for high-resolution SFE imaging (collecting red, green, and blue backscatter from illumination from the singlemode core of dual clad scanning optical fiber 378), or can be used for conveying additional illumination light, or for delivery of optical therapy, or for light collection useful for diagnostic and other purposes. From this example, it will be evident that many other combinations of one or more illumination optical fibers, a scanning optical fiber and one or more other multimode optical fibers can be provided on almost any of the SFE probes discussed herein, to achieve the benefits of using a scanning device (e.g., a scanning optical fiber or scanning mirror) with one or more separate fixed or non- resonantly movable illumination optical fiber(s).
  • a scanning device e.g., a scanning optical fiber or scanning mirror
  • FIGURE 21 illustrates how two or more illumination optical fibers that are coupled to two or more illumination light sources having different characteristics can be employed to achieve differing results when the light from an internal site 394 is received by a scanning optical fiber in an SFE probe like those discussed above.
  • an axial view i.e., perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the SFE probe, which is not shown
  • An illumination light spot 396 is produced on internal site 394 by one or more illumination optical fibers of the SFE probe, using a first illumination light source.
  • an illumination light spot 398 is produced by one or more other illumination optical fibers on the SFE probe.
  • the circle shown in this Figure represents the FOV of the scanning optical fiber.
  • light spots 396 and 398 can be within or proximal to the light collection area represented by this FOV, and that there can be only one light spot or more than two light spots. Further, the plural light spots can each have different characteristics, or can have the same characteristics, or combinations of lights spots can have different characteristics than other combinations of light spots.
  • the illumination light sources used to produce the different illumination light spots can, for example, produce illumination light of different wavelengths, polarization, coherence, or modulation characteristics.
  • the two vectors shown within the FOV in FIGURE 21 illustrate that the light used to produce light spot 396 has different characteristics than that used to produce light spot 398.
  • the two light spots shown at the periphery of the imaging field can be brought together at a single point within the field, ideally to form a central point source illumination.
  • the diffuse reflectance R(p) from the tissue surface can be measured using a resonant spiral or slowly varying circular scan pattern, which enables highly accurate measurement of local optical properties of the illuminated tissue.
  • FIGURE 22 illustrates a system 450 that shows how the signals produced by an SFE probe that is inside a patient's body are processed with external instrumentation, and how signals used for controlling the SFE probe system to vary the scanning parameter(s) in scanning frames are input to the SFE probe that is positioned inside the patient's body.
  • system 450 is thus divided into the components that remain external to the patient's body, and those which are used internally (i.e., the components on the SFE probe within a dash line 452 - some of which are optional).
  • a block 454 lists the functional components disposed at the distal end of the SFE system.
  • these exemplary components can include illumination optics, one or more electromechanical scan actuator(s) that can drive the scanning optical fiber or scanning mirror, one or more illumination optical fiber actuator(s), optional photon detectors for imaging the internal site, and optionally, additional photon detectors or multimode optical fibers for diagnostic purposes and for therapy and/or monitoring purposes.
  • the photon collectors for imaging can be discrete sensors mounted on the SFE probe, or may be separate multimode optical fibers, such as those shown in FIGURE 20, discussed above. It should be noted that in regard to system 450, only the functional components actually required for a specific application of the SFE system may be included. Also, additional functions besides imaging can be diagnostic, or therapy, or any combination thereof.
  • the illumination optics and scanner(s) are supplied light from imaging sources and modulators, as shown in a block 456. Further details concerning several preferred embodiments of external light source systems 458 for producing RGB, UV, IR, and high-intensity light conveyed to the distal end of an optical fiber system will be evident to a person of ordinary skill in this art. Scanner sensors (optional) can be used to produce a signal that is fed back to control the scanner actuators, illumination source, and modulators, to implement scanning control after signal processing in a block 460.
  • Block 460 image signal filtering, buffering, scan conversion, amplification, and other processing functions are implemented using the electronic signals produced by the imaging photon detectors and any other photon detectors employed for diagnosis/therapy, and monitoring purposes.
  • Blocks 456, 458, and 460 are interconnected bi-directionally to convey signals that facilitate the functions performed by each respective block.
  • each of these blocks is bi-directionally coupled in communication with a block 462 in which analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) converters are provided for processing signals that are supplied to a computer workstation user interface or other computing device, which can be employed for image acquisition, processing, for executing related programs, and for other functions.
  • A/D analog-to-digital
  • D/A digital-to-analog
  • Control signals from the computer workstation are fed back to block 462 and converted into analog signals, where appropriate, for controlling or effecting each of the functions provided in blocks 456, 458, and 460.
  • the A/D converters and D/A converters within block 462 are also coupled bi-directionally to a block 464 in which data storage is provided, and to a block 466.
  • Block 466 represents a user interface for maneuvering, positioning, and stabilizing the SFE probe within a patient's body.
  • Block 464 the data storage is used for storing the image data produced by the detectors within a patient's body, and for storing other data related to the imaging and functions implemented by the SFE probe.
  • Block 464 is also coupled bi-directionally to a computer workstation 468 and to interactive display monitor(s) in a block 470.
  • Block 470 receives an input from block 460, enabling images of the internal site to be displayed interactively.
  • one or more passive video display monitors may be included within the system, as indicated in a block 472.
  • Other types of display devices 474 for example, a head-mounted display (HMD) system, can also be provided, enabling medical personnel to view the internal site as a pseudo-stereo image.
  • HMD head-mounted display

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
  • Endoscopes (AREA)
  • Laser Surgery Devices (AREA)
  • Radiation-Therapy Devices (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de fibroscope à balayage apte à fonctionner de façon sélective dans une pluralité de différents modes. Une ou plusieurs fibres optiques d'éclairage transportent différents types de lumière à un site interne. Un scanner entraîné de façon résonante dans un motif désiré collecte de la lumière à partir du site interne. Le scanner peut être une extrémité distale en porte-à-faux d'une fibre optique de balayage ou d'un miroir de balayage. La ou les fibres optiques d'éclairage peuvent être déplacées de façon non résonante pour modifier la direction dans laquelle la lumière est émise. En mode thérapie, une lumière à puissance relativement élevée peut être appliquée au site, tandis qu'en mode de surveillance, le scanner peut être utilisé pour former une image du tissu au niveau du site interne après ou pendant la thérapie. À titre d'exemple, des sondes SFE sont décrites pour mesurer l'angle de diffusion (qui peut détecter un plus grand rapport des cellules cancéreuses nucléaires à cytoplasmiques), la profondeur d'absorption, la distance axiale au tissu et d'autres conditions au niveau du site interne.
PCT/US2006/032545 2006-08-21 2006-08-21 Fibroscope optique avec à la fois éclairage non résonant et collecte/imagerie résonante pour de multiples modes de fonctionnement WO2008024101A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2009525530A JP2010501246A (ja) 2006-08-21 2006-08-21 多モード動作のための非共振的照明及び共振的集光／画像化機能を有する光ファイバスコープ
EP06801970A EP2059838A4 (fr) 2006-08-21 2006-08-21 Fibroscope optique avec a la fois eclairage non resonant et collecte/imagerie resonante pour de multiples modes de fonctionnement
PCT/US2006/032545 WO2008024101A1 (fr) 2006-08-21 2006-08-21 Fibroscope optique avec à la fois éclairage non résonant et collecte/imagerie résonante pour de multiples modes de fonctionnement

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2006/032545 WO2008024101A1 (fr) 2006-08-21 2006-08-21 Fibroscope optique avec à la fois éclairage non résonant et collecte/imagerie résonante pour de multiples modes de fonctionnement

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008024101A1 true WO2008024101A1 (fr) 2008-02-28

Family

ID=39107078

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2006/032545 WO2008024101A1 (fr) 2006-08-21 2006-08-21 Fibroscope optique avec à la fois éclairage non résonant et collecte/imagerie résonante pour de multiples modes de fonctionnement

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2059838A4 (fr)
JP (1) JP2010501246A (fr)
WO (1) WO2008024101A1 (fr)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2011133457A (ja) * 2009-07-09 2011-07-07 Ube Kagaku Bunseki Center:Kk 毒性試験法
WO2012014145A1 (fr) * 2010-07-26 2012-02-02 Lumenis Ltd. Estimation de distance entre une extrémité de fibre et un tissu utilisant une modulation d'ouverture numérique
EP2480285A1 (fr) * 2009-09-24 2012-08-01 Biolitec Pharma Marketing Ltd Systèmes à fibres optiques torsadées et leur utilisation dans des applications médicales
EP2759252A4 (fr) * 2012-09-13 2015-08-19 Olympus Medical Systems Corp Système endoscopique
CN105848561A (zh) * 2013-12-23 2016-08-10 诺华股份有限公司 前向扫描光学探头以及相关联的装置、系统和方法
US10529138B2 (en) 2013-11-27 2020-01-07 Magic Leap, Inc. Virtual and augmented reality systems and methods
US10765296B2 (en) 2015-07-07 2020-09-08 Olympus Corporation Scanning endoscope system
WO2021144801A1 (fr) * 2020-01-16 2021-07-22 Lumenis Ltd Procédé et système d'estimation de distance entre une extrémité de fibre et une cible
WO2022026625A1 (fr) * 2020-07-28 2022-02-03 460Medical, Inc. Systèmes et méthodes de formation et d'évaluation de lésion
WO2022112977A1 (fr) * 2020-11-25 2022-06-02 Lumenis Ltd Procédé et système d'estimation de distance entre une extrémité de fibre et une cible

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013090658A1 (fr) 2011-12-14 2013-06-20 The Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania Surveillance d'oxygénation et de flux par fibre optique à l'aide d'une corrélation diffuse et d'un coefficient de réflexion
KR101385978B1 (ko) * 2012-08-09 2014-04-16 한국전기연구원 광학 진단 및 광 치료를 위한 복합 광원 장치
KR101437540B1 (ko) 2014-03-31 2014-09-05 (주)라메디텍 멀티 기능의 의료용 레이저 조사 장치
WO2016116962A1 (fr) * 2015-01-21 2016-07-28 オリンパス株式会社 Procédé et dispositif de balayage optique
WO2016116963A1 (fr) * 2015-01-21 2016-07-28 オリンパス株式会社 Procédé et dispositif de balayage optique
JP6570852B2 (ja) * 2015-03-20 2019-09-04 株式会社東芝 生体成分推定装置、生体成分推定方法、およびプログラム
JP2019203796A (ja) 2018-05-23 2019-11-28 株式会社東芝 光学検査装置及び光学検査方法

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6563105B2 (en) * 1999-06-08 2003-05-13 University Of Washington Image acquisition with depth enhancement

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6545260B1 (en) * 1999-11-19 2003-04-08 Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. Light scanning optical device which acquires a high resolution two-dimensional image without employing a charge-coupled device
US6975898B2 (en) * 2000-06-19 2005-12-13 University Of Washington Medical imaging, diagnosis, and therapy using a scanning single optical fiber system
US7555333B2 (en) * 2000-06-19 2009-06-30 University Of Washington Integrated optical scanning image acquisition and display

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6563105B2 (en) * 1999-06-08 2003-05-13 University Of Washington Image acquisition with depth enhancement

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2011133457A (ja) * 2009-07-09 2011-07-07 Ube Kagaku Bunseki Center:Kk 毒性試験法
EP2480285A1 (fr) * 2009-09-24 2012-08-01 Biolitec Pharma Marketing Ltd Systèmes à fibres optiques torsadées et leur utilisation dans des applications médicales
CN102740928A (zh) * 2009-09-24 2012-10-17 拜欧利泰克医药销售公司 绞扭器纤维光学系统及其在医学应用中的用途
JP2013505771A (ja) * 2009-09-24 2013-02-21 バイオリテック ファーマ マーケティング リミテッド ツイスターファイバー光学システムおよび医療用途におけるその使用
EP2480285A4 (fr) * 2009-09-24 2013-08-14 Biolitec Pharma Marketing Ltd Systèmes à fibres optiques torsadées et leur utilisation dans des applications médicales
AU2010298670B2 (en) * 2009-09-24 2014-09-04 Biolitec Unternehmensbeteiligungs Ii Ag Twister fiber optic systems and their use in medical applications
WO2012014145A1 (fr) * 2010-07-26 2012-02-02 Lumenis Ltd. Estimation de distance entre une extrémité de fibre et un tissu utilisant une modulation d'ouverture numérique
US9017316B2 (en) 2010-07-26 2015-04-28 Lumenis Ltd. Distance estimation between a fiber end and a tissue using numerical aperture modulation
EP2759252A4 (fr) * 2012-09-13 2015-08-19 Olympus Medical Systems Corp Système endoscopique
US10935806B2 (en) 2013-11-27 2021-03-02 Magic Leap, Inc. Virtual and augmented reality systems and methods
US10529138B2 (en) 2013-11-27 2020-01-07 Magic Leap, Inc. Virtual and augmented reality systems and methods
US10629004B2 (en) 2013-11-27 2020-04-21 Magic Leap, Inc. Virtual and augmented reality systems and methods
US10643392B2 (en) 2013-11-27 2020-05-05 Magic Leap, Inc. Virtual and augmented reality systems and methods
US11237403B2 (en) 2013-11-27 2022-02-01 Magic Leap, Inc. Virtual and augmented reality systems and methods
US11714291B2 (en) 2013-11-27 2023-08-01 Magic Leap, Inc. Virtual and augmented reality systems and methods
EP3086704A4 (fr) * 2013-12-23 2017-09-27 Novartis AG Sondes optiques de balayage vers l'avant et dispositifs, systèmes et procédés associés
CN105848561A (zh) * 2013-12-23 2016-08-10 诺华股份有限公司 前向扫描光学探头以及相关联的装置、系统和方法
US10765296B2 (en) 2015-07-07 2020-09-08 Olympus Corporation Scanning endoscope system
WO2021144801A1 (fr) * 2020-01-16 2021-07-22 Lumenis Ltd Procédé et système d'estimation de distance entre une extrémité de fibre et une cible
AU2021207767B2 (en) * 2020-01-16 2023-11-16 Lumenis Ltd Method and system for estimating distance between a fiber end and a target
WO2022026625A1 (fr) * 2020-07-28 2022-02-03 460Medical, Inc. Systèmes et méthodes de formation et d'évaluation de lésion
WO2022112977A1 (fr) * 2020-11-25 2022-06-02 Lumenis Ltd Procédé et système d'estimation de distance entre une extrémité de fibre et une cible

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2010501246A (ja) 2010-01-21
EP2059838A4 (fr) 2009-12-30
EP2059838A1 (fr) 2009-05-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20080058629A1 (en) Optical fiber scope with both non-resonant illumination and resonant collection/imaging for multiple modes of operation
WO2008024101A1 (fr) Fibroscope optique avec à la fois éclairage non résonant et collecte/imagerie résonante pour de multiples modes de fonctionnement
US6975898B2 (en) Medical imaging, diagnosis, and therapy using a scanning single optical fiber system
US8537203B2 (en) Scanning beam with variable sequential framing using interrupted scanning resonance
Lee et al. Scanning fiber endoscopy with highly flexible, 1 mm catheterscopes for wide‐field, full‐color imaging
US9561078B2 (en) Multi-cladding optical fiber scanner
US11330969B2 (en) Optical endoluminal far-field microscopic imaging catheter
JP3869589B2 (ja) ファイババンドル及び内視鏡装置
US9615748B2 (en) Endoscopic biopsy apparatus, system and method
Oh et al. Optical fibers for high-resolution in vivo microendoscopic fluorescence imaging
US20080221388A1 (en) Side viewing optical fiber endoscope
JP2001046321A (ja) 内視鏡装置
US20110282192A1 (en) Multimodal depth-resolving endoscope
US8911357B2 (en) Optical structure observation apparatus and structure information processing method of the same
EP2120719A1 (fr) Latéroscope à fibre optique
JP2001051225A (ja) ポリゴンミラー，走査光学系，及び内視鏡装置
CN110353609A (zh) 一种具备三维成像能力的光场3d共聚焦内窥镜
WO2023088100A1 (fr) Appareil d'imagerie multimodale basé sur un spectre raman et une tomographie par cohérence optique
KR102125226B1 (ko) 광섬유 프로브 및 이를 포함하는 내시경 장치
CN116763239A (zh) 宽谱荧光内窥镜装置
JP2010210501A (ja) 光立体構造像装置
Duan MEMS-Based Endomicroscopes for High Resolution in vivo Imaging

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2009525530

Country of ref document: JP

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2006801970

Country of ref document: EP

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: RU