Classifications

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  • A61B5/0071—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence by measuring fluorescence emission
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  • A61B5/0082—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence adapted for particular medical purposes
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  • A61B5/441—Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
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  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
  • G01N21/25—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
  • G01N21/27—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands using photo-electric detection ; circuits for computing concentration
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
  • G01N21/63—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
  • G01N21/64—Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
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  • A61B2562/0233—Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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  • A61B2562/04—Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
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  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
  • G01N21/63—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
  • G01N21/64—Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
  • G01N21/6408—Fluorescence; Phosphorescence with measurement of decay time, time resolved fluorescence

Definitions

• the clinician's fingertips are the current gold standard for intraoperative margin assessment, which is subjective to each individual's touch.
• Other existing methods include: (a) time-consuming frozen sections that generally require a team of personnel; and (b) conventional ultrasound, CT, or MRI, which lack sensitivity and contrast.
• HNSCC head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• An aspect of the present disclosure is an imaging system
• the imaging system and method use a technique herein referred to as time-resolved autofluorescence, which pumps a sample with a short excitation pulse and measures the lifetime of fluorescence (intensity of the emission as it decays from bright to dark) to generate contrast.
• a false color map, or like illustrative tool, may be generated corresponding to the measured lifetime.
• FIG. 1A shows a plot of raw values for normalized intensity over time.
• FIG. 1 B shows a plot of measured lifetimes.
• FIG. 1 C shows an exemplary lifetime map.
• FIG. 1 D shows normalized intensity across an array of pixels within the map of FIG. 1 C.
• FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating the various components of an exemplary DOCI system according to the present technology.
• FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the camera, lens and LED array of the system of FIG. 2.
• FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a UV diode in accordance with the present description.
• FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram of an algorithmic method for imaging a sample using the system of the present description.
• FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the LED array and corresponding dispersion of illumination via non-sequential ray tracing.
• FIG. 7 shows an exemplary plot of target irradiation from an
• FIG. 8A is a plot of a simulated impulse response from an
• FIG. 8B is a plot of simulated fluorophore emissions.
• FIG. 8C is a plot of simulated detected emissions with noise and an offset being introduced.
• FIG. 8D is a simulation plot of the ratio of the calibration and decay image (calibrated by an offset due to dark current, ⁇ ) and its value as a function of decay image gate width.
• FIG. 9A shows an exemplary output fluorescence corresponding to the scalp tissue sample image of FIG. 9B.
• FIG. 10A shows an exemplary output fluorescence corresponding to the tongue tissue sample image of FIG. 10B.
• FIG. 1 1 shows a plot of computed relative lifetime as a function of wavelength for tumor, muscle, fat and collagen, demonstrating stark differences between each tissue type.
• FIG. 12 is a plot illustrating statistical significance at various parameters
• FIG. 13 is an in vivo image of patient mouth tissue.
• FIG. 14 is an ex vivo H&E image of a portion of the region in FIG. 13.
• FIG. 15A is a close-up, reconstituted RGB image of the tongue
• FIG. 15B through FIG. 15E show in vivo DOCI images at 407nm, 434 nm, 465nm and 494 nm, respectively, of the field of view of the reconstituted image of FIG. 15A.
• FIG. 16A shows a close-up portion of the reconstituted RGB image of FIG. 15A.
• FIG. 16B through FIG. 16E show ex vivo images at 407nm, 434 nm, 465nm and 494 nm, respectively, having the same field of view of the image of 16A.
• FIG. 17A shows a visible image of parathyroid tissue.
• FIG. 17B shows a DOCI image of the tissue of FIG. 17A.
• FIG. 17C shows a histology image of the tissue of FIG. 17A.
• FIG. 18A is an image a subject's mouth having a lip with precancerous cell physiology.
• FIG. 18B is an image of a second subject's mouth having an
• FIG. 18C is the image of FIG. 18A overlaid with a DOCI image of the subject's lip.
• FIG. 18D is the image of FIG. 18B overlaid with a DOCI image of the subject's lip.
• the systems and methods of the present description implements naturally occurring differences in fluorophore lifetime between cell groupings having different physiological processes are used to generate contrast, and unique algorithms are applied to relax technical requirements.
• tissue autofluorescence naturally occurring fluorophores are used to create contrast (e.g. black light imaging).
• the target is illuminated with a short pulse of light and the intensity of the emission as it decays from bright to dark is measured. How long an area "glows" is determinant of what type of tissue was illuminated. For example, cancerous tissues are generally associated with fast decay, and noncancerous tissues are associated with slow decay.
• margin detection between cell groupings having different physiologic processes, or differing tissues for example but not limited to margins between any of pre-cancerous, pre-malignant, cancerous (e.g. oral and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)) and non-cancerous or benign (e.g. inflammatory) tissues or cell groupings.
• OSCC head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• FIG. 1 A through FIG. 1 D illustrate an exemplary process for
• fluorescence is measured as a function of time. Fluorescence typically decays over a period of picoseconds to nanoseconds after an excitation pulse. The rate of decay (i.e. "lifetime") of fluorescence at each point in the image is plotted as a distribution of fluorescence 'lifetime' values.
• FIG. 1A shows an exemplary plot of raw intensity values are first obtained, as shown in.
• FIG. 1 B shows an exemplary plot of measured lifetimes.
• a lifetime map is then generated as shown in FIG. 1 C.
• FIG. 1 D shows normalized intensity across an array of pixels within the map of FIG. 1 C.
• lifetime fluorescence has improved robustness to clutter, maximum contrast generation, and is ideal for in vivo imaging.
• FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating the various components
• the DOCI system 10 comprises an imaging lens 24, and an array 26 of UV diodes (LED's) 28 disposed at the front of the lens 24.
• the array 26 of UV diodes 28 is configured to illuminate sample 30 via a signal generated by pulse generator 12 and diode driver 14.
• Pulse generator 12 is also coupled to gated camera 20 via a delay line 16.
• Camera 20 preferably comprises a cooled iCCD 18, and UV laser line filters 22 disposed between the iCCD 18 and lens 24 (filters 22 may be disposed anywhere within the optical path).
• the LED array 26 and camera 20 output are coupled to a computer 40 (or like computing device) comprising a processor 42, application software 46, and memory 44 storing application software 46 for execution on processor 42.
• Application software 46 comprises instructions for operating the components of the system (e.g. pulse generator 12, LED array 26, diode driver 14, etc.) and processing the data acquired from iCCD 18 (e.g.
• Filters 22 may comprise a filter wheel configured to restrict light
• iCCD 18 receives a certain wavelength or range of wavelengths from a given time. For example, a first image may be obtained with only red light, with second and third images being restricted to only blue and green light. These images may be displayed
• filters 22 comprises a filter wheel comprising 10 filters to restrict light centered at the following emission bands: 407 nm, 434 nm, 465 nm, 494nm, 520 nm, 542 nm, 572 nm, 605 nm, 632 nm, and 676 nm. It is appreciated that the above bands are for illustrative purposes only, and other variations are contemplated.
• the UV diode array 26 illuminates at a
• the light-emitting diode illumination circuit (diode driver 14) operates at a center wavelength of 370 nm, an average optical power of approximately 4.5 ⁇ /, and a pulse width of 30 ns.
• the low average power and the long wavelength ensures that proteins, DNA, and other molecules are not adversely affected by imaging.
• FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the camera 20, lens 24 and LED array 26.
• the LED array 26 is aligned with the front of lens 24 such that the individual LEDs 28 are aligned circumferentially around the lens 24.
• Frame 32 holds the individual LEDs 28 in proper alignment and allows for coupling of the array 26 to the lens 24.
• FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a UV diode 28 in accordance with the present description.
• Each UV diode 28 comprises a housing 30 configured to house a UV LED 36 and spherical lens 38 configure to shape the transmitted light for focused dispersion across the entire field of view, or significant portion thereof.
• FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram of an algorithmic method 50 for imaging a sample 30 using the system 10 of the present description.
• Method 50 applies a unique image frame normalization scheme to produce pixel values that are proportional to the aggregate fluorophore of the probed tissue, without the requirement of fitting complex mathematical models to acquired data. This relaxes the requirements on the temporal profile of the illumination pulse and enables the replacement of picosecond pulsed lasers (that are generally necessary for FLIM) with nanosecond pulsed light emitting diodes (LEDs). Illumination is performed via UV a light source 26 (e.g.
• an emission image acquired at > 10 ns following initial illumination, can be considered as an accurate representation of steady state tissue autofluorescence.
• an image is captured mid- UV pulse duration at a calibration acquisition period T c to generate image 58, hereinafter referred to as "FOV calibration image.”
• FOV calibration image a second image 56 is captured, hereinafter referred to as "FOV decay image.”
• dashed line 52 represents the LED intensity during on/off stages
• solid line 54 shows the acquired fluorescence intensity (for each individual pixel).
• the FOV decay image 56 is then is then normalized (pixel wise by the calibration image) by dividing the FOV decay image 56 by the FOV calibration image 58 to generate the FOV relative lifetime map 60.
• images may be acquired at numerous wavelengths (e.g. via filter 22 may comprise a filter wheel or like device that allows for selection from among a number of different wavelength ranges allowing certain wavelengths to be received by camera 20).
• resulting pixel values are proportional to the aggregate fluorophore decay time of the illuminated area.
• These pixel values represent relative tissue lifetimes and are referred to as DOCI pixel values.
• DOCI relies on the fact that the longer lifetime fluorophores generate more signal than shorter lifetime fluorophores when referenced to their steady state fluorescence. It is also appreciated that additional images (e.g. background image or the like) may be obtained to further process and generate the relative lifetime map 60.
• the relative lifetime map 60 may be displayed as a false color map, or as any visual representation of quantitative relative lifetime pixel values in lines, shapes, colors, or auditory cues to the operator.
• FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the present LED array 26 illustrating non-sequential ray tracing via illumination beams 62a through 62f from individual LEDs 28 to focus and multiply the excitation light from each LED across the FOV.
• the pattern of the nonsequential ray tracing is shaped and Illumination distribution and intensity adjustments that are varied according to selection of LED bulb 36 and lens 38 (FIG. 4).
• FIG. 7 shows an exemplary plot of target irradiation resulting from an exemplary LED array 26 and resulting ray tracing illumination pattern.
• B. DOCI Principles of Operation
• an illumination pulse is modeled as an ideal rectangular pulse convolved with the impulse response of a single pole low pass filter to model the band limit of the illumination pulse FIG .8A.
• a single time constant exponential impulse response is described in Eq. 1 :
• Fluorophore specific lifetimes can therefore be modeled with Eq. 1
• the fluorescence emission of the UV pumped fluorophores is written as the convolution of the diode illumination and fluorescence decay times according to Eq. 3:
• FIG. 8B A graphical representation of these convolution integrals is shown in FIG. 8B where the individual traces are the fluorescence emissions of fluorophores 1 and 2, respectively.
• a calibration measurement is acquired just before the illumination pulse begins to decay with a gate width of Ti . This process, illustrated in FIG. 8C, is described in Eq. 4:
• Ci,2 ⁇ -L° T A li2 y li2 t + n t dt Eq. 4 1 ⁇
• P 1 2 Eq. 6 is the ratio of the calibration image and decay image (calibrated by an offset due to dark current, ⁇ ) and its value as a function of decay image gate width, and is illustrated in FIG. 8D, where increasing the gate length increases the difference signal computed between the two fluorophores and both signals converge (ideally) to the sum of the illumination and
• DOCI fluorophore lifetime into contrast by computing the area under the decay time curve normalized to the steady state fluorescence. In the limit of stationary noise, this process is robust to variations in obscurants and can produce significant contrast under low SNR.
• the computational technique is simple; lifetimes are not calculated, therefore curve fitting is not required.
• relaxed lifetime calculations allow for longer pulse duration intervals and fall times (> 1 ns); thus, cheap LEDs driven by electronic pulses may be used instead of expensive lasers.
• the difference in signal between the emission decay of two fluorophores is positively correlated with gate time. In other words, the longer the gate is open during the decay image, the larger the difference signal.
• the signal to noise ratio (SNR) significantly increases due to increased signal and decreased measurement noise arising from the integrative properties of the detector. This is in stark contrast to FLIM where gates need to be short to accurately sample the decay time. Rather, for the DOCI process, contrast is enhanced when the gate width is increased as it increases the overall number of collected photons while reducing noise variance.
• the simplicity and intrinsic sensitivity of the technology enables rapid imaging of large FOVs practical for clinical imaging.
• FIG. 9A shows an exemplary output fluorescence corresponding to the scalp tissue sample image of FIG. 9B. Dashed region 1 corresponds to tumor tissue, whereas dashed region 2 corresponds to muscle tissue.
• FIG. 10A shows an exemplary output fluorescence corresponding to the tongue tissue sample image of FIG. 10B. Dashed region 1 corresponds to tumor tissue, whereas dashed region 2 corresponds to muscle tissue.
• FIG. 1 1 shows a plot of computed relative lifetime as a function of wavelength for tumor, muscle, fat and collagen. The results demonstrate that DOCI lifetime mapping produced statistically significant differences in contrast between all four tissue types under investigation (tumor, fat, muscle, and collagen) across most emission wavelengths. A decrease in fluorescence lifetime was observed in malignant tissue and is consistent with short lifetimes reported for biochemical markers of tumors.
• FIG. 12 is a plot illustrating statistical significance at various parameters
• Biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma neoplasms were obtained from the following head and neck sites and sub-sites: auricle, parotid, scalp, oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and neck. All specimens were imaged with the DOCI system 10 (FIG. 2) prior to resection. Following tumor ablation, specimens were immediately sectioned into multiple fresh samples containing tumor and contiguous normal tissue of suspect lesions and submitted for histological assessment. Areas of neoplasm were then confirmed by a pathologist, blinded to the DOCI image results, and relative lifetime values were computed independent of pathologic diagnosis.
• DOCI and visible images of a tongue OSCC are displayed in FIG. 13 through FIG. 16E.
• a DOCI image color map transforms blue to the global minimum relative decay lifetime and red to the maximum relative decay lifetime.
• a reduced DOCI pixel value indicates a more rapid decay of fluorescence signal, indicating an overall shorter lifetime. While the DOCI images depicted variably in FIG. 15B through FIG. 18E are provided in grey scale, it is appreciated that the lighter aspects in the DOCI images corresponds to the minimum relative decay lifetime (blue), and darker aspects in the DOCI images corresponds to the maximum relative decay lifetime (red).
• FIG. 13 is an in vivo image of a patient mouth tissue
• FIG. 14 shows an ex vivo H&E image of a portion of the region in FIG. 13.
• FIG. 15A shows a close-up, reconstituted RGB image of the tongue tissue of FIG. 13.
• FIG. 15B through FIG. 15E show in vivo DOCI images at 407nm, 434 nm, 465nm and 494 nm, respectively, of the field of view of the reconstituted image of FIG. 15A.
• FIG. 16A shows a close-up portion of the reconstituted RGB image of FIG. 15A.
• FIG. 16B through FIG. 16E show ex vivo DOCI images of the tongue image portion of FIG. 16A at 407nm, 434 nm, 465nm and 494 nm, respectively, having the same field of view of the image of 16A.
• application software 46 may be configured to output a reconstituted RGB image (FIG. 15A) simultaneous with (e.g. side-by-side as individual panels for display) one or more DOCI images at one or more wavelengths (e.g. FIG. 15B through FIG. 15E).
• a first (non-DOCI) image may be obtained with only red light (e.g. via selection of appropriate filter on filter wheel 22 (FIG. 2)), with second and third images being restricted to only blue and green light (the iCCD 18 generally comprises one bin for data acquisition (as opposed to a multiple-bin RGB detector)).
• These images may be combined or fused to generate a reconstituted RGB image (FIG.
• the in vivo DOCI images demonstrated a stark contrast between OSCC tissue and the surrounding normal tissue. Areas of OSCC were characterized by reduced relative lifetime compared to the lifetime of surrounding normal tissue.
• DOCI system and methods were also investigated for real-time, in vivo use for parathyroid localization.
• Ex vivo DOCI data in parathyroid tissue demonstrates potential for making this technology a reliable in vivo technique to produce a "relative decay map" of tissues, depicting an intraoperative color atlas that correspond to parathyroid gland location.
• ROIs regions of interest
• FIG. 17A through FIG. 17C show one example of parathyroid tissue sampled from the ex vivo trial, demonstrating DOCI contrast across the entire FOV.
• parathyroid tissue displayed decreased relative lifetimes when compared to fat across all the filters utilized. Contrast between tissue types and cell groupings having different physiologic processes (e.g. parathyroid vs thyroid cell groupings) was evident across all the emission wavelengths.
• the basis of tissue contrast in the DOCI parathyroid images is likely due to the presence of hormone- specific proteins, amino acids, and extra-cellular calcium-sensing receptors within the densely populated parathyroid gland chief cells.
• This ex vivo DOCI data demonstrates efficacy for applying the technology of the present description a reliable in vivo technique to produce a "relative decay map" of parathyroid tissues, depicting an intra-operative color atlas that
• acitinic cheilitis/erythroplakia pre-cancerous lesion
• inflammation in the lip e.g. from sunburn or like benign condition
• Images were obtained depicting a visible image (FIG. 18A) with a DOCI overlay of the precancerous lesion on the lip (FIG 18C), compared with a visible image (18B) with DOCI overlay of inflammation of the lip (FIG. 18D).
• Embodiments of the present technology may be described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations of methods and systems according to embodiments of the technology, and/or procedures, algorithms, steps, operations, formulae, or other computational depictions, which may also be implemented as computer program products.
• each block or step of a flowchart, and combinations of blocks (and/or steps) in a flowchart, as well as any procedure, algorithm, step, operation, formula, or computational depiction can be implemented by various means, such as hardware, firmware, and/or software including one or more computer program instructions embodied in computer-readable program code.
• any such computer program instructions may be executed by one or more computer processors, including without limitation a general-purpose computer or special purpose computer, or other programmable processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the computer program instructions which execute on the computer processor(s) or other programmable processing apparatus create means for
• blocks of the flowcharts, and procedures, algorithms, steps, operations, formulae, or computational depictions described herein support combinations of means for performing the specified function(s), combinations of steps for performing the specified function(s), and computer program instructions, such as embodied in computer-readable program code logic means, for performing the specified function(s).
• each block of the flowchart illustrations, as well as any procedures, algorithms, steps, operations, formulae, or computational depictions and combinations thereof described herein can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems which perform the specified function(s) or step(s), or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer-readable program code.
• embodied in computer-readable program code may also be stored in one or more computer-readable memory or memory devices that can direct a computer processor or other programmable processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory or memory devices produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the block(s) of the flowchart(s).
• the computer program instructions may also be executed by a computer processor or other programmable processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer processor or other programmable processing apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer processor or other programmable processing apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the block(s) of the flowchart(s), procedure (s) algorithm(s), step(s), operation(s), formula(e), or computational
• program executable refer to one or more instructions that can be executed by one or more computer processors to perform one or more functions as described herein.
• the instructions can be embodied in software, in firmware, or in a combination of software and firmware.
• the instructions can be stored local to the device in non-transitory media, or can be stored remotely such as on a server, or all or a portion of the instructions can be stored locally and remotely. Instructions stored remotely can be downloaded (pushed) to the device by user initiation, or automatically based on one or more factors.
• processors, hardware processor, computer processor, central processing unit (CPU), and computer are used synonymously to denote a device capable of executing the instructions and communicating with input/output interfaces and/or peripheral devices, and that the terms processor, hardware processor, computer processor, CPU, and computer are intended to encompass single or multiple devices, single core and multicore devices, and variations thereof.
• An apparatus for boundary detection within a target anatomy comprising: (a) a processor; and (b) a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor; (c) wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor, perform steps comprising: (i) illuminating the target anatomy with an excitation pulse of light to excite fluorophores corresponding to the first tissue and second tissue; (ii) acquiring a calibration image of the target anatomy during the excitation pulse, the calibration image comprising fluorescence values from emissions of the excited fluorophores; (iii) acquiring a decay image of the target anatomy subsequent to the excitation pulse, the decay image comprising decayed fluorescence values as the emissions decay from bright to dark; (iv) dividing the decay image by the calibration image to generate a relative lifetime map of the target anatomy; and (v) using values in the relative lifetime map, identifying a boundary between a first group of cells having a first physiologic process and a second group of cells having a second
• identifying a boundary comprises identifying a transition between cells of different aggregate type or metabolic profile.
• identifying a boundary comprises identifying a transition between pre-cancerous cells and benign cells.
• identifying a boundary comprises identifying a transition between cancerous cells and non-cancerous cells.
• the calibration image and decay image comprise an array of pixels across a field of view (FOV) of the target anatomy; and wherein the pixels in the array of pixels comprise
• fluorescence lifetime values that are acquired simultaneously across the FOV for both the calibration image and the decay image.
• said instructions when executed by the processor, perform steps comprising: generating a reconstituted RGB image of the target anatomy; and displaying the reconstituted image simultaneously with the relative lifetime map of the target anatomy.
• the reconstituted RGB image is generated by acquiring separate images of the target anatomy by limiting acquisition of each image to only red, blue and green wavelengths within successive image captures, and then combining separate red, blue and green image captures to form the reconstituted RGB image.
• the relative lifetime map comprises a false color map of normalized fluorescence lifetime intensity across the array of pixels within the relative lifetime map.
• the relative lifetime map comprises pixel values that are proportional to an aggregate fluorophore decay time of the FOV.
• the FOV comprises a macroscopic FOV of the target anatomy.
• the excitation pulse comprises a pulse duration of approximately 30 ns.
• 12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: (d) an imaging lens; (e) an array of LEDs disposed at the front of the lens; (f) wherein the array of LEDs is configured to illuminate target anatomy with the excitation pulse of light for a specified duration, wherein the array of LEDs focuses and multiplies illumination of the target anatomy across a FOV of the imaging lens; and (g) a detector coupled to the imaging lens, the detector configured to acquire intensity data of the fluorescence emissions.
• each of the LEDs in the array of LEDs comprises an aspherical lens to focus the excitation pulse of light across the FOV.
• a system for boundary detection within a target anatomy comprising: (a) an imaging lens; (b) an array of LEDs disposed at or near the imaging lens; (c) a detector coupled to the imaging lens, the detector configured to acquire intensity data of fluorescence emissions from the target anatomy; (d) a processor coupled to the detector; and (e) a non- transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor; (f) wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor, perform steps comprising: (i) operating the array of LEDs to illuminate the target anatomy with an excitation pulse of light to excite fluorophores corresponding to the first tissue and second tissue; (ii) acquiring a calibration image of the target anatomy during the excitation pulse, the calibration image comprising fluorescence values from emissions of the excited fluorophores; (iii) acquiring a decay image of the target anatomy subsequent to the excitation pulse, the decay image comprising decayed fluorescence values as the emissions decay from bright to dark; (iv) dividing the decay image by
• identifying a boundary comprises identifying a transition between cells of different aggregate type or metabolic profile.
• identifying a boundary comprises identifying a transition between pre-cancerous cells and benign cells.
• identifying a boundary comprises identifying a transition between cancerous cells and non-cancerous cells.
• the calibration image and decay image comprise an array of pixels across a field of view (FOV) of the target anatomy; and wherein the pixels in the array of pixels comprise
• fluorescence lifetime values that are acquired simultaneously across the FOV for both the calibration image and the decay image.
• said instructions when executed by the processor, perform steps comprising: generating a reconstituted RGB image of the target anatomy; and displaying the reconstituted image simultaneously with the relative lifetime map of the target anatomy; wherein the a reconstituted RGB image and relative lifetime map are acquired using the same detector.
• the reconstituted RGB image is generated by acquiring separate images of the target anatomy by limiting acquisition of each image to only red, blue and green wavelengths within successive image captures on said detector, and then combining separate red, blue and green image captures to form the reconstituted RGB image.
• the relative lifetime map comprises a false color map of normalized fluorescence lifetime intensity across the array of pixels within the relative lifetime map.
• the relative lifetime map comprises pixel values that are proportional to an aggregate fluorophore decay time of the FOV.
• the FOV comprises a macroscopic FOV of the target anatomy.
• the excitation pulse comprises a pulse duration of approximately 30 ns.
• the array of LEDs comprises a circumferential array encircling the imaging lens so as to is illuminate target anatomy with the excitation pulse of light for a specified duration, wherein the array of LEDs focuses and multiplies illumination of the target anatomy across a FOV of the imaging lens.
• each of the LEDs in the array of LEDs comprises an aspherical lens to focus the excitation pulse of light across the FOV.
• a method for boundary detection within a target anatomy comprising: (a) illuminating the target anatomy with an excitation pulse of light to excite fluorophores corresponding to the first tissue and second tissue; (b) acquiring a calibration image of the target anatomy during the excitation pulse, the calibration image comprising fluorescence lifetime values from emissions of the excited fluorophores; (d) acquiring a decay image of the target anatomy subsequent to the excitation pulse, the decay image comprising decayed fluorescence lifetime values as the emissions decay from bright to dark; (e) dividing the decay image by the calibration image to generate a relative lifetime map of the target anatomy; and (f) using the relative lifetime map, identifying a boundary between a first group of cells having a first physiologic process and a second group of cells having a second physiologic process; (g) wherein said method is performed by a processor executing instructions stored on a non-transitory medium.
• identifying a boundary comprises identifying a transition between cells of different aggregate type or metabolic profile.
• identifying a boundary comprises identifying a transition between pre-cancerous cells and benign cells.
• identifying a boundary comprises identifying a transition between cancerous cells and non-cancerous cells.
• anatomy comprising:(a) a processor; and (b) a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor; (c) wherein said
• instructions when executed by the processor, perform steps comprising:(i) illuminating the target anatomy with a short pulse of light; (ii) measuring an intensity of a fluorescence emission from the target anatomy as the emission decays from bright to dark; and (iii) determining if a region within the target anatomy is cancerous or non-cancerous as a function of the fluorescence decay lifetime of the emission.
• a non-transitory medium storing instructions executable by a processor, said instructions when executed by the processor performing steps comprising: illuminating the target anatomy with a short pulse of light; measuring an intensity of a fluorescence emission from the target anatomy as the emission decays from bright to dark; and determining if a region within the target anatomy is cancerous or non-cancerous as a function of the fluorescence decay lifetime of the emission.
• a method for detecting cancerous cells within a target anatomy comprising: (a) illuminating the target anatomy with a short pulse of light; (b) measuring an intensity of a fluorescence emission from the target anatomy as the emission decays from bright to dark; and (c) determining if a region within the target anatomy is cancerous or noncancerous as a function of the fluorescence decay lifetime of the emission; (d) wherein said method is performed by a processor executing instructions stored on a non-transitory medium.
• set refers to a collection of one or more objects.
• a set of objects can include a single object or multiple objects.
• the terms “substantially” and “about” are used to describe and account for small variations.
• the terms can refer to instances in which the event or circumstance occurs precisely as well as instances in which the event or circumstance occurs to a close approximation.
• the terms can refer to a range of variation of less than or equal to ⁇ 10% of that numerical value, such as less than or equal to ⁇ 5%, less than or equal to ⁇ 4%, less than or equal to ⁇ 3%, less than or equal to ⁇ 2%, less than or equal to ⁇ 1 %, less than or equal to ⁇ 0.5%, less than or equal to ⁇ 0.1 %, or less than or equal to ⁇ 0.05%.
• substantially aligned can refer to a range of angular variation of less than or equal to ⁇ 10°, such as less than or equal to ⁇ 5°, less than or equal to ⁇ 4°, less than or equal to ⁇ 3°, less than or equal to ⁇ 2°, less than or equal to ⁇ 1 °, less than or equal to ⁇ 0.5°, less than or equal to ⁇ 0.1 °, or less than or equal to ⁇ 0.05°.
• range format is used for convenience and brevity and should be understood flexibly to include numerical values explicitly specified as limits of a range, but also to include all individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly specified.
• a ratio in the range of about 1 to about 200 should be understood to include the explicitly recited limits of about 1 and about 200, but also to include individual ratios such as about 2, about 3, and about 4, and sub-ranges such as about 10 to about 50, about 20 to about 100, and so forth.

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