Systems and methods for medical imaging
Inventors
Tully, Stephen • Oberlin, John • DeMaio, Emanuel • O'Shea, Liam • Buharin, Vasiliy • Calef, Thomas
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11389051-B2
Publication Date
2022-07-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for medical imaging. The system may comprise an optical adapter. The optical adapter may comprise a housing that comprises (1) a first end configured to releasably couple to a scope and (2) a second end configured to releasably couple to a camera. The optical adapter may comprise an image sensor coupled to the housing. The optical adapter may comprise an optics assembly disposed in the housing. The optics assembly may be configured to (1) receive light signals that are reflected from a target site within a subject's body and transmitted through the scope, and (2) reflect a first portion of the light signals onto the image sensor while permitting a second portion of the light signals to pass through to the camera.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an optical adapter-based medical imaging system that releasably couples a scope and a camera to an optical adapter housing. An image sensor is coupled to or integrated with the housing and is configured to detect light signals having wavelengths greater than a predefined wavelength for laser speckle imaging of a target site, while a camera is separately coupled to or integrated with the housing and is configured to detect light signals having wavelengths less than the predefined wavelength for visible light imaging of the target site.
The system receives a reflected light beam from the target site via the scope, where the beam comprises a first set of light signals with at least one wavelength greater than the predefined wavelength and a second set of light signals with at least one wavelength less than the predefined wavelength. One or more optical elements disposed within the housing reflect the first set of light signals onto the image sensor and transmit the second set of light signals to the camera, thereby routing laser speckle information to the image sensor while passing visible-light information to the camera.
Based on the first set of light signals and the second set of light signals, the system generates real-time visualization of one or more features of the target site. The disclosure further indicates real-time visualization using laser speckle related features and visible/photographic/video information, including overlaying speckle contrast on standard RGB, and additional real-time visualization using hyperspectral data to identify or visualize tissue and visualize perfusion. Fluorescence imaging data can also be used to generate an additional real-time visualization together with at least one of the first or second sets of light signals.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim is directed to a multi-wavelength imaging method with a releasable optical adapter that separates wavelength-defined light components for concurrent or combined laser speckle and visible-light visualization. The independent claim includes five core inventive elements, with dependent claims refining optical components and broadening real-time visualization outputs such as hyperspectral tissue identification, perfusion visualization, fluorescence-based visualization, and specific wavelength or optical element configurations.
Wavelength threshold optical adapter for dual-sensor imaging
An optical adapter comprising a housing and one or more optical elements disposed within the housing, and an image sensor coupled to or integrated with the housing, wherein the image sensor is configured to detect light signals having wavelengths greater than a predefined wavelength to enable laser speckle imaging.
Releasable scope-to-adapter and camera-to-adapter coupling
Releasably coupling a scope and a camera individually to the optical adapter, wherein the camera is configured to detect light signals having wavelengths less than the predefined wavelength to enable visible light imaging, and wherein the camera and the image sensor are independently coupled to or integrated with the housing.
Two wavelength sets in the reflected light beam from the target site
Receiving a light beam reflected from the target site via the scope, wherein the light beam comprises a first set of light signals comprising at least one wavelength greater than the predefined wavelength and a second set of light signals comprising at least one wavelength less than the predefined wavelength.
Optical element routing of first and second light signals
Reflecting the first set of light signals onto the image sensor and transmitting the second set of light signals to the camera using the one or more optical elements in the optical adapter.
Real-time visualization of features from both signal sets
Generating a real-time visualization of one or more features of the target site based on the first set of light signals and the second set of light signals.
Overall, the independent claim is centered on a predefined wavelength threshold within a housing-based optical adapter to enable laser speckle imaging on an image sensor for wavelengths greater than the threshold while enabling visible light imaging on a camera for wavelengths less than the threshold, receiving reflected light that contains both wavelength sets, using optical elements to route the wavelength-defined sets to the respective sensors, and generating real-time visualization based on both sets.
Stated Advantages
Provides real-time visualization of one or more features of the target site based on laser speckle related light signals and visible light related light signals.
Enables multi-modal visualization, including visualization of speckle contrast together with visible/photographic/video information.
Supports dye-free imaging for real-time perfusion without injection/time delays, as stated in the provided disclosure context.
Provides hardware flexibility and reuse/disposable sensor options, as stated in the provided disclosure context.
Documented Applications
Imaging a target site of a subject's body with concurrent or combined laser speckle imaging and visible light imaging.
Real-time visualization of features including tissue identification and visualization of perfusion using hyperspectral data, as described in dependent refinement context.
Generating additional real-time visualization using fluorescence imaging data together with at least one of the first or second sets of light signals, as described in dependent refinement context.
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