Systems and methods for medical imaging
Inventors
Tully, Stephen • Oberlin, John • DeMaio, Emanuel • O'Shea, Liam • Buharin, Vasiliy E. • Calef, Thomas
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12292564-B2
Publication Date
2025-05-06
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 provides a system for illuminating a target region of a subject’s body using a plurality of illumination sources and a movable plate comprising a plurality of cut-outs. A first cut-out is aligned with a first illumination source and a second cut-out is aligned with a second illumination source, enabling optical illumination corresponding to either a first imaging modality, a second imaging modality, or both.
The disclosed invention relates to an endoscopy-compatible medical imaging system that illuminates a target region using an optical adapter with a housing, an image sensor, and an optics assembly, including a dichroic/beam splitter arrangement that separates light into first and second spectral portions. Light from a scope assembly is spectrally separated so that different spectral portions are directed to an image sensor and camera for imaging, and the adapter is configured to perform dye-free visualization while also supporting conventional RGB imaging.
The movable plate is configured to move so as to control an exposure of the first illumination source and the second illumination source through the plurality of cut-outs, producing illumination that is synchronized with imaging. The document also describes illumination corresponding to different imaging modalities being aggregated using optical coupling and light aggregation modules, including bifurcated fiber bundles, and synchronization with a predetermined frame capture rate using a movable optical chopper/plate with cut-outs.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims are a system claim and a method claim. Across these independent claims, the document specifies a multi-source illumination arrangement with a movable plate having aligned cut-outs, where plate movement controls exposure and outputs optical illumination corresponding to one or both imaging modalities.
Movable plate with aligned cut-outs for modality-selective illumination
A plurality of illumination sources and a movable plate comprising a plurality of cut-outs, wherein a first cut-out is aligned with the first illumination source and a second cut-out is aligned with the second illumination source, enabling a first imaging modality with the first illumination source and a second imaging modality with the second illumination source.
Exposure control via movable plate motion through cut-outs
The movable plate is configured to move to control an exposure of the first illumination source and the second illumination source through the plurality of cut-outs and output optical illumination corresponding to either the first imaging modality, the second imaging modality, or both.
Optical adapter with spectral separation
An optical adapter with a housing, an image sensor, and an optics assembly including a dichroic/beam splitter arrangement that separates light into first and second spectral portions for imaging.
Illuminating method using movable plate aligned cut-outs
A method comprising providing a plurality of illumination sources, directing the plurality of illumination sources towards a movable plate comprising a plurality of cut-outs with a first cut-out aligned with the first illumination source and a second cut-out aligned with the second illumination source, and performing a first imaging modality with the first illumination source and a second imaging modality with the second illumination source.
The claim coverage centers on using a movable plate with cut-outs aligned to different illumination sources so that different imaging modalities are performed, while moving the plate to control exposure through the cut-outs and provide optical illumination corresponding to one or both modalities.
Stated Advantages
Enables dye-free visualization alongside conventional RGB imaging.
Supports real-time perfusion visualization.
Provides hardware agnosticism.
Allows overlay of multi-modal images.
Documented Applications
Endoscopy-compatible medical imaging that performs dye-free visualization in addition to conventional RGB imaging.
Multi-modal imaging using combined white light and coherent laser light, with optional ICG excitation, including generation of overlaid multi-modal images.
Interested in licensing this patent?