Integrated microtomography and optical imaging systems

Inventors

Stearns, Daniel G. • Nilson, David G. • Rice, Bradley W.

Assignees

Caliper Life Sciences Inc

Abstract

An integrated microtomography and optical imaging system includes a rotating table that supports an imaging object, an optical stage, and separate optical and microtomography imaging systems. The table rotates the imaging object about a vertical axis running therethrough to a plurality of different rotational positions during a combined microtomography and optical imaging process. The optical stage can be a trans-illumination, epi-illumination or bioluminescent stage. The optical imaging system includes a camera positioned vertically above the imaging object. The microtomography system includes an x-ray source positioned horizontally with respect to the imaging object. Optical and x-ray images are both obtained while the imaging object remains in place on the rotating table. The stage and table are included within an imaging chamber, and all components are included within a portable cabinet. Multiple imaging objects can be imaged simultaneously, and side mirrors can provide side views of the object to the overhead camera.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to an integrated microtomography and optical imaging system in which an imaging object is supported on a rotating table and remains on the rotating table while images are obtained. The rotating table rotates the imaging object about a first axis running through the imaging object to a plurality of different rotational positions, and optical image information is obtained along one or more optical paths that are substantially parallel to the first axis.

At each rotational position, microtomographic image information is obtained along one or more radiation paths that are substantially orthogonal to the first axis while the imaging object is on the rotating table. The optical image information corresponds to at least one of fluorescence emission from the imaging object and bioluminescence emission from the imaging object, and an electronic processor is connected to the optical imaging apparatus and the microtomography imaging apparatus and configured to combine the optical image information and the tomographic image information.

The combined information is used to obtain a representation of a three-dimensional distribution of light-emitting sources within the imaging object. Optical and microtomography data are obtained in the same chamber and processed by combining volumetric microtomography with optical data via a diffuse tomography algorithm, including generating a 3D representation of the light-emitting sources and generating tissue/anatomical maps and heterogeneous tissue property maps for the reconstruction.

Claims Coverage

The document includes two independent claims, one system claim and one method claim. Both claims focus on an integrated rotation-based acquisition geometry that collects optical image information along paths substantially parallel to the rotation axis and microtomographic image information along paths substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis, and combines both to obtain a three-dimensional distribution representation of light-emitting sources.

Across the independent system and method claims, the core inventive coverage is the same: rotate the imaging object about an axis through the object, acquire optical image information along optical paths substantially parallel to that axis, acquire microtomographic image information along radiation paths substantially orthogonal to that axis, and combine the resulting information to obtain a representation of a three-dimensional distribution of light-emitting sources.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications