Apparatus and method for providing information for at least one structure

Abstract

A spectrally encoded endoscopic probe having high resolution and small diameter comprising at least one flexible optical fiber; an energy source; a grating through which said energy is transmitted such that the energy spectrum is dispersed; a lens for focusing the dispersed energy spectrum onto a sample such that the impingement spot for each wavelength is a separate position on the sample, the wavelength spectrum defining a wavelength encoded axis; means for mechanically scanning the sample with focused energy in a direction perpendicular to the wavelength encoded axis; a means for receiving energy reflected from the sample; and, a means for detecting the received reflected energy. The probe grating and lens delivers a beam of multi-spectral light having spectral components extending in one dimension across a target region and which is moved to scan in another direction. The reflected spectrum is measured to provide two dimensional imaging of the region.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] Clinical use of endoscopic devices and probes has permitted physicians to view and diagnose target bodies, such as tumors, deposits, tears, thrombi, and the like. Unfortunately, there are still a number of disadvantages and limitations of using conventionally available endoscopes. The diameter of currently available probes limits their use to certain procedures and locations that can accommodate the large diameter of the endoscope. Consequently, many procedures currently done surgically could be done endoscopically, if a small enough probe was available with a sufficient number of resolvable points. [0002] Current endoscopic procedures generally require administration of anesthesia and surgical training for insertion. Certain procedures cannot currently be done endoscopically because of the diameter of existing probes. Probe size is proportional to the likelihood of tissue damage occurring during the procedure. Another problem associated with curre...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a miniature imaging probe or endoscope that can obtain real-time images with up to or higher than 100 times the number of resolvable points than a fiber-optic imaging bundle of the same diameter. It can be used in various medical and non-medical applications, such as fetoscopy, pediatric endoscopy, coronary angioscopy, mini-laparoscopy, mammary ductoscopy, lacrimal ductoscopy, small joint visualization, and other applications. It has several advantages, such as being a combination of resolution and size, having a high number of resolvable elements, being used in smaller spaces, being simpler and less likely of defects, providing depth information, having higher sensitivity and signal to noise ratio images, reducing tissue damage and adverse consequences, and allowing for diagnosis and treatment in a single procedure. It also has no fill factor problem and no "dead" pixels.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, there are still a number of disadvantages and limitations of using conventionally available endoscopes.

The diameter of currently available probes limits their use to certain procedures and locations that can accommodate the large diameter of the endoscope.

Certain procedures cannot currently be done endoscopically because of the diameter of existing probes.

Another problem associated with current probes is the occurrence of adverse reactions, such as in fetoscopy, where the risk to the fetus is high.

Neural imaging carries with it the possibility of brain damage.

Spinal canal and brain ventricular imaging have complications of spinal fluid leakage and headaches which are more frequent and severe with larger diameter probes.

Catheterization of the pancreatic duct is also problematic due to the probe size and resultant complications which include acute pancreatitis.

Also, the size of the incision necessary to insert current probes results in longer healing time and more prominent scarring.

Currently, the clinical use of small diameter endoscopes is limited by poor resolution.

Since optical fibers are of finite diameter, only a limited number of fibers can be incorporated into one imaging bundle, resulting in a limited number of resolvable elements.

In addition, the fill factor is about 85% resulting dead space from the cladding material and causing the image to have a pixelated or “honeycomb” appearance.

These two technical problems have severely limited the clinical use of currently available sub-millimeter diameter imaging probes.

A further disadvantage of fiber bundles is that crosstalk occurs, reducing the signal to noise level.

Also with current fiber optic endoscopes, coupling illumination light into the fiber optic imaging bundle is difficult.

Another disadvantage of optical fiber bundles is that individual fibers may be broken or have defects at their faces, resulting in “dead” pixels.

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