Autofluorescence detection and imaging of bladder cancer realized through a cystoscope

Abstract

Near infrared imaging using elastic light scattering and tissue autofluorescence and utilizing interior examination techniques and equipment are explored for medical applications. The approach involves imaging using cross-polarized elastic light scattering and / or tissue autofluorescence in the Near Infra-Red (NIR) coupled with image processing and inter-image operations to differentiate human tissue components.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 400,024, filed Mar. 25, 2003, entitled “Autofluorescence Detection and Imaging of Bladder Cancer Realized Through a Cystoscope,” which is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 10 / 190,231 filed Jul. 5, 2002, and claims priority thereto.[0002] The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. W-7405-ENG-48 between the United States Department of Energy and the University of California for the operation of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention relates to a medical diagnostic for the examination of tissue components. Specifically, the present invention relates to an optical imaging method and apparatus for in-vivo and real-time imaging of bladder cancer and determination of tumor margins. [0005] 2. Description of Related Art [0006] Diagnostic medical equipment typical...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] Accordingly, the present invention provides a diagnostic apparatus that includes: at least one electromagnetic radiation source, an arranged interior examination device adapted to transmit the radiation source and further adapted to relay a near-infrared scattered and / or an autofluorescence emission radiation, and a detector adapted to capture the scattered and / or near-infrared emission radiation produced by the radiation sources and optically coupled to the interior examination device so that characterization of the one or more tissue components is capable of being performed.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention provides a diagnostic apparatus that includes: at least two substantially narrow-band electromagnetic radiation wavelength sources for simultaneous illumination of one or more tissue components, an arranged interior examination device adapted to transmit the wavelength sources for illumination of the tissue components and further adapted to relay a near-infrared scattered radiation of the illuminated tissue components; and a detector adapted to simultaneously capture one or more images produced by the near-infrared scattered radiation from the tissue components so that characterization of the one or more tissue components is capable of being performed.

[0013] Accordingly, the present tissue imaging system and method provides a portable, cost effective, non-invasive arrangement, capable of directing substantially monochromatic electromagnetic radiation and capable of providing spectrally processed images in the much desired need for differentiating components in human and / or animal tissues.

Problems solved by technology

Diagnostic medical equipment typically includes time-consuming, bulky, expensive apparatus that often exposes human tissue components to potentially harmful radiation and or chemicals.

The disadvantage of these wavelengths is their short photon penetration depth in tissues, which leads to extraction of information only from superficial tissue layers.

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