Method and system for characterization and mapping of tissue lesions

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for the in vivo, non-invasive, early detection of alterations and mapping of the grade of these alterations, caused in the biochemical and/or in the functional characteristics of epithelial tissues during the development of tissue atypias, dysplasias, neoplasias and cancers. The method is based, at least in part, on the simultaneous measurement of the spatial, temporal and spectral alterations in the characteristics of the light that is re-emitted from the tissue under examination, as a result of a combined tissue excitation with light and special chemical agents. The topical or systematic administration of these agents result in an evanescent contrast enhancement between normal and abnormal areas of tissue. The apparatus enables the capturing of temporally successive imaging in one or more spectral bands simultaneously. Based on the measured data, the characteristic curves that express the agent-tissue interaction kinetics, as well as numerical parameters derived from these data, are determined in any spatial point of the examined area. Mapping and characterization of the lesion, are based on these parameters.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for monitoring the effects of a pathology differentiating agent on a tissue sample, comprising: 
 applying a pathology differentiating agent on a tissue sample and monitoring the rate of change of light reflection from said tissue sample over time, thereby monitoring the effects of a pathology differentiating agent on a tissue sample.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pathology differentiating agent is acetic acid.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tissue sample is a cervical tissue sample.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tissue sample is an esophagus tissue sample.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tissue sample is an ear tissue sample.  
     
     
         6 . A method for the in vivo diagnosis of a tissue abnormality in a subject, comprising 
 contacting a tissue in a subject with a pathology differentiating agent;    exposing said tissue in said subject to optical radiation; and    monitoring the intensity of light emitted from said tissue over time, thereby diagnosing a tissue abnormality in a subject.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said optical irradiation is broad band optical radiation.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said optical irradiation is polarized optical radiation.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said tissue abnormality is selected from the group consisting of a tissue atypia, a tissue dysplasia, a tissue neoplasia and cancer.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said tissue abnormality is a high grade neoplasia.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said tissue abnormality is a cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said pathology differentiating agent is acetic acid.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said tissue is a cervical tissue.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said tissue is an esophagus tissue.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said tissue is an ear tissue.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the intensity of light emitted from said tissue over time is monitored in every spatial point of the tissue.