Tri modal spectroscopic imaging

Abstract

The present invention relates to a spectroscopic imaging system using autofluorescence and reflectance images to diagnose tissue. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses a plurality of light sources to illuminate a tissue region to provide the fluorescence and reflectance images, respectively.

1 . A spectroscopic imaging system comprising: 
 a light source;    an imaging detector that detects fluorescent and reflectance data to provide an image of tissue; and    a data processor that processes the image to diagnose the tissue.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a mask and plurality of filters.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a moveable mirror device.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a computer program to diagnose cancerous tissue.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the light source comprises a collimating light source.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the light source comprises a laser.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the light comprises a broadband light source.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the light source comprises a tunable source.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the movable mirror comprises a digital micromirror array.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the movable mirror switches between a first light source and a second light source.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the collimating light source is an optical parametric oscillator.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a spatial gate.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an angular gate.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the processor determines a size of a cellular structure from the reflectance spectrum.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a fiber optic device.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein excitation light for the fluorescence and reflectance images coupled to a single light delivery system.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a light collection system collect the fluorescence and reflectance images along a common optical path.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the detector simultaneously detects an area of a region of interest with a two dimensional array of pixel elements.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the detector comprises at least a 500×500 array of pixel elements that form an image of an area of tissue have at least 500×500 image pixels.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a collection optical system that collects a polarized component of light.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a polarizer.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an aperture that separates a polarization component.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a handheld probe for insertion into a body cavity.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the handheld probe is coupled to the light source with a fiber optic delivery cable and to the detector with a fiber optic collection cable.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the handheld probe comprises a handle and a distal probe section for insertion in a body cavity, the handheld probe housing a probe optical system.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the probe optical system comprises a plurality of optical collection paths to couple that plurality of optical paths into separate collection optical fibers.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the probe optical system comprises a polarizer and an aperture such that at least one polarized light component from the tissue is collected on one of the plurality of optical paths.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a scanning system for scanning light across a region of interest to provide an image of the region.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  further comprising simultaneously scanning with a plurality of light spots.  
     
     
         30 . A method spectroscopic imaging comprising: 
 illuminating a material with a light source;    detecting light with an imaging detector that detects fluorescent and reflectance data to provide an image of the material; and    processing the data with an data processor that processes the image to characterize the material.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising providing a mask and plurality of filters.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising providing a moveable mirror device.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising providing a computer program to diagnose cancerous tissue.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising using a collimating light source.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising illuminating an excised tissue sample with a laser.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising illuminating the material with a broadband light source.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising providing a tunable light source.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising providing a digital micromirror array.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising switching between a first light source and a second light source with a movable mirror.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising providing a light source including an optical parametric oscillator.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising providing a spatial gate.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising providing an angular gate.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising scanning light across a region of interest to provide an image of the region.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  further comprising simultaneously scanning with a plurality of light spots.  
     
     
         45 . A system for angular gating of light scattering spectroscopy comprising: 
 illuminating a material with light from a light source;    detecting light with a detector that detects light scattered from the material at different azimuthal angles to provide spectral data; and    a data processor that processes the spectral data to characterize the material.    
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45  further comprising a mask.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 45  further comprising a computer program to diagnose cancerous tissue.  
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the light source comprises a broadband light source.  
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 45  further comprising a first polarizer for an illuminating beam.  
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49  further comprising a second polarizer for a collected beam.  
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 45  further comprising a first iris and a second iris.  
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 45  further comprising a long pass filter.