Low-Coherence Interferometry and Optical Coherence Tomography for Image-Guided Surgical Treatment of Solid Tumors

Abstract

A system for providing intraoperative feedback to a user during the course of surgery. A core imaging unit provides low-coherence optical radiation coupled to a sampling device and generates optical coherence tomography (OCT) data based on combining scattered light received from the sampling device together with a reference signal. The sampling device is adapted to receive the low-coherence optical radiation from the core imaging unit and to illuminate the tissue, and to collect light scattered by the tissue and to return said light to the core imaging unit. A core software unit receives the OCT data from the core imaging unit provides real-time feedback, such as an image, to the user.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A system for real-time imaging of tissue, the system comprising:
 a. a core imaging unit for providing low-coherence optical radiation and coupling said low-coherence optical radiation to any one of an interchangeable set of sample assemblies and for generating OCT data based on combination with a reference beam of scattered light received from said one of the interchangeable set of sample assemblies;   b. a sampling device including one of the plurality of sample assemblies, the sampling device adapted
 to receive the low-coherence optical radiation from the core imaging unit; 
 to illuminate therewith the tissue; and 
 to collect light scattered by the tissue and to return said light to the core imaging unit; and 
   c. a core software unit adapted
 to receive the OCT data from the core imaging unit; and 
 to provide real-time feedback to a user based on the OCT data. 
   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the sampling device is chosen from among handheld sample assemblies, free-space optical devices, and fiber-based devices. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the core software unit includes an image classifier. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the core software unit is adapted to classify images on the basis of an optical property derived from the OCT data. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the optical property is chosen from the group of optical properties including a refractive index, a scattering profile, a scattering coefficient, an anisotropy factor, birefringence, spectral shift, texture, Doppler shifts, phase resolution, phase-resolved Doppler measurements, phase-resolved spectroscopic measurements, light scattering parameters, and spectroscopic absorption. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein providing real-time feedback to the user includes providing images of the tissue to the user in real time. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising a display for displaying images of the tissue to the user. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein providing real-time feedback to the user includes illuminating an LED. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein providing real-time feedback to the user includes providing tactile feedback. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein providing real-time feedback to the user includes providing auditory feedback. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the core software unit is further adapted to implement interferometric synthetic aperture microscopy. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the core software unit is further adapted to correct for aberrations due to the low-coherence optical radiation. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the sampling device is adapted for azimuthal scanning about an axis of an optical fiber. 
     
     
         43 . A system for real-time imaging of tissue, the system comprising:
 a. a sampling device adapted
 to receive low-coherence optical radiation; 
 to illuminate the tissue with the low-coherence optical radiation; and 
 to collect light scattered by the tissue; 
   b. a core imaging unit adapted to generate said low-coherence optical radiation and to couple said low-coherence optical radiation to said sampling device and to generate OCT data based on combination scattered light received from the sampling device with a reference beam; and   c. a core software unit adapted
 to receive the OCT data from the core imaging unit; and 
 to provide images of the tissue to a user in real time based on the OCT data. 
   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the sampling device comprises:
 a. a catheter having a tip; and   b. a transparent balloon coupled to the tip of the catheter;   
       wherein the sampling device is adapted to illuminate the tissue with the low-coherence optical radiation though the transparent balloon. 
     
     
         45 . A system for real-time imaging of tissue, the system comprising:
 a. a core imaging unit adapted to generate low-coherence optical radiation;   b. a sampling device in communication with the core imaging unit, adapted to receive the low-coherence optical radiation from the core imaging unit and to send a signal back to the core imaging unit,   wherein OCT data is generated by the core imaging unit; and   c. a core software unit adapted to receive the OCT data from the core imaging unit, to perform further data analysis, and to provide feedback of the OCT data in real time.   
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the further data analysis includes enhancing an image. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein imaged tissue imaged is classified by running the OCT data though classification algorithms. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the classification algorithms analyze the OCT data and classify the tissue imaged using an optical property which is derived from the OCT data. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the optical property is chosen from the group of optical properties including a refractive index, a scattering profile, a scattering coefficient, an anisotropy factor, birefringence, spectral shift, texture, Doppler shifts, phase resolution, phase-resolved Doppler measurements, phase-resolved spectroscopic measurements, light scattering parameters, and spectroscopic absorption.