Method for improving fluorescence image contrast
AssigneeART, Advanced Research Technologies Inc.
InventorGuobin Ma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided an improved method for enhancing fluorescence images of an object, such as a biological tissue, by selectively eliminating or reducing unwanted fluorescence from fluorophores other than the fluorophore of interest. The method is based on the measurement of the lifetime of fluorophores while preserving information related to the fluorescence intensity of the fluorophore of interest.
Claims23
A method for optical imaging of an object containing two or more fluorophore species, said method comprising:
- acquiring a fluorescence signal comprising time and amplitude information for one or more pixel of a region of interest (ROI) of said object using an excitation and an emission wavelength compatible with detection of at least one of said two or more fluorophore species;
- calculating a fluorescence intensity and a fluorescence lifetime from said fluorescence signal for each of said one or more pixel;
- multiplying said fluorescence intensity by a weighting factor, said weighting factor being a function of said calculated fluorescence lifetime and at least one predetermined fluorescence lifetime, to generate a weighted fluorescence intensity for said one or more pixel;
- generating an image of said ROI based on said weighted fluorescence intensity of said one or more pixel.
A method for optical imaging of an object containing two or more fluorophore species, said method comprising:
- acquiring a fluorescence signal, said signal comprising fluorescence from said two or more fluorophore species and comprising lifetime information for one or more pixel of a region of interest (ROI) of said object;
- calculating a fluorescence intensity and a fluorescence lifetime from said fluorescence signal for each of said one or more pixel;
- deriving a contribution fraction for at least one of said fluorophore species;
- multiplying said calculated fluorescence intensity by said contribution fraction to generate a species weighted fluorescence intensity;
- multiplying said species weighted fluorescence intensity by a weighting factor, said weighting factor being a function of said calculated fluorescence lifetime and at least one predetermined fluorescence lifetime, to generate a weighted fluorescence intensity for said one or more pixel;
- generating an image of said ROI based on said weighted fluorescence intensity of said one or more pixel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.