US 2017/0284940 A1 · SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR TIME-RESOLVED FLUORESCENT SPECTROSCOPY

Abstract

Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for characterizing a biological sample in vivo or ex vivo in real-time using time-resolved spectroscopy. A light source generates a light pulse or continuous light wave and excites the biological sample, inducing a responsive fluorescent signal. A demultiplexer splits the signal into spectral bands and a time delay is applied to the spectral bands so as to capture data with a detector from multiple spectral bands from a single excitation pulse. The biological sample is characterized by analyzing the fluorescence intensity magnitude and/or decay of the spectral bands. The sample may comprise one or more exogenous or endogenous fluorophore. The device may be a two-piece probe with a detachable, disposable distal end. The systems may combine fluorescence spectroscopy with other optical spectroscopy or imaging modalities. The light pulse may be focused at a single focal point or scanned or patterned across an area.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A probe system for classifying or characterizing a biological sample, the system comprising:

a distal part;
a proximal part detachably coupled to the distal part;
a proximal transmission element disposed in the proximal part and configured to convey an optical excitation signal;
a distal transmission element disposed in the distal part and being coupled to the proximal transmission element, the distal transmission element being configured to receive the optical excitation signal from the proximal transmission element and convey the optical excitation signal to the biological sample, wherein the biological sample generates a responsive optical signal in response to the optical excitation signal and the responsive optical signal is received by the distal transmission element;
a signal collection element disposed in the proximal part and being coupled to the distal transmission element, the signal collection element being configured to receive the responsive optical signal from the distal transmission element;
and
an optical assembly configured to receive the responsive optical signal from the signal collection element and split the responsive optical signal into a plurality of spectral bands, wherein the biological sample is characterized in response to the spectral bands.

4 more elements

A probe for classifying or characterizing a biological sample, the probe comprising:

a distal part detachably coupled to a proximal part, the proximal part comprising a proximal transmission element disposed in the proximal part and configured to convey an optical excitation signal;
and
a distal transmission element disposed in the distal part and being coupled to the proximal transmission element, the distal transmission element being configured to receive the optical excitation signal from the proximal transmission element and convey the optical excitation signal to the biological sample, wherein the biological sample generates a responsive optical signal in response to the optical excitation signal and the responsive optical signal is received by the distal transmission element,
wherein a signal collection element disposed in the proximal part is coupled to the distal transmission element and receives the responsive optical signal from the distal transmission element,
wherein an optical assembly receives the responsive optical signal from the signal collection element and splits the responsive optical signal into a plurality of spectral bands, and
wherein the biological sample is characterized in response to the spectral bands.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems, devices, and methods for time-resolved fluorescent spectroscopy

Life of this patent

Systems, devices, and methods for time-resolved fluorescent spectroscopy

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30