Reflective mode multi-spectral time-resolved optical imaging methods and apparatuses for tissue classification

A tissue classification system comprising:

• a plurality of light emitters configured to sequentially emit each of a plurality of wavelengths of light to illuminate first and second tissue regions, wherein the first tissue region comprises a tissue region where skin has been debrided and the second tissue region comprises a wound, each of the plurality of light emitters configured to emit spatially-even light, the plurality of wavelengths of light being within a first range of wavelengths and a second range of wavelengths, the first range of wavelengths being lower than and discontinuous with the second range of wavelengths;
• a light detection element configured to collect, from at least a portion of the first and second tissue region, light emitted from the plurality of light emitters and reflected from the portion of the first and second tissue region;
• one or more processors in communication with the plurality of light sources and the light detection element and configured to:
• control the plurality of light emitters to each sequentially emit or to serially sequentially emit each of the plurality of wavelengths of light at different times from one another;
• receive a plurality of signals from the light detection element, a first subset of the plurality of signals representing light sequentially emitted at the plurality of wavelengths reflected from the portion of the first tissue region and a second subset of the plurality of signals representing light sequentially emitted at the plurality of wavelengths reflected from the portion of the second tissue region;
• apply multispectral imaging processing to the plurality of signals;
• identify tissue differences between the portion of the first tissue region and the portion of the second tissue region based at least partly on the multispectral image processing;
• classify the portion of the first tissue region and the portion of the second tissue region based at least in part on the tissue differences wherein the one or more processors classifies the first tissue region as the tissue region where skin has been debrided and classifies the second tissue region as the wound;
• and
• output a classified image of the first and second tissue regions to a display, the classified image including a first representation of pixels classified as the tissue region where skin has been debrided and a different second representation of pixels classified as the wound.

A tissue classification method, comprising, by one or more processors:

• controlling a plurality of light sources to each sequentially emit or to serially sequentially emit each of a plurality of wavelengths of light at different times from one another to illuminate first, second, and third tissue regions, wherein the first tissue region comprises healthy skin, the second tissue region comprises a wound, and the third tissue region comprises a tissue region where skin has been debrided, and wherein each of the plurality of light sources configured to emit spatially-even light, the plurality of wavelengths of light being within a first range of wavelengths and a second range of wavelengths, the first range of wavelengths being lower than and discontinuous with the second range of wavelengths;
• receiving, via a light detection element, a plurality of signals from at least a portion of each of the first, second, and third tissue regions, each of the plurality of signals representing light at one of the plurality of wavelengths reflected from the portion of the first tissue region, the portion of the second tissue region, and the portion of the third tissue region;
• identifying tissue differences between the portion of the first tissue region, portion of the second tissue region, and the portion of the third tissue region by applying multispectral imaging processing to the plurality of signals;
• classifying the portion of the first tissue region as the healthy skin, classifying the portion of the second tissue region as the wound, and classifying the portion of the third tissue region as the tissue region where skin has been debrided based at least in part on the tissue differences;
• and
• outputting a classified image of the first, second, and third tissue regions to a display, the classified image including a first representation of pixels classified as the healthy skin, a different second representation of pixels classified as the wound, and a different third representation of pixels classified as the tissue region where skin has been debrided.

A tissue classification method, comprising, by one or more processors:

• controlling a plurality of light sources to each sequentially emit or to serially sequentially emit each of a plurality of wavelengths of light at different times from one another to illuminate first and second tissue regions, wherein the first tissue region comprises a tissue region where skin has been debrided and the second tissue region comprises a wound, and wherein each of the plurality of light sources configured to emit spatially-even light, the plurality of wavelengths of light being within a first range of wavelengths and a second range of wavelengths, the first range of wavelengths being lower than and discontinuous with the second range of wavelengths;
• receiving, via a light detection element, a plurality of signals from at least a portion of each of the first and second tissue regions, each of the plurality of signals representing light at one of the plurality of wavelengths reflected from the portion of the first tissue region and the portion of the second tissue region;
• identifying tissue differences between the portion of the first tissue region and the portion of the second tissue region by applying multispectral imaging processing to the plurality of signals;
• classifying the portion of the first tissue region as the tissue region where skin has been debrided and classifying the portion of the second tissue region as the wound based at least in part on the tissue differences;
• and
• outputting a classified image of the first and second tissue regions to a display, the classified image including a first representation of pixels classified as the tissue region where skin has been debrided and a different second representation of pixels classified as the wound.