Hyperspectral imaging methods and apparatus for non-invasive diagnosis of tissue for cancer
AssigneeScience Applications International Corporation
InventorsGreg Mooradian, Mark Weiderhold, Ali E. Dabiri, Chris Coyle
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Abstract
Techniques and devices for diagnosing tissue via hyperspectral imaging are presented. A three dimensional "image" where one dimension contains spectral information is formed from a region of interest. The spectral content of the image can be analyzed on a pixel-by-pixel basis to determine the presence of certain matter and the spatial extend thereof The techniques are non-invasive and do not require introduction of agents typically required to facilitate interaction with illumination sources.
Claims5
An apparatus for diagnosis of tissue, the apparatus being optically coupled to the tissue being diagnosed, comprising:
- a) a light source;
- b) an imaging optic;
- c) a dispersion optic;
- d) a detector;
- e) a comparator;
- and
- f) an indicator,
- said light source operable for converting electric energy to photon energy, the photon energy being coupled to tissue being diagnosed;
- said imaging optic being disposed between the tissue and said detector in a manner which satisfies the imaging condition thereby forming an image on said detector;
- said dispersion optic disposed between the tissue and said detector for dispersing light into a hyperspectral image;
- said comparator being in electronic communication with said detector operable for receiving a signal from said detector and comparing it to a reference signal;
- and
- said indicator being in communication with and responsive to said comparator operable for indicating coincidence and lack of coincidence between the reference and signal from said detector.
A method for diagnosis of tissue comprising the steps:
- a) illuminating a tissue sample;
- b) forming a hyperspectrally resolved image of the tissue sample;
- c) comparing the hyperspectrally resolved image with a reference;
- and
- d) indicating regions of coincidence and regions of non-coincidence with respect to the hyperspectrally resolved image and the reference,
- said hyperspectrally resolved image being comprised of a plurality of spectral bands, each spectral band being adjacent to another forming a continuous set, each spectral band having a bandwidth less than about 10 nanometers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.