Flourescence imaging endoscope
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsThomas D. Wang, Michael S. Feld, Yang Wang, Jacques Van Dam, Stephen F. Fulghum
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a fluorescence endoscope imaging system. The system uses first and second light sources to provide fluorescence and reflectance images of tissue being examined. The imaging system also includes an electronic controller that actuates the illumination of the system by switching current through the first light source between a first illumination level and a second illumination level such that the tissue is illuminated at the first or second illumination level. An imaging device mounted at the distal end of the device is used to collect both images.
Claims20
A method of fluorescence imaging comprising:
- providing an endoscope having an optical guide that is optically coupled to a first arc lamp light source and a second arc lamp light source, the endoscope having an image sensor at a distal end;
- actuating the first arc lamp and the second arc lamp with an electronic controller to illuminate a region of tissue, the electronic controller switching current through the first arc lamp between a first illumination level and a second illumination level to control radiated power of the first arc lamp such that tissue is illuminated at the first illumination level or the second illumination level;
- collecting a reflectance image with the image sensor and generating a reference;
- collecting a fluorescence image with the image sensor;
- and
- processing the fluorescence image with the reference to provide a processed fluorescence image.
A fluorescence imaging system comprising:
- an endoscope;
- a first arc lamp light source coupled to an optical guide extending through the endoscope;
- a second arc lamp light source coupled to an optical guide extending through the endoscope;
- an electronic controller that actuates illumination of tissue with the first arc lamp and the second arc lamp, the controller switching a current through the first arc lamp between a first illumination level and a second illumination level to control radiated power of the first arc lamp such that tissue can be illuminated by the first arc lamp and the first illumination level or the second illumination level;
- and
- an imaging sensor at a distal end of the endoscope that detects a fluorescence image and a reflectance image of tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.