US 6,975,898 B2Granted

Medical imaging, diagnosis, and therapy using a scanning single optical fiber system

AssigneeUniversity of Washington

InventorEric J. Seibel

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An integrated endoscopic image acquisition and therapeutic delivery system for use in minimally invasive medical procedures (MIMPs). The system uses directed and scanned optical illumination provided by a scanning optical fiber or light waveguide that is driven by a piezoelectric or other electromechanical actuator included at a distal end of an integrated imaging and diagnostic/therapeutic instrument. The directed illumination provides high resolution imaging, at a wide field of view (FOV), and in full color that matches or excels the images produced by conventional flexible endoscopes. When using scanned optical illumination, the size and number of the photon detectors do not limit the resolution and number of pixels of the resulting image. Additional features include enhancement of topographical features, stereoscopic viewing, and accurate measurement of feature sizes of a region of interest in a patient's body that facilitate providing diagnosis, monitoring, and/or therapy with the instrument.

Claims86

Dependent claims

Apparatus for selectively providing imaging and at least one other function for a region of interest in a patient, comprising:

(a) at least one light source that produces light;
(b) a light guide having a proximal end and a distal end, the at least one light source being optically coupled to the proximal end of said light guide, so that light from all of said at least one light source is conveyed along a single optical path defined by the light guide toward a region of interest, said distal end of the light guide being adapted to be positioned adjacent to a region of interest;
(c) a scanning actuator disposed adjacent to the distal end of the light guide, said scanning actuator driving a distal end of the light guide into a resonance movement mode, causing light produced by the at least one light source that is conveyed through the light guide to scan a region of interest, illuminating only a pixel at a time in regard to an image of a region of interest;
(d) a light detector that receives light from each pixel that is illuminated by the scanning actuator in a region of interest, producing a signal corresponding to an intensity of said light for use in producing an image of a region of interest;
(e) a display adapted to enable a user to visualize an image of a region of interest;
and
(f) a control circuit that is coupled to control the scanning actuator, the at least one light source, and the light guide, said control circuit being adapted to selectively energize the at least one light source to image a region of interest and render at least one other function to a region of interest, said at least one other function including at least one of diagnosing a condition, rendering a therapy, sensing a condition, and monitoring a condition.

4 more elements

A method for using an integral light guide system to selectively image and carry out at least one other substantive function in connection with a region of interest in a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) directing a light at the region of interest in the patient through a light guide;
(b) scanning the region of interest with the light by moving the light guide, wherein the step of scanning comprises the step of driving a distal end of the light guide into a resonance movement mode, so that the region of interest is illuminated with the light a pixel at a time, in regard to an image of the region of interest;
(c) detecting light from the region of interest and in response thereto, producing signals indicative of characteristics of said light, including an intensity of the light received from the region of interest;
(d) imaging the region of interest, using the signals produced by the step of detecting;
and
(e) controlling the administration of the light to the region of interest through the light guide, to selectively carry out at least one of the steps of:
(i) monitoring the region of interest;
(ii) determining a biophysical condition of the region of interest;
and
(iii) rendering therapy to the region of interest with the light directed thereon.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/850,594Filed 7 May 2001 · us provisional application
Priority: 19 Jun 2000
Published: US 2001/0055462 A127 Dec 2001
Granted: 13 Dec 2005
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification35 codes

G02B 6/262
Optical coupling means: optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated…
A61B 1/00048
Display arrangement: constructional features of the display
A61B 1/0008
Insertion part of the endoscope body: characterised by distal tip features
A61B 1/00165
Optical arrangements: with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics