# US 8,149,418 B2 · Method and apparatus for optical imaging via spectral encoding > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,149,418 B2 - Document ID: US8149418B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/910,533 - Filed: 2010-10-22 - Published: 2011-06-23 - Granted: 2012-04-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-09-29 - Assignees: The General Hospital Corporation - Inventors: Guillermo J. Tearney; Brett E. Bouma; Dvir Yelin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8149418B2 ## CPC - G01N 33/4833: {of solid biological material, e.g. tissue samples, cell cultures (tissue in vivo A61B5/00; cell suspensions G01N33/48735)} - A61B 5/0062: {Arrangements for scanning} - A61B 5/0066: {Optical coherence imaging} - A61B 5/0068: {Confocal scanning} - A61B 5/0073: {by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections (A61B5/0066 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/0084: {for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/6852: {Catheters} - G01B 9/02: Interferometers - G01B 9/02027: {Two or more interferometric channels or interferometers} - G01B 9/02049: {characterised by particular mechanical design details} - G01B 9/02064: {by particular adjustment of coherence gate, i.e. adjusting position of zero path difference in low coherence interferometry} - G01B 9/02087: {Combining two or more images of the same region} - G01B 9/02091: Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence - G01B 9/04: Measuring microscopes - G01N 21/25: Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands - G01N 21/27: using photo-electric detection (G01N21/31 takes precedence){; circuits for computing concentration (logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J)} - G01N 21/4795: {spatially resolved investigating of object in scattering medium (in vivo A61B)} - G01N 21/6458: {Fluorescence microscopy (fluorescence microscopes per se G02B21/0076 and G02B21/16)} - G01N 21/6486: {Measuring fluorescence of biological material, e.g. DNA, RNA, cells (G01N21/6428 takes precedence)} - G01N 23/046: using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT] - G02B 23/2423: {of the distal end} - G02B 23/243: {Objectives for endoscopes} - G02B 23/2461: {Illumination} - G02B 23/2476: {Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports} - A61B 5/0075: {by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy (A61B5/0071 takes precedence)} - G01N 2021/1765: {Method using an image detector and processing of image signal} - G01N 2223/419: computed tomograph - G02B 21/0028: {specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for endoscopes, ophthalmoscopes, attachments to conventional microscopes} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract Exemplary method, apparatus and arrangement can be provided for obtaining information associated with a sample such as a portion of an anatomical structure. The information can be generated using first data, which can be based on a signal obtained from a location on the sample, and second data, where the second data can be obtained by combining a second signal received from the sample with a third reference signal. An image of a portion of the sample can also be generated based on the information. For example, the first data can be associated with spectral encoding microscopy data, and the second data can be associated with optical coherence tomography data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: at least one first arrangement configured to provide first data associated with a first signal received from at least one region of at least one sample, wherein the region has a linear dimension that is not more than about 10 microns; at least one second arrangement configured to provide second data associated with a second signal received from the at least one sample and a third signal received from a reference, wherein the first and second data are provided substantially simultaneously by the first and second arrangements; and at least one third arrangement configured to generate further data based on the first and second data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one third arrangement is further configured to generate at least one of a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image based on the further data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second data are associated with approximately the same location on the at least one sample. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second arrangements are provided in at least one of a probe or a single enclosure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a positioning arrangement configured to position at least one of the probe or the single enclosure at a particular location relative to the sample based on at least one of the first data or the second data. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second arrangements include at least one common component. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one common component is provided in a wavelength swept-source arrangement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first arrangement is configured to obtain confocal microscopy information. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the confocal microscopy information is reflectance confocal microscopy information. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first arrangement is configured to obtain spectral encoding microscopy information. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second arrangement is configured to obtain optical coherence tomography information. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second arrangement is configured to obtain optical coherence tomography information associated with a signal provided by a source arrangement having a plurality of wavelengths, and further comprising a plurality of detectors configured to detect a spectral interference between the second and third signals based on the wavelengths. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second arrangement is configured to obtain optical coherence tomography information associated with a signal provided by a source arrangement whose wavelength varies over time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one fourth arrangement configured to control at least one of the first arrangement or the second arrangement based on previously-obtained at least one of the first data or the second data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one fifth arrangement configured to generate an image based on the first and second data. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one sixth arrangement configured to generate at least one first image based on the first data and at least one second image based on the second data, wherein the first and second images are associated with one another based on the first and second data. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a focusing arrangement configured to control at least one of a focal length or a focal position associated with at least one of the at least one first arrangement or the at least one second arrangement based on at least one of the first data or the second data. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first data is associated with at least one first location within the at least one region, and the second data is associated with at least one second location of the at least one sample. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sample is an anatomical structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a focusing arrangement configured to control at least one of a focal length or a focal position associated with at least one of the at least one first arrangement or the at least one second arrangement when at least one of the first data or the second data are being acquired. ### Claim 21 A method for obtaining particular data associated with at least one sample, comprising: obtaining first data associated with a first signal received from at least one region of the at least one sample, wherein the region has a linear dimension that is not more than about 10 microns; retrieving second data associated with a second signal received from the at least one sample and a third signal received from a reference, wherein the first and second data are provided substantially simultaneously; and using a tangible computing arrangement, generating the particular data based on the first and second data. ### Claim 22 A non-transitory computer-accessible medium having instructions thereon, which, when accessed by a computing arrangement configure the computing arrangement to generate particular data associated with at least one sample using procedures comprising: obtaining first data associated with a first signal received from at least one region of the at least one sample, wherein the region has a linear dimension that is not more than about 10 microns; retrieving second data associated with a second signal received from the at least one sample and a third signal received from a reference, wherein the first and second data are provided substantially simultaneously; and using a tangible computing arrangement, generating the particular data based on the first and second data. ### Claim 23 An apparatus comprising: at least one first arrangement configured to provide first data associated with a first signal forwarded to at least one region of at least one sample, wherein the region has a linear dimension that is not more than about 10 microns; at least one second arrangement configured to provide second data associated with a second signal forwarded to the at least one sample and a third signal forwarded to a reference, wherein the first and second data are provided substantially simultaneously by the first and second arrangements; and at least one third arrangement configured to generate further data based on third and fourth data received from the at least one region and the reference respectively which correspond to the first and second data, respectively. ### Claim 24 A method for obtaining particular data associated with at least one sample, comprising: obtaining first data associated with a first signal forwarded to at least one region of the at least one sample, wherein the region has a linear dimension that is not more than about 10 microns; retrieving second data associated with a second signal forwarded to the at least one sample and a third signal forwarded to a reference, wherein the first and second data are provided substantially simultaneously by the first and second arrangements; and using a tangible computing arrangement, generating further data based on third and fourth data received from the at least one region and the reference respectively which correspond to the first and second data, respectively. ### Claim 25 A non-transitory computer-accessible medium having instructions thereon, which, when accessed by a computing arrangement configure the computing arrangement to generate particular data associated with at least one sample using procedures comprising: obtaining first data associated with a first signal forwarded to at least one region of the at least one sample, wherein the region has a linear dimension that is not more than about 10 microns; retrieving second data associated with a second signal forwarded to the at least one sample and a third signal forwarded to a reference, wherein the first and second data are provided substantially simultaneously by the first and second arrangements; and using a tangible computing arrangement, generating further data based on third and fourth data received from the at least one region and the reference respectively which correspond to the first and second data, respectively.