US 8,553,219 B2Granted

Common detector for combined raman spectroscopy-optical coherence tomography

AssigneesVanderbilt University, Academisch Medisch Centrum Bu de Universiteit van Amsterdam

InventorsChetan A. Patil, Anita Mahadevan-Jansen, Antonius Gerardus Johannes Maria Van Leeuwen, Jeroen Kalkman

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Abstract

An apparatus includes first and second light sources for respectively generating broadband and monochromatic lights, a beamsplitter optically coupled to the first light source for splitting the broadband light into a reference light and a sample light, a reference arm optically coupled to the beamsplitter for receiving the reference light and returning the received reference light into the beamsplitter, a sample arm optically coupled to the beamsplitter and the second light source for combining the sample and monochromatic lights, delivering the combined light to the target of interest, collecting a backscattering light and a Raman scattering light generated from interaction of the combined light with the target of interest, returning the backscattering light into the beamsplitter so as to generate an interference signal between the returned backscattering light and the returned reference light in the beamsplitter, and directing the Raman scattering light in an output optical path.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An apparatus of combining Raman spectroscopy (RS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) for non-invasively evaluating a target of interest of a living subject, comprising:

(a) a first light source for generating a broadband light characterized with a center wavelength and a spectral bandwidth;
(b) a second light source for generating a monochromatic light at a single wavelength, wherein the first and second light sources are adapted such that resultant Raman scattering spectrum and OCT bandwidth have a spectral overlap with each other;
(c) a beamsplitter optically coupled to the first light source for receiving the broadband light and splitting the received broadband light into a reference light and a sample light;
(d) a reference arm optically coupled to the beamsplitter for receiving the reference light and returning the received reference light into the beamsplitter;
(e) a sample arm optically coupled to the beamsplitter and the second light source for combining the sample light and the monochromatic light, delivering the combined sample and monochromatic light to the target of interest, collecting a backscattering light and a Raman scattering light that are generated from interaction of the sample light and the monochromatic light with the target of interest, respectively, returning the backscattering light into the beamsplitter so as to generate an interference signal between the returned backscattering light and the returned reference light in the beamsplitter, and directing the Raman scattering light in an output optical path;
and
(f) a single detector optically coupled to the beamsplitter for collecting the interference signal to provide an interference pattern of the returned backscattering light and the returned reference light, and to the sample arm for collecting the Raman scattering light from the output optical path to provide the Raman scattering spectrum, respectively.

4 more elements

An apparatus for non-invasively evaluating a target of interest of a living subject, comprising:

(a) an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system, comprising;
a broadband light source for emitting a broadband light;
a beamsplitter for splitting the broadband light into a reference light and a sample light;
a reference arm optically coupled to the beamsplitter for receiving the reference light and returning the received reference light into the beamsplitter;
and
a sample arm optically coupled to the beamsplitter for receiving the sample light and delivering the received sample light to the target of interest, collecting a backscattering light generated from interaction of the sample light with the target of interest, returning the backscattering light into the beamsplitter so as to generate an interference signal between the returned backscattering light and the returned reference light in the beamsplitter;
(b) a Raman spectroscopy (RS) system, comprising a monochromatic light source optically coupled to the sample arm for emitting a monochromatic light, wherein the monochromatic light is co-aligned with the sample light and delivered to the target of interest by the sample arm, wherein a Raman scattering light is generated from the target of interest interacting with the monochromatic light, and wherein the Raman scattering light is collected and directed by the sample arm to an output optical path;
and
(c) a single detector optically coupled to the beamsplitter for collecting the interference signal to provide an interference pattern of the returned backscattering light and the returned reference light, and to the sample arm for collecting the Raman scattering light from the output optical path to provide a Raman scattering spectrum, respectively.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/012,529Filed 24 Jan 2011
Published: US 2012/0188538 A126 Jul 2012
Granted: 8 Oct 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

G01B 9/02044
Characterised by particular imaging or detection techniques: imaging in the frequency domain, e.g. by using a spectrometer
A61B 3/102
Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions: for optical coherence tomography [OCT]
A61B 5/0066
Arrangements for scanning: optical coherence imaging
A61B 5/0075
Using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence: by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy,…