US5799656A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical imaging of breast tissues to enable the detection therein of calcification regions suggestive of cancer
Assignee: Research Foundation of City University of New York
•
Filing: 1996-10-21
•
Granted: 1998-09-01
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Expires: 2016-10-21
Abstract
Abstract A method for detecting the presence of one or more calcifications within a portion of a turbid medium, such as a breast tissue. According to one aspect, the method involves illuminating at least a portion of the turbid medium with light, whereby light emerges from the turbid medium consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component, temporally and/or spatially gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and/or snake-like components, using the temporally and/or spatially gated light to form an image of the illuminated portion of the turbid medium, and examining the image for the presence of one or more calcifications. Wavelength difference images may also be used to highlight tumors and calcification regions. The foregoing method may be used to form optical images of breast tissues, with the presence in such images of calcifications suggestive of cancer being used to identify the corresponding breast tissues as good candidates for biopsy and screening for tumors.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R. Alfano
- 👤 Ping-Pei Ho
- 👤 Leming Wang
- 👤 Xiangchun Liang
- 👤 Pierre A. Galland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0091; A61B5/43; A61B5/4306; A61B5/4312
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 83
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for imaging a turbid medium containing one or more calcifications, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least a portion of the turbid medium containing at least one calcification with light, whereby light emerges from the turbid medium consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component; (b) gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and/or snake-like components; and (c) using the gated light to form an image of the at least one calcification within the illuminated portion of the turbid medium.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for imaging a turbid medium containing one or more calcifications, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least a portion of the turbid medium containing at least one calcification with light, whereby light emerges from the turbid medium consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component; (b) gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and/or snake-like components; and (c) using the gated light to form an image of the at least one calcification within the illuminated portion of the turbid medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the illuminating light is a pulse of light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the illuminating light is laser light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the illuminating light is emitted from a laser selected from the group consisting of Ti:sapphire, Cr 4+ :Forsterite, Cr 4+ :YAG, Cr 4+ :CaCeO 3 and semiconductor lasers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the illuminating light is a pulse of laser light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the illuminating light is a pulse of laser light having a wavelength in the range of about 700 nm to about 1350 nm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the illuminating light has a wavelength in the range of about 700 nm to about 1350 nm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said illuminating step comprises illuminating at a first wavelength in the range of about 700 nm to about 1350 nm and then illuminating at a second wavelength different from said first wavelength and in the range of about 700 nm to about 1350 nm, wherein said gating step comprises gating the emergent light of said first wavelength and then gating the emergent light of said second wavelength and wherein said using step comprises using a difference of the images formed with the gated light of said first and second wavelengths to form a spectral difference image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the turbid medium is a tissue sample.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the tissue sample is a human breast tissue sample and wherein said one or more calcifications range in size from about 0.03 to about 5 mm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gating step comprises temporally gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and snake-like components.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gating step comprises spatially gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and snake-like components.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gating step comprises temporally and spatially gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and snake-like components.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said gating step comprises passing the emergent light through a Kerr gate, the Kerr gate including a Kerr cell positioned at the 2F spectral plane of a 4F Fourier imaging system, and pumping, for an appropriate period of time, only that portion of the Kerr cell situated at the focal point of the 4F Fourier imaging system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said image is a shadowgram.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said image is a 3D stereoscopic image.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for detecting the presence of one or more calcifications within a portion of a turbid medium, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least said portion of the turbid medium with light, whereby light emerges from the turbid medium consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component; (b) gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and/or snake-like components; (c) using the gated light to form an image of the illuminated portion of the turbid medium; and (d) examining the image for the presence of one or more calcifications.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for detecting the presence of one or more calcifications within a portion of a turbid medium, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least said portion of the turbid medium with light, whereby light emerges from the turbid medium consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component; (b) gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and/or snake-like components; (c) using the gated light to form an image of the illuminated portion of the turbid medium; and (d) examining the image for the presence of one or more calcifications.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the illuminating light is a pulse of light.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said gating step comprises temporally gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and snake-like components.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said gating step comprises spatially gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and snake-like components.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said gating step comprises temporally and spatially gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and snake-like components.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein said gating step comprises passing the emergent light through a Kerr gate, the Kerr gate including a Kerr cell positioned at the 2F spectral plane of a 4F Fourier imaging system, and pumping, for an appropriate period of time, only that portion of the Kerr cell situated at the focal point of the 4F Fourier imaging system.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said image is a shadowgram.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said image is a 3D stereoscopic image.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the illuminating light is laser light.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as claimed in claim 25 wherein the illuminating light is emitted from a laser selected from the group consisting of Ti:sapphire, Cr 4+ :Forsterite, Cr 4+ :YAG, Cr 4+ :CaCeO 3 and semiconductor lasers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the illuminating light is a pulse of laser light.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the illuminating light is a pulse of laser light having a wavelength in the range of about 700 nm to about 1350 nm.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the illuminating light has a wavelength in the range of about 700 nm to about 1350 nm.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the turbid medium is a tissue sample.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as claimed in claim 30 wherein the tissue sample is a human breast tissue sample and wherein said one or more calcifications range in size from about 0.03 to about 5 mm.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as claimed in claim 30 wherein the turbid medium is a tissue sample selected from the group consisting of breast tissue, brain tissue and prostate tissue.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for cancer-screening a tissue, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least a portion of a tissue with light, whereby light emerges therefrom consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component; (b) gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and/or snake-like components; (c) using the gated light to form an image of the illuminated portion of the tissue; and (d) examining the image for the presence of calcifications suggestive of cancer.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for cancer-screening a tissue, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least a portion of a tissue with light, whereby light emerges therefrom consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component; (b) gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and/or snake-like components; (c) using the gated light to form an image of the illuminated portion of the tissue; and (d) examining the image for the presence of calcifications suggestive of cancer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 33 wherein the tissue is selected from the group consisting of breast tissue, brain tissue and prostate tissue.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 33 wherein the tissue is breast tissue.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein the illuminating light is a pulse of light.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein the illuminating light is laser light.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein the illuminating light is emitted from a laser selected from the group consisting of Ti:sapphire, Cr 4+ :Forsterite, Cr 4+ :YAG, Cr 4+ :CaCeO 3 and semiconductor lasers.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein the illuminating light is a pulse of laser light.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein the illuminating light is a pulse of laser light having a wavelength in the range of about 700 nm to about 1350 nm.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein the illuminating light has a wavelength in the range of about 700 nm to about 1350 nm.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein said gating step comprises temporally gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and/or snake-like components.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein said gating step comprises spatially gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and/or snake-like components.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein said gating step comprises temporally and spatially gating the emergent light to preferentially pass the ballistic and/or snake-like components.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method as claimed in claim 44 wherein said gating step comprises passing the emergent light through a Kerr gate, the Kerr gate including a Kerr cell positioned at the 2F spectral plane of a 4F Fourier imaging system, and pumping, for an appropriate period of time, only that portion of the Kerr cell situated at the focal point of the 4F Fourier imaging system.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein said image is a shadowgram.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein said image is a 3D stereoscopic image.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein said illuminating step comprises illuminating a first side of the breast tissue and wherein said image is formed using light emergent from a second side of the breast tissue, said second side of the breast tissue being opposite to the first side thereof.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for imaging a turbid medium containing one or more calcifications, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least a portion of the turbid medium containing at least one calcification with light, whereby light consisting of a ballistic component, a snake component and a diffuse component emerges from the turbid medium; and (b) forming an image of the at least one calcification within the illuminated portion of the turbid medium with the emergent light.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for imaging a turbid medium containing one or more calcifications, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least a portion of the turbid medium containing at least one calcification with light, whereby light consisting of a ballistic component, a snake component and a diffuse component emerges from the turbid medium; and (b) forming an image of the at least one calcification within the illuminated portion of the turbid medium with the emergent light.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 49 wherein said turbid medium is a tissue.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 50 wherein said tissue is selected from the group consisting of breast tissue, brain tissue and prostate tissue.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 51 wherein said tissue is breast tissue.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 49 wherein said illuminating light is a pulse of laser light having a wavelength in the range of about 700 nm to about 1350 nm.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for detecting the presence of one or more calcifications within a portion of a turbid medium, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least said portion of the turbid medium with light, whereby light emerges from the turbid medium consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component; (b) forming an image of the illuminated portion of the turbid medium with the emergent light; and (c) examining the image for the presence of one or more calcifications.
Claim 59
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for detecting the presence of one or more calcifications within a portion of a turbid medium, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least said portion of the turbid medium with light, whereby light emerges from the turbid medium consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component; (b) forming an image of the illuminated portion of the turbid medium with the emergent light; and (c) examining the image for the presence of one or more calcifications.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 54 wherein said turbid medium is a tissue.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 55 wherein said tissue is selected from the group consisting of breast tissue, brain tissue and prostate tissue.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 56 wherein said tissue is breast tissue.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 54 wherein said illuminating light is a pulse of laser light having a wavelength in the range of about 700 nm to about 1350 nm.
Claim 64
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for cancer-screening a breast tissue, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least a portion of a breast tissue with light, whereby light emerges therefrom consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component; (b) forming an image of the illuminated portion of the breast tissue with the emergent light; and (c) examining the image for the presence of calcifications suggestive of cancer.
Claim 65
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for cancer-screening a breast tissue, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least a portion of a breast tissue with light, whereby light emerges therefrom consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component; (b) forming an image of the illuminated portion of the breast tissue with the emergent light; and (c) examining the image for the presence of calcifications suggestive of cancer.
Claim 66
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for imaging a turbid medium containing one or more calcifications, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least a portion of the turbid medium containing at least one calcification with light, whereby light consisting of a ballistic component, a snake component and a diffuse component emerges from the turbid medium; and (b) forming an image of the at least one calcification within the illuminated portion of the turbid medium using the diffusive component of the emergent light or a portion of the diffusive component of the emergent light, but not the ballistic or snake components.
Claim 67
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for imaging a turbid medium containing one or more calcifications, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least a portion of the turbid medium containing at least one calcification with light, whereby light consisting of a ballistic component, a snake component and a diffuse component emerges from the turbid medium; and (b) forming an image of the at least one calcification within the illuminated portion of the turbid medium using the diffusive component of the emergent light or a portion of the diffusive component of the emergent light, but not the ballistic or snake components.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 60 wherein said turbid medium is a tissue.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 61 wherein said tissue is selected from the group consisting of breast tissue, brain tissue and prostate tissue.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 62 wherein said tissue is breast tissue.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 60 wherein said illuminating light is a pulse of laser light having a wavelength in the range of about 700 nm to about 1350 nm.
Claim 72
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for detecting the presence of one or more calcifications within a portion of a turbid medium, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least said portion of the turbid medium with light, whereby light emerges from the turbid medium consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component; (b) forming an image of the illuminated portion of the turbid medium using the diffusive component of the emergent light or a portion of the diffusive component of the emergent light, but not the ballistic or snake components; and (c) examining the image for the presence of one or more calcifications.
Claim 73
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for detecting the presence of one or more calcifications within a portion of a turbid medium, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least said portion of the turbid medium with light, whereby light emerges from the turbid medium consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component; (b) forming an image of the illuminated portion of the turbid medium using the diffusive component of the emergent light or a portion of the diffusive component of the emergent light, but not the ballistic or snake components; and (c) examining the image for the presence of one or more calcifications.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 65 wherein said turbid medium is a tissue.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 66 wherein said tissue is selected from the group consisting of breast tissue, brain tissue and prostate tissue.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 67 wherein said tissue is breast tissue.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 65 wherein said illuminating light is a pulse of laser light having a wavelength in the range of about 700 nm to about 1350 nm.
Claim 78
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for cancer-screening a breast tissue, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least a portion of a breast tissue with light, whereby light emerges therefrom consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component; (b) forming an image of the illuminated portion of the breast tissue using the diffusive component of the emergent light or a portion of the diffusive component of the emergent light, but not the ballistic or snake-like components; and (c) examining the image for the presence of calcifications suggestive of cancer.
Claim 79
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for cancer-screening a breast tissue, said method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating at least a portion of a breast tissue with light, whereby light emerges therefrom consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component; (b) forming an image of the illuminated portion of the breast tissue using the diffusive component of the emergent light or a portion of the diffusive component of the emergent light, but not the ballistic or snake-like components; and (c) examining the image for the presence of calcifications suggestive of cancer.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as claimed in claim 70 wherein said forming step comprises detecting cw, time-sliced diffusive component.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as claimed in claim 70 wherein said forming step comprises temporally and/or spatially gating the emergent light to preferentially pass portions of diffusive light.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as claimed in claim 72 wherein said gating step comprises passing the emergent light through a time-gated image intensifier CCD camera to display an image.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as claimed in claim 70 wherein said image is a 3D stereoscopic image from multiple views.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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