US6083158A — Real-time visualization of tissue ischemia

Claim 1

Independent Claim 154 words

A method of displaying a multicolor map image containing at least 3 distinct colors, a first color representing high oxygen content, a second color representing low oxygen content and the third color representing absence of oxygen in an area of viewed animal tissue comprising the steps of: illuminating the area with a non-collimated, broad band light source containing 3 preselected wavelengths, two of the wavelengths being absorption peaks of oxyhemoglobin and one of the wavelengths being an absorption peak of deoxyhemoglobin; filtering an image reflected from the area through a set of three narrow band filters to filter light at the three preselected wavelengths to provide three distinct image signals, each having an intensity; processing the three distinct image signals into a composite three color video image signal representative of relative blood oxygen content throughout the area of tissue; and displaying the composite signal on a video color monitor as said multicolor map image.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 154 words

A method of displaying a multicolor map image containing at least 3 distinct colors, a first color representing high oxygen content, a second color representing low oxygen content and the third color representing absence of oxygen in an area of viewed animal tissue comprising the steps of: illuminating the area with a non-collimated, broad band light source containing 3 preselected wavelengths, two of the wavelengths being absorption peaks of oxyhemoglobin and one of the wavelengths being an absorption peak of deoxyhemoglobin; filtering an image reflected from the area through a set of three narrow band filters to filter light at the three preselected wavelengths to provide three distinct image signals, each having an intensity; processing the three distinct image signals into a composite three color video image signal representative of relative blood oxygen content throughout the area of tissue; and displaying the composite signal on a video color monitor as said multicolor map image.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 1 further including the step of storing the composite signal on a video signal recording medium.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method according to claim 1 further including the step of processing the three distinct image signals in a digital signal processor to form said composite signal.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method according to claim 3, further including the step of controlling the intensity of each of the three, distinct, image signals before processing the three, distinct, image signals in the digital signal processor.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method according to claim 1, in which the reflected image is filtered at preselected wavelengths at 542 nm, 576 nm and 556 nm, respectively.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 1 in which the area imaged has a dimension of at least 0.5 cm 2 .

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method according to claim 1, in which the three distinct colors are red, blue and green indicative of high, moderate and low blood oxygen content, respectively.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 12 words

A method according to claim 1, in which the animal is human.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 180 words

A system for displaying a multicolor map image containing a first color representing high oxygen content, a second color representing low oxygen content and a third color representing absence of oxygen in an area of viewed animal tissue comprising in combination: means for illuminating the area of the tissue with a non-collimated light source containing 3 preselected wavelengths; optic means for viewing an image of the area reflected from the illuminated area; means for filtering the viewed image at a first of the preselected wavelengths indicative of peak absorption of oxyhemoglobin to develop a first image signal; means for filtering the viewed image at a second of the preselected wavelengths indicative of peak absorption of oxyhemoglobin to develop a second image signal; means for filtering the viewed image at a third of the preselected wavelengths indicative of absence of deoxyhemoglobin to develop a third image signal; and video means for processing the first, second and third image signals into three video image signals in said three colors; and means for displaying the video image signals as said multicolor map image.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 180 words

A system for displaying a multicolor map image containing a first color representing high oxygen content, a second color representing low oxygen content and a third color representing absence of oxygen in an area of viewed animal tissue comprising in combination: means for illuminating the area of the tissue with a non-collimated light source containing 3 preselected wavelengths; optic means for viewing an image of the area reflected from the illuminated area; means for filtering the viewed image at a first of the preselected wavelengths indicative of peak absorption of oxyhemoglobin to develop a first image signal; means for filtering the viewed image at a second of the preselected wavelengths indicative of peak absorption of oxyhemoglobin to develop a second image signal; means for filtering the viewed image at a third of the preselected wavelengths indicative of absence of deoxyhemoglobin to develop a third image signal; and video means for processing the first, second and third image signals into three video image signals in said three colors; and means for displaying the video image signals as said multicolor map image.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

A system according to claim 9, further including an aperture device having a minimum aperture permitting reflection of an image of the tissue of an area of at least 0.5 cm 2 .

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

A system according to claim 9, in which the first and second wavelengths are at 542 nm and 576 nm and the third wavelength is at 556 nm.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system according to claim 9, in which the first, second and third colors are red, blue and green, respectively.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-07-04	2004-01-03	2004-07-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-07-04	2008-01-03	2008-07-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-07-04	2012-01-03	2012-07-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Real-time visualization of tissue ischemia

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