US6537211B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flourescence imaging endoscope
Assignee: The Brigham and Women's Hospital Inc
•
Filing: 1999-01-26
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Granted: 2003-03-25
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Expires: 2019-01-26
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a fluorescence endoscope imaging system. The system uses first and second light sources to provide fluorescence and reflectance images of tissue being examined. The imaging system also includes an electronic controller that actuates the illumination of the system by switching current through the first light source between a first illumination level and a second illumination level such that the tissue is illuminated at the first or second illumination level. An imaging device mounted at the distal end of the device is used to collect both images.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas D. Wang
- 👤 Michael S. Feld
- 👤 Yang Wang
- 👤 Jacques Van Dam
- 👤 Stephen F. Fulghum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/28; G01J3/44; G01J3/4406; A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00002; A61B1/00004; A61B1/00009; A61B1/000094; A61B1/00043; A61B1/00045; A61B1/0005; A61B1/04; A61B1/043; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0071; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0084; A61B5/41; A61B5/414; A61B5/415; A61B5/418; G01J3/02; G01J3/0205; G01J3/0232; G01J3/10; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/645; G01N21/6456; A61B1/05; A61B1/06; A61B1/07; G01N2021/6417; G01N2021/6421; G01N2021/6484
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of fluorescence imaging comprising: providing an endoscope having an optical guide that is optically coupled to a first arc lamp light source and a second arc lamp light source, the endoscope having an image sensor at a distal end; actuating the first arc lamp and the second arc lamp with an electronic controller to illuminate a region of tissue, the electronic controller switching current through the first arc lamp between a first illumination level and a second illumination level to control radiated power of the first arc lamp such that tissue is illuminated at the first illumination level or the second illumination level; collecting a reflectance image with the image sensor and generating a reference; collecting a fluorescence image with the image sensor; and processing the fluorescence image with the reference to provide a processed fluorescence image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of fluorescence imaging comprising: providing an endoscope having an optical guide that is optically coupled to a first arc lamp light source and a second arc lamp light source, the endoscope having an image sensor at a distal end; actuating the first arc lamp and the second arc lamp with an electronic controller to illuminate a region of tissue, the electronic controller switching current through the first arc lamp between a first illumination level and a second illumination level to control radiated power of the first arc lamp such that tissue is illuminated at the first illumination level or the second illumination level; collecting a reflectance image with the image sensor and generating a reference; collecting a fluorescence image with the image sensor; and processing the fluorescence image with the reference to provide a processed fluorescence image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an image sensor having a filter to remove ultraviolet light from light returning from tissue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the image sensor has a sensitivity in the ultraviolet region that is less than half of the sensitivity of the sensor in a visible region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the reference corrects intensity for shadows in the fluorescence image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the fluorescence image is non-intensified.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising optically coupling light from the first arc lamp light source and the second arc lamp light source to a distal end of a fiber optic device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the second light source generates a wavelength in the range of 350 nm to 420 nm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising compensating for shadows on a tissue surface to be imaged.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second light source are optically coupled to the same optical guide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a shutter coupling each light source to an optical fiber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising imaging dysplasia on a tissue surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
127 words
A fluorescence imaging system comprising: an endoscope; a first arc lamp light source coupled to an optical guide extending through the endoscope; a second arc lamp light source coupled to an optical guide extending through the endoscope; an electronic controller that actuates illumination of tissue with the first arc lamp and the second arc lamp, the controller switching a current through the first arc lamp between a first illumination level and a second illumination level to control radiated power of the first arc lamp such that tissue can be illuminated by the first arc lamp and the first illumination level or the second illumination level; and an imaging sensor at a distal end of the endoscope that detects a fluorescence image and a reflectance image of tissue.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
127 words
A fluorescence imaging system comprising: an endoscope; a first arc lamp light source coupled to an optical guide extending through the endoscope; a second arc lamp light source coupled to an optical guide extending through the endoscope; an electronic controller that actuates illumination of tissue with the first arc lamp and the second arc lamp, the controller switching a current through the first arc lamp between a first illumination level and a second illumination level to control radiated power of the first arc lamp such that tissue can be illuminated by the first arc lamp and the first illumination level or the second illumination level; and an imaging sensor at a distal end of the endoscope that detects a fluorescence image and a reflectance image of tissue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The imaging system of claim 12 wherein the second arc lamp comprises a first broadband light source and the first arc lamp comprises a second narrow band light source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The imaging system of claim 13 wherein the narrow band light source emits light having a wavelength in the range of 350 nm to 420 nm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The imaging system of claim 12 further comprising a fiber optic device optically coupled to the light source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The imaging system of claim 12 further comprising a processor that processes the reflectance image and the fluorescence image and generates a compensated fluorescence image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The imaging system of claim 12 further comprising a shutter positioned along an optical path between the light source and an optical fiber extending through the endoscope.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The imaging system of claim 12 wherein the image sensor has reduced sensitivity in an ultraviolet spectral region relative to sensitivity in a visible spectral region.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The imaging system of claim 12 wherein the image sensor comprising a filter reducing image sensor sensitivity below 400 nm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The imaging system of claim 18 wherein the sensor sensitivity in the ultraviolet spectral region is less than one half of the sensitivity in the visible region.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-24 | 2006-09-23 | 2007-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-24 | 2010-09-23 | 2011-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-24 | 2014-09-23 | 2015-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |