Method and Apparatus for Fluorescence Imaging of Tissue
A novel endoscopic imaging system for diagnosis of early cancer is described.
Optical spectroscopy has been widely used in chemical analysis of biological samples. Since the mid-80s, the use of this technology for tissue classification has become a new approach in non-invasive medical diagnostics. Human tissue is a kind of turbid media in which propagating light are absorbed and highly scattered. Traditional systems can only detect advanced stage cancers that cause obvious change of tissue surface. The new system combines fluorescence and cross-polarized reflection to distinguish diseased tissue from normal tissue for early cancers.
Spectral characteristics of endogenous tissue fluorescence (autofluorescence) induced by low power excitation source can partially reveal the physiochemical composition and morphology of tissue, and fluorescence spectrum and intensity is related to tissue chemical composition and morphology. Fluorescence yield of early lesions is lower than that of the normal tissues that surround them. Results of many investigations demonstrated that it is feasible to discriminate lesion, especially for early lesion, from normal tissue by comparing the characteristics of autofluorescence.
The current invention will be able to reveal early cancer, especially pre-malignant lesions that are completely invisible by commercially available techniques.
Traditional white light endoscopy can only detect advanced stage cancers that cause obvious change of tissue surface. The sensitivity and specificity for flat and pre-malignant lesions are very low and unacceptable.
The new invention, a combination of fluorescence and polarization imaging of tissue, provides the information of chemical composition and morphology of tissues. It solves the problem to distinguish flat and early lesions from surrounding normal tissues.
- Endoscope in relation to detecting early cancer or diseased tissue
Patent Number: US6343228B1
Application Number: US1999420807A
Inventor: Qu, Jianan
Priority Date: 19 Oct 1999
Priority Number: US6343228B1
Application Date: 19 Oct 1999
Publication Date: 29 Jan 2002
IPC Current: A61B000500
US Class: 600476 | 35600514 | 356323 | 356324 | 356327 | 356364 | 35948704 | 35948919 | 600478 | 606001 | 606002 | 606017 | 606018 | 607001 | 607088 | 607089 | 359483 | 359485 | 359489
Assignee Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
Title: Method and apparatus for fluorescence imaging of tissue
Usefulness: Method and apparatus for fluorescence imaging of tissue
Summary: For endoscopic imaging of tissue in diagnosis of various diseases such as cancer.
Novelty: Tissue autofluorescence yield imaging apparatus for diagnosis of various diseases such as cancer, produces output image by normalizing fluorescent image with respect to cross-polarized image
Disease Diagnostic/Treatment
Cancer/Tumor
19 Oct 1999
US 6343228
TTC.PA.099
Hong Kong
