公开(公告)号：US06631289B2

公开(公告)日：2003-10-07

申请号：US09767125

申请日：2001-01-22

申请人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Jing Tang ,  Ping Pei Ho

发明人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Jing Tang ,  Ping Pei Ho

IPC分类号： A61B600

CPC分类号： G01N21/6486 ,  A61B5/0059 ,  A61B5/445 ,  A61B5/4523 ,  G01N21/6428 ,  G01N21/6456

摘要： A method for monitoring a biological tissue includes illuminating the tissue, including a fluorophore, with a wavelength of light, the wavelength selected for exciting the fluorophore, determining a fluorescent emission of the fluorophore, the emission indicating the presence of the fluorophore, and correlating an emission of the fluorophore to an extent and degree of damage to the tissue. Damage to the tissue includes a breakdown of the fluorophore, resulting in a reduced level of emission. The fluorophore can include one of collagen and elastin. The fluorophore can include tryptophan, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, flavin and porphyrin. Correlating the emission of the fluorophore to the extent and degree of damage further includes processing a correlation of the emission over time, controlling the power of a laser welder based on the processed correlation, and preventing overheating of the tissue by the laser welder.

公开(公告)号：US5828484A

公开(公告)日：1998-10-27

申请号：US51987

申请日：1993-04-26

申请人： Ping-Pei Ho ,  Robert R. Alfano

发明人： Ping-Pei Ho ,  Robert R. Alfano

IPC分类号： G02F1/01 ,  G02F1/35 ,  H01S3/10

CPC分类号： G02F1/3515 ,  G02F1/3511 ,  G02F2203/26 ,  Y10S372/70

摘要： A multiple-stage optical Kerr gate system for gating a probe pulse of light. In a first embodiment, the system includes at least two optical Kerr gates, each Kerr gate including a polarizer, an optical Kerr cell actuable by a pump pulse, and an analyzer. In a second embodiment, at least one of the Kerr cells may be eliminated by arranging the respective sets of polarizers and analyzers so that they share a common Kerr cell. Gated pulses obtained using the present system typically have a signal to noise ratio that is at least 500 times better than that for gated pulses obtained using a single optical Kerr gate system. The system of the present invention may also include means for causing the pump pulse to arrive at the second Kerr cell (in the case of the first embodiment) or at a single Kerr cell a second time (in the case of the second embodiment) non-synchronously with the arrival of the probe pulse thereat. In this manner, gated pulses may be obtained that are much shorter in duration than pulses gated with a single optical Kerr gate system.

摘要翻译： 用于门控光脉冲的多级光学克尔门系统。 在第一实施例中，该系统包括至少两个光学克尔门，每个克尔门包括偏振器，可由泵浦脉冲致动的光学克尔单元和分析器。 在第二实施例中，可以通过布置相应的偏振器和分析器组来消除克尔单元中的至少一个，使得它们共享公共克尔单元。 使用本系统获得的门控脉冲通常具有比使用单个光学克尔门系统获得的门控脉冲的信噪比更好的500倍的信噪比。 本发明的系统还可以包括用于使泵浦脉冲第二次（在第二实施例的情况下）到达第二克尔单元（在第一实施例的情况下）或单个克尔单元的装置 与探针脉冲的到来同步。 以这种方式，可以获得门控脉冲的持续时间短于用单个光学克尔门系统门控的脉冲。

公开(公告)号：US5799656A

公开(公告)日：1998-09-01

申请号：US733558

申请日：1996-10-21

申请人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Ping-Pei Ho ,  Leming Wang ,  Xiangchun Liang ,  Pierre A. Galland

发明人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Ping-Pei Ho ,  Leming Wang ,  Xiangchun Liang ,  Pierre A. Galland

IPC分类号： A61B5/00 ,  A61B6/00

CPC分类号： A61B5/0091 ,  A61B5/4312

摘要： 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.

摘要翻译： 一种用于检测在混浊介质（例如乳房组织）的一部分内存在一种或多种钙化的方法。 根据一个方面，该方法包括用光照射混浊介质的至少一部分，由此光从由弹道组件，蛇形部件和扩散部件组成的混浊介质中暂时和/或空间门控 使用时间和/或空间门控的光来优先地通过弹道和/或蛇状部件以形成混浊介质的被照射部分的图像，并检查图像中是否存在一种或多种钙化。 波长差图像也可用于突出肿瘤和钙化区域。 上述方法可以用于形成乳腺组织的光学图像，存在这样的钙化图像，暗示癌症用于鉴定相应的乳腺组织作为肿瘤活检和筛选的良好候选物。

公开(公告)号：US06208886B1

公开(公告)日：2001-03-27

申请号：US09054743

申请日：1998-04-03

申请人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Yici Guo ,  Feng Liu ,  Ping Pei Ho

发明人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Yici Guo ,  Feng Liu ,  Ping Pei Ho

IPC分类号： A61B500

CPC分类号： A61B5/0073 ,  A61B5/4519

摘要： An apparatus utilizing non-linear optical signals for use in constructing a three-dimensional tomographic map of an in vivo biological tissue for medical disease detection purposes. In one embodiment, said apparatus comprises a stage for supporting the in vivo biological tissue; a laser for illuminating the in vivo biological tissue with a focused beam of laser light, the light emerging from the in vivo biological tissue comprising fundamental light, harmonic wave light, and fluorescence due to multi-photon excitation; a filter for selectively passing only at least one of the harmonic wave light and the fluorescence; one or more detectors for individually detecting each of the harmonic wave light and the fluorescence selectively passed; and a mechanism for moving the laser relative to the stage in x, y and z directions.

摘要翻译： 一种利用非线性光信号用于构建用于医学疾病检测目的的体内生物组织的三维断层图的装置。 在一个实施方案中，所述装置包括用于支撑体内生物组织的载物台; 用聚焦光束照射体内生物组织的激光，从体内生物组织出射的光包括基本光，谐波光和由于多光子激发引起的荧光; 用于选择性地仅通过谐波光和荧光中的至少一个的滤光器; 一个或多个检测器，用于单独检测每个谐波光和选择性地通过的荧光; 以及用于在x，y和z方向上相对于舞台移动激光的机构。

公开(公告)号：US5644429A

公开(公告)日：1997-07-01

申请号：US654800

申请日：1996-05-29

申请人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Ping-Pei Ho ,  Xiangchun Liang

发明人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Ping-Pei Ho ,  Xiangchun Liang

IPC分类号： A61B5/00 ,  G01N21/47 ,  G02B27/46

CPC分类号： A61B5/0091 ,  A61B5/4312 ,  G01N21/4795 ,  A61B5/7257

摘要： A method of forming 2 dimensional image of a translucent object in or behind a turbid medium. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of illuminating the translucent object through one side of the turbid medium with an ultrafast pulse of light, the light emergent from the opposite side of the turbid medium consisting of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component. The emergent light is then temporally and spatially gated to preferentially pass the ballistic component and the snake-like component. Preferably, the temporal and spatial gating is achieved by positioning the Kerr cell of an optical Kerr gate at the 2F spectral plane of a 4F Kerr-Fourier imaging system. At the appropriate time, that portion of the Kerr cell located at the focal point of the 2F spectral plane is gated open, allowing predominantly ballistic and snake-like components of the transilluminated light to pass therethrough. A cooled CCD detector is positioned at the 4F spectral plane to form a 2-dimensional image of the temporally and spatially gated light.

摘要翻译： 在混浊介质中或其后形成半透明物体的二维图像的方法。 在一个实施例中，该方法包括如下步骤：以超快脉冲光照射半透明物体的一侧，该光从混浊介质的相反侧出射，该混浊介质由弹道组件，蛇状部件 和漫射分量。 射出的光然后被时间和空间门控以优先通过弹道组件和蛇状部件。 优选地，时间和空间门控通过将光学克尔门的克尔单元定位在4F克尔傅立叶成像系统的2F频谱平面来实现。 在适当的时间，位于2F光谱平面的焦点处的克尔单元的该部分是开门的，允许透射的光的主要弹道和蛇状部件通过。 冷却的CCD检测器位于4F光谱平面处，以形成时间和空间门控光的二维图像。

公开(公告)号：US5636050A

公开(公告)日：1997-06-03

申请号：US186265

申请日：1994-02-15

申请人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Ping-Pei Ho ,  Lina Yang ,  Quan Z. Wang

发明人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Ping-Pei Ho ,  Lina Yang ,  Quan Z. Wang

IPC分类号： G01J11/00 ,  G02B26/00

CPC分类号： G01J11/00

摘要： An optical streak camera includes an optical collimator, an all optical deflector, a detector and a display.

摘要翻译： 光学条纹照相机包括光学准直仪，全光学偏转器，检测器和显示器。

公开(公告)号：US06495833B1

公开(公告)日：2002-12-17

申请号：US09598705

申请日：2000-06-21

申请人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Ping-Pei Ho

发明人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Ping-Pei Ho

IPC分类号： G01N2188

CPC分类号： G01N21/4795 ,  G01N21/359 ,  G01N21/8422

摘要： A system for non-destructively imaging surfaces through a coating, in accordance with the present invention, includes a near-infrared (NIR) light source for illuminating a coated surface. A detector is positioned in an operative relationship with the NIR light source to receive light backscattered from the coated surface and from the coating. A gating device is positioned in an operative relationship with the detector to selectively permit light to pass to the detector to measure optical characteristics of the backscattered light such that determinations of a state of a surface below the coating is determined based on the optical characteristics of the backscattered light. Methods for performing the non-destructive imaging of the present invention are also disclosed.

摘要翻译： 根据本发明的用于通过涂层非破坏性地成像表面的系统包括用于照射涂覆表面的近红外（NIR）光源。 检测器与NIR光源处于可操作的关系中，以接收从涂覆表面和涂层反射的光。 选通装置与检测器处于可操作的关系中，以选择性地允许光通过检测器以测量背向散射光的光学特性，使得基于涂层的光学特性确定涂层下面的表面状态的确定 背散射光。 还公开了用于执行本发明的非破坏性成像的方法。

公开(公告)号：US06240312B1

公开(公告)日：2001-05-29

申请号：US09178275

申请日：1998-10-23

申请人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Scott Alfano ,  Quan-Zhen Wang ,  Ping Pei Ho

发明人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Scott Alfano ,  Quan-Zhen Wang ,  Ping Pei Ho

IPC分类号： A61B600

CPC分类号： A61B1/041 ,  A61B1/00016 ,  A61B1/00027 ,  A61B1/00156 ,  A61B5/0031 ,  A61B5/07 ,  A61B34/35 ,  A61B34/72 ,  A61B2034/303 ,  A61B2562/028 ,  Y10S128/903

摘要： Remote-controllable, micro-scale, robotic device for use in diagnosing and/or treating abnormalities inside a human body in vivo. The device has a length from 0.1 mm to 10 mm and can be introduced into the body either from natural body openings or by injection into the blood stream. Once inside the body, the device can be guided to different locations in the body by an outside operator using radio controls and computer software. 2-dimensional image information and spectroscopic information (e.g., fluorescence, absorption, elastic scattering, Raman, etc.) gathered by the device inside the body are transmitted by video and radio signals to a computer located externally relative to the body. The transmitted information is processed, analyzed and displayed by the external computer for use by the outside operator. The outside operator can then make a diagnosis and, if applicable, instruct the device to render a treatment on the examined area. Such treatments include the ablation of tissue using lasers or the like and the binding of ruptured tissues together using chemical glue, UV cured epoxy materials or photochemical or photo-ionization techniques using near-infrared light to weld tissue from absorption at water bands.

摘要翻译： 用于诊断和/或治疗体内人体内异常的远程可控，微型，机器人装置。 该装置具有0.1mm至10mm的长度，并且可以从天然体开口或通过注入血流引入体内。 一旦进入体内，可以通过外部操作员使用无线电控制和计算机软件将装置引导到身体的不同位置。 通过视频和无线电信号将由身体内部的装置收集的2维图像信息和光谱信息（例如，荧光，吸收，弹性散射，拉曼等）传输到相对于身体外部的计算机。 所发送的信息由外部计算机处理，分析和显示以供外部操作者使用。 然后，外部操作人员进行诊断，如果适用，则指示设备对被检查区域进行处理。 这种治疗包括使用激光等消融组织，并使用化学胶，UV固化的环氧树脂材料或使用近红外光的光化学或光电离技术将破裂的组织结合在一起，以将组织从水带吸收焊接。

公开(公告)号：US5371368A

公开(公告)日：1994-12-06

申请号：US920193

申请日：1992-07-23

申请人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Ping-Pei Ho ,  Leming Wang

发明人： Robert R. Alfano ,  Ping-Pei Ho ,  Leming Wang

IPC分类号： A61B5/00 ,  G01N21/47 ,  G01N21/49

CPC分类号： A61B5/0091 ,  A61B5/4312 ,  G01N21/4795 ,  A61B5/7257 ,  G01N2021/4797

摘要： A system for imaging an object in or behind a highly scattering medium includes a laser for illuminating the highly scattering medium with a beam of light. The light emerging from the highly scattering medium consists of a ballistic component, a snake-like component and a diffuse component. A 4F Fourier imaging system with a Kerr gate located at 2F is used to form a time-space gated image of the emerging light, the time-space gated image consisting primarily of the ballistic component and the snake-like component.

摘要翻译： 用于在高度散射介质中或其后成像物体的系统包括用于以光束照射高散射介质的激光器。 从高度散射介质出射的光由弹道组件，蛇形部件和漫射部件组成。 使用位于2F的克尔门的4F傅立叶成像系统来形成主要由弹道组件和蛇形部件组成的时空门控图像。

公开(公告)号：US5227912A

公开(公告)日：1993-07-13

申请号：US784220

申请日：1991-10-30

申请人： Ping-Pei Ho ,  Robert R. Alfano

发明人： Ping-Pei Ho ,  Robert R. Alfano

IPC分类号： G02F1/01 ,  G02F1/35

CPC分类号： G02F1/3515 ,  G02F1/3511 ,  G02F2203/26 ,  Y10S372/70

摘要： A multiple-stage optical Kerr gate system for gating a probe pulse of light. In a first embodiment, the system includes at least two optical Kerr gates, each Kerr gate including a polarizer, an optical Kerr cell actuable by a pump pulse, and an analyzer. In a second embodiment, at least one of the Kerr cells may be eliminated by arranging the respective sets of polarizers and analyzers so that they share a common Kerr cell. Gated pulses obtained using the present system typically have a signal to noise ratio that is at least 500 times better than that for gated pulses obtained using a single optical Kerr gate system. The system of the present invention may also include means for causing the pump pulse to arrive at the second Kerr cell (in the case of the first embodiment) or at a single Kerr cell a second time (in the case of the second embodiment) non-synchronously with the arrival of the probe pulse thereat. In this manner, gated pulses may be obtained that are much shorter in duration than pulses gated with a single optical Kerr gate system.