Abstract:
The invention relates to imaging methods and systems. The systems may comprise a white light source configured to generate light in a first wavelength range, an excitation source configured to generate light at one or more wavelengths for exciting a fluorescent substance, a first detector configured to acquire reflectance image data that represents white light reflected from a subject, and a second detector configured to acquire fluorescence image data that represents fluorescence emissions from the subject. At least one of the one or more wavelengths generated by the excitation light source is within the first wavelength range of the white light source. The fluorescent substance may be, for example, a fluorescent dye that is injected into a patient before or during a surgery. The system may also include an image processing engine and a display. The image processing engine may receive the reflectance image data and the fluorescence image data and generate a merged image in which the fluorescence image data is superimposed on the reflectance image data. The display may be used by a surgeon, for example, to more effectively visualize the surgical site during surgery.
Abstract:
A method and system for fluorescence imaging of a target in a subject comprising a scattering medium is provided. The method comprises illuminating one or more points on a surface of the scattering medium using an illumination source, wherein the plurality of points define an illumination region, collecting emitted light from an illumination region and an area away from the illumination region, and generating an image of the scattering medium using the emitted light.
Abstract:
The invention relates to image processing systems and methods for surgical applications The method may comprise acquiring a set of frames of reflectance data, acquiring a set of frames of contrast data representing, applying a combination operator to the set of frames of contrast data to generate a combined contrast image, and generating a merged image based on the combined contrast image and at least one of the frames of reflectance data The contrast data may comprise fluorescence emissions from an injected fluorescent substance The combination operator may comprise a maximum intensity projection (MIP) routine The system may comprise a first reflecting detector, a second contrast frame detector, and a processor configured to apply a combination operator to the set of frames of contrast data to generate a combined contrast image and generate a merged image.
Abstract:
A method and system for localization of fluorescence (120) in a scattering medium (104) such as a biological tissue are provided. In comparison to other optical imaging techniques, this disclosure provides for improved spatial resolution, decreased computational time for reconstructions, and allows anatomical and functional imaging simultaneously. The method including the steps of illuminating the scattering medium with an excitation light (102) to excite the fluorescence; modulating a portion of the emitted light from the fluorescence within the scattering medium using an ultrasonically induced variation (108) of material properties of the scattering medium (104) such as the refractive index; detecting the modulated optional signal at a surface of the scattering medium; and reconstructing a spatial distribution of the fluorescence in the scattering medium from the detected signal.