Duke University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Adam Wax

Changhuei Yang

Michael S Feld

Ramachandra Rac Dasari

John W Pyhtila

Gabriel Popescu

William J Brown

Christopher M Fang-Yen

Michael Crose

Robert N Graf

Francisco E Robles

Thomas James Matthews

Natan Tzvi Shaked

Lev T Perelman

Howard Levinson

Yizheng Zhu

Christopher Fang-yen

Manuel Medina

Nicholas Shaheen

Derek Ho

Kengyeh Chu

Zachary Steelman

Michael G Giacomelli

Systems and methods for multi-modal imaging using an endoscope having an instrument channel, where the imaging is achieved without using the channel, are disclosed. The systems can include a multi-modal imaging paddle housing couple to a distal end of the endoscope. The housing can receive at least two imaging probes. The imaging probes can be an angle-resolved low-coherence interferometry probe (a/LCI) and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe. The housing can be scaled and positioned to be visible via the endoscope camera. The system and method can include locating the housing in a region of interest using the endoscope camera, acquiring OCT measurements to identify targets, and then acquiring a/LCI measurements at the identified targets.

Devices, systems, and methods for imaging in certain endoscopic environments

An optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan device includes an OCT scan device housing, an interferometer disposed within the OCT scan device housing and including a light source, a fiber optic coupler including an interferometer output, a reference-arm, and a sample-arm. The OCT scan device further includes a power source configured to provide power to the light source and the remaining components of the OCT scan device, and a controller disposed within the OCT scan device housing and configured to adjust lens focusing parameters in the reference-arm and the sample-arm, and control a scanning function of an optical beam emitting from the sample-arm. The OCT scan device is further configured to transmit and receive control instructions and transmit fundus image data.

Optical coherence tomography device and system

An optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan device includes an OCT scan device housing, an interferometer disposed in within the OCT scan device housing and including a light source, a fiber optic coupler including an interferometer output, a reference-arm, and a sample-arm. The OCT scan device further includes a power source configured to provide power to the light source and the remaining components of the OCT scan device, and a controller disposed within the OCT scan device housing and configured to adjust lens focusing parameters in the reference-arm and the sample-arm, and control a scanning function of an optical beam emitting from the sample-arm. The OCT scan device is further configured to transmit and receive control instructions and transmit fundus image data.

A method of assessing tissue health comprises the steps of obtaining depth-resolved spectra of a selected area of in vivo tissue, and assessing the health of the selected area based on the depth-resolved structural information of the scatterers. Obtaining depth-resolved spectra of the selected area comprises directing a sample beam towards the selected area at an angle, and receiving an angle-resolved scattered sample beam. The angle-resolved scattered sample beam is cross-correlated with the reference beam to produce an angle-resolved cross-correlated signal about the selected area, which is spectrally dispersed to yield an angle-resolved, spectrally-resolved cross-correlation profile having depth-resolved information about the selected area. The angle-resolved, spectrally-resolved cross-correlation profile is processed to obtain depth-resolved information about scatterers in the selected area.

Systems and methods for endoscopic angle-resolved low coherence interferometry

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for deep spectroscopic imaging of a biological sample. In an aspect, a system includes a broad bandwidth light source configured to generate an illumination beam, an interferometer, and a spectrometer. The interferometer includes a first beam splitter configured to split the illumination beam into an incident beam and a reference beam; an optical lens directs the incident beam onto a biological sample at a predefined offset from corresponding optical axis, and receive a beam scattered from the biological sample. The beams are configured to intersect with each other within a focal zone of the optical lens. Photons of the incident beam undergo multiple forward scattering within the biological sample. A second beam splitter configured to receive and superimpose the scattered and reference beams, to generate an interference beam. The spectrometer uses a spectral domain detection technique to assess tissue properties of the biological sample.

Systems and methods for deep spectroscopic imaging of biological samples with use of an interferometer and spectrometer

Current apparatuses and methods for analysis of spectroscopic optical coherence tomography (SOCT) signals suffer from an inherent tradeoff between time (depth) and frequency (wavelength) resolution. In one non-limiting embodiment, multiple or dual window (DW) apparatuses and methods for reconstructing time-frequency distributions (TFDs) that applies two windows that independently determine the optical and temporal resolution is provided. For example, optical resolution is provided. For example, optical resolution may relate to scattering information about a sample, and temporal resolution may be related to absorption or depth related information. The effectiveness of the apparatuses and methods is demonstrated in simulations and in processing of measured OCT signals that contain fields which vary in time and frequency. The DW technique may yield TFDs that maintain high spectral and temporal resolution and are free from the artifacts and limitations commonly observed with other processing methods.

Multiple window processing schemes for spectroscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fourier domain low coherence interferometry

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems for phase measurement of biological materials which can be applied to the fields of, for example, cellular physiology and neuroscience. These preferred embodiments are based on principles of phase measurements and imaging technologies. The scientific motivation for using phase measurements and imaging technologies is derived from, for example, cellular biology at the sub-micron level which can include, without limitation, imaging origins of dysplasia, cellular communication, neuronal transmission and implementation of the genetic code. The structure and dynamics of sub-cellular constituents cannot be currently studied in their native state using the existing methods and technologies including, for example, x-ray and neutron scattering.

Systems and methods for phase measurements

Systems and methods of angle-resolved low coherence interferometry based optical correlation are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes directing a sample beam towards a sample for producing a scattered sample beam from the sample. The method also includes receiving the scattered sample beam at a multitude of scattering angles in at least two directions. Further, the method includes cross-correlating the scattered sample beam with a reference beam to produce a two-dimensional angle and depth resolved profile of the sample scattered beam. The method also includes processing the two-dimensional angle and depth scattered profile to obtain correlated information about scattering structures in the sample.

Systems and methods of angle-resolved low coherence interferometry based optical correlation

Current apparatuses and methods for analysis of spectroscopic optical coherence tomography (SOCT) signals suffer from an inherent tradeoff between time (depth) and frequency (wavelength) resolution. In one non-limiting embodiment, multiple or dual window (DW) apparatuses and methods for reconstructing time-frequency distributions (TFDs) that applies two windows that independently determine the optical and temporal resolution is provided. For example, optical resolution may relate to scattering information about a sample, and temporal resolution may be related to absorption or depth related information. The effectiveness of the apparatuses and methods is demonstrated in simulations and in processing of measured OCT signals that contain fields which vary in time and frequency. The DW technique may yield TFDs that maintain high spectral and temporal resolution and are free from the artifacts and limitations commonly observed with other processing methods.

Dual window processing schemes for spectroscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fourier domain low coherence interferometry

Fourier domain a/LCI (faLCI) system and method which enables in vivo data acquisition at rapid rates using a single scan. Angle-resolved and depth resolved spectra information is obtained with one scan. The reference arm can remain fixed with respect to the sample due to only one scan required. A reference signal and a reflected sample signal are cross-correlated and dispersed at a multitude of reflected angles off of the sample, thereby representing reflections from a multitude of points on the sample at the same time in parallel. Information about all depths of the sample at each of the multitude of different points on the sample can be obtained with one scan on the order of approximately 40 milliseconds. From the spatial, cross-correlated reference signal, structural (size) information can also be obtained using techniques that allow size information of scatterers to be obtained from angle-resolved data.

Fourier domain a/LCI (faLCI) system and method which enables in vivo data acquisition at rapid rates using a single scan. Angle-resolved and depth-resolved spectra information is obtained with one scan. The reference arm can remain fixed with respect to the sample due to only one scan required. A reference signal and a reflected sample signal are cross-correlated and dispersed at a multitude of reflected angles off of the sample, thereby representing reflections from a multitude of points on the sample at the same time in parallel. Information about all depths of the sample at each of the multitude of different points on the sample can be obtained with one scan on the order of approximately 40 milliseconds. From the spatial, cross-correlated reference signal, structural (size) information can also be obtained using techniques that allow size information of scatterers to be obtained from angle-resolved data.

Disclosed herein are interferometric systems having reflective chambers and related methods. According to an aspect, an interferometric system may include a light source for generating an illumination beam that propagates towards a sample. A sample holder may hold the sample and include a partially reflective cover for allowing a first portion of the illumination beam to pass therethrough to interact with the sample to produce a sample beam that propagates substantially along an optical axis. The cover may be oriented at an angle for reflecting a second portion of the illumination beam to produce a reference beam that propagates at a predetermined angle with respect to the optical axis. An imaging module may redirect the reference beam towards the optical axis at a detection plane. A detector may intercept the sample and reference beams and may generate a holographic representation of the sample based on the beams.

Interferometric systems having reflective chambers and related methods

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems for phase measurement which address the problem of phase noise using combinations of a number of strategies including, but not limited to, common-path interferometry, phase referencing, active stabilization and differential measurement. Embodiment are directed to optical devices for imaging small biological objects with light. These embodiments can be applied to the fields of, for example, cellular physiology and neuroscience. These preferred embodiments are based on principles of phase measurements and imaging technologies. The scientific motivation for using phase measurements and imaging technologies is derived from, for example, cellular biology at the sub-micron level which can include, without limitation, imaging origins of dysplasia, cellular communication, neuronal transmission and implementation of the genetic code. The structure and dynamics of sub-cellular constituents cannot be currently studied in their native state using the existing methods and technologies including, for example, x-ray and neutron scattering. In contrast, light based techniques with nanometer resolution enable the cellular machinery to be studied in its native state. Thus, preferred embodiments of the present invention include systems based on principles of interferometry and/or phase measurements and are used to study cellular physiology. These systems include principles of low coherence interferometry (LCI) using optical interferometers to measure phase, or light scattering spectroscopy (LSS) wherein interference within the cellular components themselves is used, or in the alternative the principles of LCI and LSS can be combined to result in systems of the present invention.

An apparatus and method for obtaining depth-resolved spectra for the purpose of determining the size of scatterers by measuring their elastic scattering properties. Depth resolution is achieved by using a white light source in a Michelson interferometer and dispersing a mixed signal and reference fields. The measured spectrum is Fourier transformed to obtain an axial spatial cross-correlation between the signal and reference fields with near 1 &#x3bc;m depth-resolution. The spectral dependence of scattering by the sample is determined by windowing the spectrum to measure the scattering amplitude as a function of wavenumber.

Growing community of inventors

Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

Adam Wax