Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080221388 | SIDE VIEWING OPTICAL FIBER ENDOSCOPE - An optical fiber conveys light from a source at a proximal end, to a distal end, where a piezoelectric material tube applies a force that causes the distal end of the optical fiber to scan in a desired pattern. Light from the distal end of the optical fiber passes through a lens system and is at least partially reflected by a reflective surface toward a side of the scope, to illuminate tissue within a patient's body. Light received from the internal tissue is reflected back either to collection optical fibers, which convey the light to proximally disposed optical detectors, or directly toward distal optical detectors. The optical detectors produce electrical signals indicative of an intensity of the light that can be used for producing an image of the internal tissue. The light received from the tissue can be either scattered, polarized, fluorescent, or filtered, depending on the illumination light. | 09-11-2008 |
20080243030 | MULTIFUNCTION CANNULA TOOLS - Different exemplary embodiments of cannula tools each perform multiple functions. Each cannula tool is able to dislodge or cut away a biopsy sample from a desired site within a patient's body, and then collect the sample. The cannula tool, which is disposed at the distal end of an elongate flexible tube is guided to the desired site over a guide wire. The cannula tool either abrades cells from adjacent tissue with an abrasive surface, or cuts away a sample of tissue with a sharpened cutting edge or with a loop that is electrically heated or pulled to snare the sample. The biopsy sample is then drawn with a bodily fluid or introduced fluid through an annulus formed between the guide wire and the inner surface of the elongate flexible tube or through a lumen, for collection at the proximal end of the elongate flexible tube. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243031 | CATHETER WITH IMAGING CAPABILITY ACTS AS GUIDEWIRE FOR CANNULA TOOLS - A catheter having an imaging device on its distal end serves as a guidewire for cannula tools, enabling the tools to be advanced to a desired site in a patient's body. One exemplary embodiment of such a catheter is a scanning fiber endoscope. The images facilitate navigation through linked body lumens and also enable an operator to view a site where a biopsy sample is to be taken with a cannula tool. Exemplary cannula tools include bristles or sharp points that scrub cells from adjacent tissue, a biopsy needle that can be thrust into tissue, a loop that cuts away tissue, a cutting edge that slices tissue from a site, and forceps. The sample can be carried by a bodily or introduced fluid to a proximal end of the catheter through an annular gap between the catheter and the cannula tool, or the cannula tool can retain the sample. | 10-02-2008 |
20080249369 | Compact scanning fiber device - Scanning fiber devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a scanning fiber device may include an actuator tube. The scanning fiber device may also include a cantilevered free end portion of an optical fiber. The cantilevered free end portion of the optical fiber may have an attached end that is coupled with the actuator tube. The cantilevered free end portion of the optical fiber may also have a free end to be moved by the actuator tube. At least a portion of a length of the cantilevered free end portion of the optical fiber may be disposed within the actuator tube. Methods of using scanning fiber devices are also disclosed. | 10-09-2008 |
20080262312 | SHADOWING PIPE MOSAICING ALGORITHMS WITH APPLICATION TO ESOPHAGEAL ENDOSCOPY - In connection with imaging an inner surface of a body lumen, a mosaiced image is created from discrete images or a video produced with a small camera, as the camera is moved through the lumen. In one embodiment, a tethered capsule with a scanning optical fiber provides the images, although other types of endoscopic cameras can instead be used. A surface model of the lumen and camera pose estimates for each image or frame are required for this task. Camera pose parameters, which define camera alignment, are determined for six degrees-of-freedom. The size of each frame projected as a strip on the surface model depends on the longitudinal movement of the camera. The projected frames are concatenated, and the cylinder is unrolled to produce the mosaic image. Further processing, such as applying surface domain blending, improves the quality of the mosaic image. | 10-23-2008 |
20080291597 | Scanning beam device having different image acquisition modes - A method of one aspect may include monitoring movement of a scanning beam image acquisition device. Images may be acquired with the scanning beam image acquisition device using a first image acquisition mode when the monitoring indicates that the scanning beam image acquisition device is moving. Images may be acquired with the scanning beam image acquisition device using a second image acquisition mode when the monitoring indicates that the scanning beam image acquisition device is substantially still. The second image acquisition mode is different than the first image acquisition mode. In one aspect, the first mode has a relatively higher frame rate and relatively lower number of lines of image resolution than the second mode. | 11-27-2008 |
20090208072 | 3D IMAGING OF LIVE CELLS WITH ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION - A method for 3D imaging of cells in an optical tomography system includes moving a biological object relatively to a microscope objective to present varying angles of view. The biological object is illuminated with radiation having a spectral bandwidth limited to wavelengths between 150 nm and 390 nm. Radiation transmitted through the biological object and the microscope objective is sensed with a camera from a plurality of differing view angles. A plurality of pseudoprojections of the biological object from the sensed radiation is formed and the plurality of pseudoprojections is reconstructed to form a 3D image of the cell. | 08-20-2009 |
20090316116 | SCANNING LASER PROJECTION DISPLAY FOR SMALL HANDHELD DEVICES - Image projection devices, high-speed fiber scanned displays and related methods for projecting an image onto a surface and interfacing with the projected image are provided. A method for projecting one or more images and obtaining feedback with an optical input-output assembly is provided. The input-output assembly comprising a light-scanning optical fiber and a sensor. The method includes generating a sequence of light in response to one or more image representations and a scan pattern of the optical fiber, articulating the optical fiber in the scan pattern, projecting the sequence of light from the articulated optical fiber, and generating a feedback signal with the sensor in response to reflections of the sequence of light. | 12-24-2009 |
20100262016 | METHODS FOR ASSESSING A PHYSIOLOGICAL STATE OF A MAMMALIAN RETINA - In one aspect the present invention provides methods for assessing a physiological state of a mammalian retina in vivo, the methods of this aspect of the invention each include the steps of (a) irradiating a portion of a mammalian retina, in vivo, with light having a wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 1000 nm at an intensity sufficient to stimulate two-photon-induced fluorescence in the retina; and (b) assessing a physiological state of the retina by analyzing the fluorescence. | 10-14-2010 |
20100322494 | Focal Plane Tracking for Optical Microtomography - An optical tomography system for imaging an object of interest including a light source for illuminating the object of interest with a plurality of radiation beams. The object of interest is held within an object containing tube such that it is illuminated by the plurality of radiation beams to produce emerging radiation from the object containing tube, a detector array is located to receive the emerging radiation and produce imaging data used by a mechanism for tracking the object of interest. | 12-23-2010 |
20110004272 | SCANNING LASER DEVICE AND METHODS OF USE - In one aspect, the invention provides vision prosthesis systems. Exemplary vision prosthesis systems of the invention comprise a light energy generator operably connected to a wearable head piece comprising a device for directing light energy produced by the light energy generator onto a mammalian retina, wherein the light energy generator is tuned to emit light energy of sufficient power to modulate neural activity in the retina. In another aspect, the invention provides methods for irradiating neurons in the retina of the mammalian eye by directing light energy produced by a light energy generator onto a mammalian retina. The methods of the invention may be used to directly modulate the activity of retinal neurons or to introduce molecules into retinal cells. | 01-06-2011 |
20120145926 | 3D IMAGING OF LIVE CELLS WITH ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION - A method for 3D imaging of cells in an optical tomography system includes moving a biological object relatively to a microscope objective to present varying angles of view. The biological object is illuminated with radiation having a spectral bandwidth limited to wavelengths between 150 nm and 390 nm. Radiation transmitted through the biological object and the microscope objective is sensed with a camera from a plurality of differing view angles. A plurality of pseudoprojections of the biological object from the sensed radiation is formed and the plurality of pseudoprojections is reconstructed to form a 3D image of the cell. | 06-14-2012 |
20120196320 | Optical Projection Tomography Microscopy (OPTM) for Large Specimen Sizes - Claimed is an imaging and diagnostic system and method for focal scanning of a specimen using optical projection tomographic microscopy and computer generation of three-dimensional images. One embodiment comprises a light source and an imaging system having an adjustable focal position which acquires a plurality of digital 2D projection images of biological tissue placed within a specimen tube that translates and rotates past an optical lens in a helical pattern. A computer captures the images and generates a 3D composite image. Also claimed is a system and method for preparing a specimen for optical microscopy. One embodiment comprises fixing, staining, and/or optically clearing biological tissue within a microfluidic specimen chamber prior to placement in a specimen tube. | 08-02-2012 |
20130158346 | Catheterscope 3D Guidance and Interface System - Visual-assisted guidance of an ultra-thin flexible endoscope to a predetermined region of interest within a lung during a bronchoscopy procedure. The region may be an opacity-identified by non-invasive imaging methods, such as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) or as a malignant lung mass that was diagnosed in a previous examination. An embedded position sensor on the flexible endoscope indicates the position of the distal tip of the probe in a Cartesian coordinate system during the procedure. A visual display is continually updated, showing the present position and orientation of the marker in a 3-D graphical airway model generated from image reconstruction. The visual display also includes windows depicting a virtual fly-through perspective and real-time video images acquired at the head of the endoscope, which can be stored as data, with an audio or textual account. | 06-20-2013 |
20140342395 | OPTICAL PROJECTION TOMOGRAPHY MICROSCOPY (OPTM) FOR LARGE SPECIMEN SIZES - Claimed is an imaging and diagnostic system and method for focal scanning of a specimen using optical projection tomographic microscopy and computer generation of three-dimensional images. One embodiment comprises a light source and an imaging system having an adjustable focal position which acquires a plurality of digital 2D projection images of biological tissue placed within a specimen tube that translates and rotates past an optical lens in a helical pattern. A computer captures the images and generates a 3D composite image. Also claimed is a system and method for preparing a specimen for optical microscopy. One embodiment comprises fixing, staining, and/or optically clearing biological tissue within a microfluidic specimen chamber prior to placement in a specimen tube. | 11-20-2014 |