System and method for enhancing confocal reflectance images of tissue specimens

Abstract

A system using cross polarization effects and an enhancement agent having citric or other similar alpha hydroxy acid to enhance confocal microscope reflectance images and particularly images of the nuclei of BCCs (basal cell carcinomas) and SCCs (squamous cell carcinomas) in the confocal reflectance images of excised tumor slices obtained during Mohs surgery by illuminating the tissue being imaged (a tumor slice) using polarized light. The reflected illumination is passed to a polarization analyzer, which passes the polarization component which is crossed with respect to the polarization of the illuminating light. The light from the analyzer is passed through the confocal aperture and detected. The section of the tissue either at the surface or within the tissue is scanned and the reflectance image is produced with enhanced visualization of the cellular or nuclear structure thereof thereby enabling determination of the extent of the tumor (cancerous cells) in the section. A method is also provided using the system for diagnosing cancerous cells in skin tissue.

1 - 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . A method for confocal imaging tissue comprising the steps of: 
 generating an illumination beam;    scanning the beam to the tissue;    receiving returned light from the tissue representing of a section of the tissue;    cross polarizing the illumination beam and the returned light with respect to each other;    detecting the returned light to form an image of the section of the tissue, and the step of treating said sample with a solution of alpha hydroxy acid which enhances the brightness of one or more tissue structures in the image of the section of the tissue.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein said polarization controlling step further comprises the step of changing polarization state of at least one o the illumination beam and the returned light to effect characteristics of tissue structures in the image of the tissue section to enable determination of which of the tissue structures are cancerous.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein said tissue is skin tissue.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the tissue is one of naturally exposed tissue and surgically excised tissue.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 8  further comprising the step of applying said solution to said tissue.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein said solution is applied to said tissue by one of coating, washing, dipping, or rinsing with said image enhancing agent.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein said solution is provided by a gel encapsulating said tissue.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein said solution is applied by placing said tissue in a bath of said solution.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein said solution is of 3-20% concentration of said acid.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein said solution is of 5% concentration of said acid.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 8  further comprising the step of analyzing cells in said images to diagnose which of said cells are cancerous.  
   
   
       19 . A method for detecting cancerous basal cell and squamous cell in dermal tissue with confocal reflected light imaging, said method comprising the steps of: 
 washing the tissue to be imaged with a solution of citric or other alpha hydroxy acid which whitens epithelial cells and compacts cromatin of the tissue;    imaging the tissue with a confocal microscope to provide confocal images of basal and squamous cells in which the confocal microscope directs light into the tissue and collects reflected light representing confocal images of the tissue;    changing the polarization state of the light used by the confocal microscope to increase the contrast of the nuclei of basal and squamous cells in the confocal images; and    analyzing the nuclei of the basal and squamous cells in the confocal images to diagnose which of such cells are cancerous.    
   
   
       20 - 36 . (canceled)  
   
   
       37 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein said alpha hydroxy acid represents citric acid.