System and method for determining tissue characteristics

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided that interrogate, receive, and analyze full emission spectra for at least one fluorescence excitation wavelength and for at least one reflectance measurement to determine tissue characteristics. The method includes illuminating a first portion of a target tissue with optical energy, forming a first image of the target tissue, illuminating a second portion of the target tissue with optical energy, performing spectroscopic measurements on optical energy reflected and/or emitted by the target tissue upon illumination of the second portion of the target tissue with optical energy, and determining tissue characteristics of the target tissue based on the results of the spectroscopic measurements. The apparatus and system include a base unit having illumination, detection and control sub-units, the illumination sub-unit providing illumination optical energy for illuminating a target tissue and the detection sub-unit detecting tissue characteristics of a target tissue, a separate tissue interface unit, and a pathway coupling the base unit and the tissue interface unit. The system and apparatus may also include a tissue interface unit configured to perform spectroscopic measurements on a target tissue, a docking unit configured to support the tissue interface when not in use, the docking unit including an illumination source and a processor that processes spectrographic measurements results received from the tissue interface unit, and a pathway coupling the docking unit and the tissue interface unit.

1 . An apparatus for determining tissue characteristics, comprising: a base unit comprising illumination, detection and control sub-units, the illumination sub-unit providing illumination optical energy for illuminating a target tissue and the detection sub-unit detecting tissue characteristics of a target tissue; a separate tissue interface unit; and a pathway coupling the base unit and the tissue interface unit. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pathway is configured to deliver optical energy from the base unit to the tissue interface unit and to deliver collected optical energy reflected and/or emitted by the target tissue from the tissue interface unit to the base unit. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the pathway comprises an illumination pathway and a collection pathway, wherein the illumination pathway is configured to deliver optical energy from the base unit to the tissue interface unit and the collection pathway is configured to deliver collected optical energy reflected and/or emitted by a target tissue from the tissue interface unit to the base unit. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tissue interface unit comprises a tube having a pathway configured to deliver optical energy received from the base unit to a target tissue and to receive collected optical energy reflected and/or emitted by the target tissue. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the tube pathway comprises an illumination pathway and a collection pathway, wherein the illumination pathway is configured to deliver optical energy received from the base unit to the target tissue and the collection pathway is configured to receive collected optical energy reflected and/or emitted by the tissue. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the illumination pathway and collection pathway comprise at least one optical fiber. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the tissue interface unit further comprises an illumination source and a second illumination pathway configured to deliver illumination optical energy from the illumination source of the tissue interface unit to the target tissue. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising an imaging device and an image pathway configured to deliver image optical energy reflected off the target tissue to the imaging device. 
   
   
       9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the tissue interface unit comprises a base structure, the tube being configured to be attachable to the base structure. 
   
   
       11 - 23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . A tissue interface unit for use in an apparatus for determining tissue characteristics, comprising: a tube; a first pathway in optical communication with the tube and configured to deliver optical energy received from a base unit to a target tissue and to receive collected optical energy reflected and/or emitted by the target tissue; an illumination source; and a second pathway in optical communication with the tube and configured to deliver illumination optical energy from the illumination source to the target tissue. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , further comprising: an imaging device; and a third pathway configured to deliver optical energy reflected from the target tissue to the imaging device. 
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the first pathway comprises an illumination pathway and a collection pathway, wherein the illumination pathway is configured to deliver optical energy received from the base unit to the target tissue and the collection pathway is configured to receive collected optical energy reflected and/or emitted by the target tissue. 
   
   
       28 - 30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . A method of detecting tissue characteristics, comprising: illuminating a first portion of a target tissue with optical energy; forming a first image of the target tissue; illuminating a second portion of the target tissue with optical energy; performing spectroscopic measurements on optical energy reflected and/or emitted by the target tissue upon illumination of the second portion of the target tissue with optical energy; and determining tissue characteristics of the target tissue based on the results of the spectroscopic measurements. 
   
   
       32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein illuminating a first portion of a target tissue with optical energy comprises illuminating a first portion of a target tissue with optical energy from a first illumination source and illuminating a second portion of the target tissue with optical energy comprises illuminating a second portion of the target tissue with optical energy with a second illumination source. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising: forming a second image of the target tissue using the optical energy reflected and/or emitted by the target tissue upon illumination with the optical energy from the second illumination source. 
   
   
       35 - 37 . (canceled) 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein illuminating a first portion of a target tissue with optical energy comprises flood illuminating the first portion of the target tissue, and wherein the second portion of the target tissue is divided into a plurality of detection points arranged in columns and illuminating a second portion of the target tissue with optical energy comprises illuminating the plurality of detection points one column at a time. 
   
   
       39 . A method of detecting tissue characteristics, comprising: dividing an area of target tissue into a plurality of detection points arranged in columns; illuminating the plurality of detection points one column at a time; performing spectroscopic measurements on optical energy reflected and/or emitted by the target tissue; and determining tissue characteristics of the target tissue based on the results of the spectroscopic measurements. 
   
   
       40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the plurality of detection points cover substantially the entire cervix. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the plurality of detection points cover an area of approximately 25 mm in diameter. 
   
   
       43 - 44 . (canceled) 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the plurality of detection points are illuminated using a probe positioned a predetermined distance from the target tissue. 
   
   
       46 - 63 . (canceled)