Pulsed Lighting Imaging Systems and Methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring patients utilizing reflectance avoidance as well as other imaging modalities. Information regarding perfusion, oxygen saturation and oxygen availability, as well as others may be obtained. System embodiments may include a light source, a light transport body configured to project light from the light source to an examination substrate and transmit light reflected by the examination substrate, and an analysis section in optical communication with the light transport body. The light source may be pulsed in order to improve the quality of video images produced by the systems.

1 . An imaging system for analyzing a biological substrate, comprising;
 a light source;   a light transport body configured to project light from the light source to the biological substrate and transmit light reflected by the biological substrate;   an analysis section in optical communication with the light transport body and having a video imaging system that utilizes a plurality of sets of field lines integrated over staggered time intervals that overlap in an overlap period; and   a controller in communication with the light source and video imaging system and configured to activate the light source substantially within the overlap period of the video imaging system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the analyzing section further comprises a reflectance avoidance imaging module, a reflectance spectrophotometry module, an fluorescence imaging module and a beam director in optical communication with the light transport body configured to direct at least a portion of the light to at least one of the reflectance avoidance imaging module, the reflectance spectrophotometry module, and the fluorescence imaging module. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the beam director is configured to be selectively actuated by a user. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the beam director comprises at least one device selected from the group consisting of a beam splitter, dichroic junction, prism, and mirror. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the light transport body further comprises one or more illumination passages configured to project light from the light source and an imaging passage configured to transmit the reflected light, wherein the imaging passage is optically isolated from the one or more illumination passages. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of incandescent lamps, gas discharge lamps, light emitting diodes, laser diodes, gas lasers, excimer lasers, solid state lasers, chemical lasers, dye lasers, infrared sources, and UV sources. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a lens positioned within an imaging passage and wherein the imaging passage is in optical communication with the video imaging system. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  further comprising one or more optical modulators positioned within the imaging passage. 
     
     
         9 . An imaging system for analyzing a biological substrate, comprising;
 an LED light source;   a light transport body configured to project light from the LED light source to the biological substrate from the side and transmit light reflected by the examination substrate;   an analysis section in optical communication with the light transport body, configured to receive light reflected by the biological substrate and having a reflectance avoidance imaging module, a reflectance spectrophotometry module, a fluorescence imaging module and a video imaging system that utilizes a plurality of sets of field lines integrated over staggered time intervals that overlap in an overlap period; and   a controller in communication with the LED light source and video imaging system and configured to synchronously pulse the LED light source substantially within the overlap period of the video imaging system.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a beam director in optical communication with the light transport body configured to direct at least a portion of the received light to at least one of the reflectance avoidance imaging module, the reflectance spectrophotometry module, and the fluorescence imaging module 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the light transport body further comprises one or more illumination passages which are positioned radially around an imaging passage. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the one or more illumination passages comprise one or more optical fibers configured to deliver illuminating energy from a remote location. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the light transport body has a proximal end and a distal end and wherein the LED light source comprises one or more LED's positioned at the distal end of the light transport body. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising an optically transparent disposable cap device configured to be detachably coupled to the distal end of the light transport body. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the LED light source comprises LED's emitting a single light wavelength. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the light transport body has a proximal end, a distal end and an engaging device disposed at the distal end of the light transport body. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the engaging device comprises an inflatable device configured to dissipate a pressure applied to the biological substrate. 
     
     
         18 . A method of monitoring a patient, comprising:
 providing an imaging system having a light source, a light transport body configured to project light from the light source to an examination substrate and transmit light reflected by the examination substrate, an analysis section in optical communication with the light transport body and having a video imaging system that utilizes a plurality of sets of field lines integrated over staggered time intervals that overlap in an overlap period and a controller configured to activate the light source substantially within the overlap period of the video imaging system;   illuminating a biological substrate of the patient with pulsed synchronized light from the light source during an overlap period of the video imaging system;   receiving light from below a surface of the biological substrate; and   generating an image of the biological substrate with the sets of field lines integrated during the overlap period.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the biological substrate comprises vascularized tissue and further comprising imaging microcirculation of the tissue and obtaining microcirculatory information. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 obtaining oxygen availability information, and adequacy of oxygenation of tissue cells information;   making an early and sensitive determination regarding states of shock, such as septic, hypovolemic, cardiogenic and obstructive septic shock, in patients; and   guiding resuscitation therapies aimed at correcting this condition.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein obtaining adequacy of oxygenation of tissue cells information comprises measuring tissue CO 2  or NADH via fluorescence imaging. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 obtaining oxygen availability information and the adequacy of oxygenation of tissue cells information; and   making an early and sensitive determination regarding cardiovascular disease and failure of the patient.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising illuminating the biological substrate without influencing microcirculation of the biological substrate. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising reflectance filtering of the received light that includes OPS imaging or Mainstream Dark Field imaging. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising reflectance filtering of the received light that includes Mainstream Dark Field imaging. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18  wherein illuminating the biological substrate comprises sidestream dark field imaging wherein incident and reflected light do not travel down the same pathway.