Optical spectroscopic device for the identification of cervical cancer

Abstract

A medical examination device used for the detection of pre-cancerous and cancerous tissue has an illumination source, a visualization unit, a contacting optical probe, a detector and a process unit. One embodiment of the apparatus includes both a non-contacting macroscopic viewing device (the visualization unit) for visualizing an interior surface of the cervix, as well as a fiber optic wand (contacting optical probe) for spectrally analyzing a microscopic view of the tissue.

1 . A medical examination device comprising:
 an illumination source, wherein the illumination source includes a lamp and a light directing device for selectably directing a beam of light from the lamp in a first direction or in a second direction;   a visualization unit that receives the beam of light directed in the first direction from the illumination source and radiates a tissue with the received beam of light, the visualization unit visualizes a macroscopic view of the tissue from the light emanating from the tissue illuminated with the beam of light;   a fiber optic probe including both an excitation fiber optic strand and a reception fiber optic strand, wherein the excitation fiber optic strand receives the beam of light directed in the second direction from the illumination source and transmits the received beam of light to radiate the tissue at a site of contact with a distal end of the probe, and wherein the collection fiber optic strand receives the light emanating from the tissue illuminated with the beam of light from the excitation fiber optic strand and transmits the light to a detector for spectral analysis.   
     
     
         2 . The medical examination device of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter wheel between the lamp and the light directing device. 
     
     
         3 . The medical examination device of  claim 1 , wherein the lamp includes a plurality of selectable LEDs. 
     
     
         4 . The medical examination device of  claim 1 , wherein the light directing device includes a mirror that is reciprocable between a first mirror position and a second mirror position. 
     
     
         5 . The medical examination device of  claim 1 , wherein the light directing device includes a beam splitter. 
     
     
         6 . The medical examination device of  claim 1 , wherein the visualization unit includes an occular device for visualizing the macroscopic view of the tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The medical examination device of  claim 1 , wherein the visualization unit includes a camera for recording the macroscopic view of the tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The medical examination device of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber optic probe has a transverse distal end for contacting the tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The medical examination device of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber optic probe includes a handle, a shaft, and a bi-directional fiber optic bundle with the reception fiber optic strand centrally positioned and surrounded by multiple coaxial excitation fiber optic strands. 
     
     
         10 . The medical examination device of  claim 9 , further comprising a disposable sheath for covering the shaft of the fiber optic probe. 
     
     
         11 . The medical examination device of  claim 1 , wherein the beam of light used to radiate the tissue for fluorescence excitation has a wavelength band of about 455-465 nm, 410-430 nm, 375-385 nm, or 340-360 nm. 
     
     
         12 . The medical examination device of  claim 1 , wherein the beam of light used to radiate the tissue for reflectance visualization has a wavelength band of about 400-700 nm, 455-465 nm, or 410-430 nm. 
     
     
         13 . The medical examination device of  claim 12 , wherein the beam of light is polarized or unpolarized. 
     
     
         14 . A medical examination device comprising:
 an illumination source, wherein the illumination source includes a lamp and a plurality of selectably engaged filters for preparing a beam of light with a selected wavelength;   a light beam directing device for directing the beam of light into a first beam position or a second beam position;   a visualization unit that receives the beam of light in the first beam position and radiates a tissue with the received beam of light, the visualization unit further comprising an ocular device that visualizes a macroscopic view of the tissue from the light emanating from the tissue illuminated with the beam of light;   a fiber optic probe having a shaft, a handle, and a fiber optic bundle having a plurality of excitation fiber optic strands and a reception fiber optic strand, wherein the excitation fiber optic strands receive the beam of light in the second beam position and transmit the received beam of light to radiate the tissue at a site of contact with a distal end of the probe, and wherein the collection fiber optic strand receives the light emanating from the tissue illuminated with the second beam of light and transmits the light to a detector for spectral analysis.   
     
     
         15 . The medical examination device of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of filters are in a filter wheel. 
     
     
         16 . The medical examination device of  claim 14 , wherein the lamp is a plurality of selectable LEDs, a Xenon arc lamp, a Mercury arc lamp or a halogen lamp. 
     
     
         17 . The medical examination device of  claim 14 , wherein the light directing device includes a mirror that is reciprocable between a first mirror position and a second mirror position. 
     
     
         18 . The medical examination device of  claim 14 , wherein the light directing device includes a beam splitter. 
     
     
         19 . The medical examination device of  claim 14 , wherein the visualization unit includes a camera for recording the macroscopic view of the tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The medical examination device of  claim 14 , wherein the fiber optic probe has a transverse distal end for contacting the tissue. 
     
     
         21 . The medical examination device of  claim 14 , wherein the reception fiber optic strand is centrally positioned and surrounded by multiple coaxial excitation fiber optic strands. 
     
     
         22 . The medical examination device of  claim 14 , further comprising a disposable sheath for covering the shaft of the fiber optic probe. 
     
     
         23 . The medical examination device of  claim 14 , wherein the beam of light used to radiate the tissue for fluorescence excitation has a wavelength band of about 455-465 nm, 410-430 nm, 375-385 nm, or 340-360 nm. 
     
     
         24 . The medical examination device of  claim 14 , wherein the beam of light used to radiate the tissue for reflectance visualization has a wavelength band of about 400-700 nm, 455-465 nm, or 410-430 nm. 
     
     
         25 . The medical examination device of  claim 24 , wherein the beam of light is polarized or unpolarized. 
     
     
         26 . A method of screening for cervical cancer using spectral analysis comprising the steps of:
 illuminating a portion of a cervix with a first beam of light;   visualizing a macroscopic view of the cervix from the light emanating from the tissue illuminated with the first beam of light;   examining the macroscopic view of the cervix to select a tissue site for further investigation;   placing a distal end of a fiber optic probe in contact with the selected tissue site while visualizing the macroscopic view of the cervix;   transmitting a second beam of light though a fiber optic cable to illuminate the selected tissue site with the second beam of light to generate fluorescence or reflectance light at the selected tissue site;   collecting the generated fluorescence or reflectance light;   conducting a spectral analysis of the collected light using a spectrometer; and   examining the spectral analysis to determine if the selected tissue site is cancerous.   
     
     
         27 . The medical examination device of  claim 26 , wherein the first beam of light used to radiate the tissue for fluorescence excitation has a wavelength band of about 455-465 nm, 410-430 nm, 375-385 nm, or 340-360 nm. 
     
     
         28 . The medical examination device of  claim 26 , wherein the first beam of light used to radiate the tissue for reflectance visualization has a wavelength band of about 400-700 nm, 455-465 nm, or 410-430 nm. 
     
     
         29 . The medical examination device of  claim 28 , wherein the beam of light is polarized or unpolarized. 
     
     
         30 . The medical examination device of  claim 26 , wherein the beam of light used to radiate the tissue for fluorescence excitation has a wavelength band of about 455-465 nm, 410-430 nm, 375-385 nm, or 340-360 nm. 
     
     
         31 . The medical examination device of  claim 26 , wherein the beam of light used to radiate the tissue for reflectance visualization has a wavelength band of about 400-700 nm, 455-465 nm, or 410-430 nm. 
     
     
         32 . The medical examination device of  claim 31 , wherein the beam of light is polarized or unpolarized.