Devices and methods for fluorescent inspection and/or removal of material in a sample

Abstract

An apparatus is provided that includes a light-emitting component, a light-detecting component, a lock-in amplifier, a frequency generator that is operatively linked to the lock-in amplifier and the light-emitting component, a speaker capable of emitting an audio signal wherein the output audio signal varies depending on the detected fluorescence in the sample, and a visible output of relative fluorescent intensity where the visible output varies depending on the detected fluorescence in the sample. The apparatus may also include a laser that is operatively coupled to the lock-in amplifier through a control switch, and focusing lens or an additional type of filter such as an interference filter, a short-pass filter, a notch filter, a long-pass filter or an infrared filter. The apparatus may be used to identify and/or to remove fluorescent or non-fluorescent material from a sample. Associated methods are also disclosed.

1 . An apparatus for selectively removing or destroying light-emitting or non-light-emitting material in a sample comprising:
 a light-emitting component;   a light-detecting component;   a lock-in amplifier;   a frequency generator operatively linked to the lock-in amplifier and the light-emitting component;   an output device configured to remove or destroy a portion of the sample; and   a switch operatively coupled between the lock-in amplifier and the output device to control an output of the output device.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting component is selected form the group consisting of lasers, laser diodes, light-emitting diodes, organic light-emitting diodes, fiber-optic light sources, luminous gas discharges, and hot filament lamps. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the light-detecting component is selected form the group consisting of p-n photodiodes, p-i-n photodiodes, photomultiplier tubes, light-sensitive charge coupled devices, and avalanche photo diodes. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a probe configured to be selectively coupled to the light-emitting component and/or the light-detecting component. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the probe is selected from the group consisting of hand-held probes, finger-tip mounted probes, surgical telescopes, endoscopes, cystoscopes, nephroscopes, bronchoscopes, laryngoscopes, otoscopes, arthroscopes, laparoscopes, colonoscopic endoscopes, and gastrointestinal endoscopes. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the probe further comprises at least one excitation fiber coupled to the light-emitting component and at least one receiving fiber coupled to the light-detecting component. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the probe is sterilizable. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the probe is disposable. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the output device configured to remove or destroy a portion of the sample is selected from the group consisting of lasers, electrocautery devices or scalpels, and ultrasonic cutters or ablators. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the switch activates the output device configured to remove or destroy when an output from the lock-in amplifier rises above a threshold. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the threshold is controlled by an operator. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the switch activates the output device configured to remove or destroy when an output from the lock-in amplifier falls below a threshold. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the optical threshold is controlled by an operator. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the output device configured to remove or destroy includes a surgical laser. 
     
     
         15 . A method of removing light-emitting material in a sample, the method comprising using the apparatus of  claim 1  to remove light-emitting material in a sample. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the sample is biological tissue. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , where the light-emitting material is located preferentially in cancerous, neoplastic, dysplastic, or hyperplastic tissue. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , where the light-emitting material is located preferentially in non-cancerous, non-neoplastic, non-dysplastic, or non-hyperplastic tissue. 
     
     
         19 . A method of removing non-light-emitting material in a sample, the method comprising:
 using the apparatus of  claim 1  to non-remove light-emitting material in a sample.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the sample is biological tissue. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , where the light-emitting material is located preferentially in cancerous, neoplastic, dysplastic, or hyperplastic tissue. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 19 , where the light-emitting material is located preferentially in non-cancerous, non-neoplastic, non-dysplastic, or non-hyperplastic tissue. 
     
     
         23 . A method of removing cancerous, neoplastic, dysplastic, or hyperplastic tissue from a subject, the method comprising:
 providing to the subject a light-emitting dye that preferentially localizes to cancerous, neoplastic, dysplastic, or hyperplastic tissue;   detecting the level of fluorescent, phosphorescent, or luminescent intensity in the subject; and   ablating or destroying the tissue in which the relative fluorescent, phosphorescent, or luminescent intensity is detected.