TISSUE IMAGING AND IMAGE GUIDANCE IN LUMINAL ANATOMIC STRUCTURES AND BODY CAVITIES

摘要

Navigational imaging system and method for use in branched luminal structure. Flexible, spatially steerable probe is equipped with forward- and side-imaging mutually complementing means to enable sub-surface imaging, quantitative determination of probe's positioning with respect to anatomical identifiers of structure, forming 3D image of structure in a volume defined by the imaging means, and positioning of probe in registration with a 3D coordinate system that is independent from the structure. Method includes determining anatomical identifiers of luminal structure branches based on 3D and sub-surface images, assigning such identifiers as fiducial points, and correlating the determined identifiers with those obtained from anatomical model to select target branch for further steering the probe. Optionally, data representing a distance between a branch of lumen from fiducial point and angular orientation of the branch is extracted from complete 3D and quantitative image of lumen obtained during a pull-back of probe along the lumen.

主权项

1. A multi-view imaging probe having an axis, a side surface, proximal and distal ends, and a transparent cap disposed across the axis at the distal end, the imaging probe comprising:
an optical channel element extended inside the probe along the axis to support optical communication between the proximal and distal ends; a beamsplitting element appended to the optical channel element at the distal end to redirect light delivered along the optical channel element to the distal end transversely with respect to the axis towards the side surface to form a side field-of-view of the imaging probe; and a light redirecting system immovably disposed with respect to the distal end inside the imaging probe and including one or more optical elements spatially juxtaposed to one another such as to (i) transmit light redirected by the beamsplitting element through at least one of (iia) the transparent cap along a pre-determined forward direction, to define a forward field of view of said imaging probe, and (iib) the side surface; and (ii) when the beamsplitting element transmits a portion of light delivered along the optical channel element to the distal end, intersect and forward said portion through the transparent cap along a pre-determined direction with respect to the axis to define a forward field-of-view of the imaging probe; wherein the imaging probe delivers light, received in reflection within at least one of the side and forward fields of view from an imaging target, from the distal end to the proximal end.