US 11,963,787 B2
Systems and methods for lymph node and vessel imaging
Zhongming Li, Cambridge, MA (US); and Angela Belcher, Lexington, MA (US)
Assigned to MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed by MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/096,461.
Application 18/096,461 is a continuation of application No. 16/781,338, filed on Feb. 4, 2020, granted, now 11,576,608.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/848,178, filed on May 15, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/800,674, filed on Feb. 4, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0309907 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 5/00 (2006.01); G01N 21/21 (2006.01); G01N 21/35 (2014.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01); G01N 21/31 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/418 (2013.01) [A61B 5/0062 (2013.01); A61B 5/0082 (2013.01); G01N 21/21 (2013.01); G01N 21/35 (2013.01); G06T 7/0012 (2013.01); G01N 2021/3137 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30004 (2013.01)] 37 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for imaging biological tissue, the method comprising:
providing infrared illumination, by an optical source, to a region of a subject having biological tissue comprising a first tissue region and a second tissue region, wherein the first tissue region has a first water content level and the second tissue region has a second water content level that is lower than the first water content level, wherein the infrared illumination has an illumination wavelength of 1500-1700 nm;
sensing, by a sensor, a first reflected portion of the infrared illumination and a second reflected portion of the infrared illumination, wherein the first reflected portion of the infrared illumination is reflected from the first tissue region and has a first intensity, and wherein the second reflected portion of the infrared illumination is reflected from the second tissue region and has a second intensity that is higher than the first intensity; and
receiving, by a controller in communication with the sensor, from the sensor, information corresponding to the first reflected portion of the infrared illumination and the second reflected portion of the infrared illumination;
generating, by the controller, at least one image of the at least one biological tissue in the subject using the information, wherein the at least one image distinguishes the first tissue region from the second tissue region; and
outputting, by the controller, the at least one image to at least one of a display and/or a memory.