US 11,925,308 B2
Ionizing radiation-free dental imaging by near-infrared fluorescence, and related systems
Jian Xu, Baton Rouge, LA (US); Shaomian Yao, Baton Rouge, LA (US); and Zhongqiang Li, Baton Rouge, LA (US)
Assigned to Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Baton Rouge, LA (US)
Appl. No. 16/965,580
Filed by Jian Xu, Baton Rouge, LA (US); Shaomian Yao, Baton Rouge, LA (US); and Zhongqiang Li, Baton Rouge, LA (US)
PCT Filed Feb. 15, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/018327
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 28, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/161284, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 22, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/631,558, filed on Feb. 16, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0038065 A1, Feb. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/04 (2006.01); A61B 1/06 (2006.01); A61B 1/07 (2006.01); A61B 1/24 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 1/000094 (2022.02) [A61B 1/000095 (2022.02); A61B 1/00165 (2013.01); A61B 1/00186 (2013.01); A61B 1/043 (2013.01); A61B 1/046 (2022.02); A61B 1/0638 (2013.01); A61B 1/0646 (2013.01); A61B 1/0669 (2013.01); A61B 1/0684 (2013.01); A61B 1/07 (2013.01); A61B 1/24 (2013.01); A61B 5/0071 (2013.01); A61B 5/0075 (2013.01); A61B 5/0088 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A near-infrared fluorescence endoscopic dental imaging system, comprising:
an endoscope forming a plurality of lumens therein;
a spectrometer optically coupled to a first lumen of the endoscope;
a near-infrared camera optically coupled to a second lumen of the endoscope;
a data processor in communication with the spectrometer and the near-infrared camera;
a bifurcated fiber disposed in the second lumen, the bifurcated fiber having a first channel optically coupled to the spectrometer and a second channel optically coupled to a near-infrared illumination source; and
a display system in communication with the data processor,
wherein the near-infrared camera is configured to capture a near-infrared two-dimensional dental image of a specimen having indocyanine green (ICG) and transmit the near-infrared two-dimensional dental image to the data processor,
wherein the spectrometer is configured to capture fluorescent light from the specimen having the indocyanine green (ICG) and provide a spectroscopic signal to the data processor,
wherein the display system is configured to communicate with the data processor to receive the near-infrared two-dimensional dental image and the spectroscopic signal and to display a two-dimensional dental image of the specimen,
wherein the near-infrared two-dimensional dental image of the specimen captured by the near-infrared camera provides an overview of a wide angle imaging field of the specimen and the fluorescent light from the specimen captured by the spectrometer provides a wavelength-resolved spectroscopy of a selected imaged area within the near-infrared two-dimensional dental image, and
wherein the near-infrared camera has a spatial resolution less than 100 mm in near-infrared.