US 12,350,011 B2
Method of measuring a fluorescence signal, determining a peak frequency map and providing a risk prediction value, image capturing and processing device
Richelle Johanna Maria Hoveling, Hoorn (NL); and Richard Johannes Cornelis Meester, Wieringerwerf (NL)
Assigned to Quest Photonic Devices B.V., Wieringerwerf (NL)
Filed by Quest Photonic Devices B.V., Wieringerwerf (NL)
Filed on Nov. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/510,149.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/425,402, filed on Nov. 15, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 23205172 (EP), filed on Oct. 23, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0156350 A1, May 16, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 5/00 (2006.01); G06T 11/60 (2006.01); G16H 30/40 (2018.01); G16H 50/30 (2018.01)
CPC A61B 5/0071 (2013.01) [A61B 5/0077 (2013.01); A61B 5/418 (2013.01); A61B 5/4878 (2013.01); A61B 5/7267 (2013.01); A61B 5/7275 (2013.01); A61B 5/7425 (2013.01); G06T 11/60 (2013.01); G16H 30/40 (2018.01); G16H 50/30 (2018.01); G06T 2210/41 (2013.01)] 38 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of measuring a fluorescence signal in a tissue of a body part, to which a fluorescent agent has been added, and of imaging a surface of the body part, wherein the tissue to which the fluorescent agent has been added forms part of the body part, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of fluorescence images, over time so as to provide a time sequence of fluorescence images, in an area of examination of the tissue illuminated with excitation light having a wavelength suitable to generate emitted light by excited emission of the fluorescent agent and by spatially resolved measurement of the emitted light so as to provide the time sequence of fluorescence images,
receiving at least one visible light image of a surface of the body part in the area of examination, wherein one or more of a viewing direction and a perspective of the fluorescence image and the visible light image are linked via a known relationship,
determining a peak frequency map for an area of interest in the plurality of fluorescence images by analyzing the time sequence of fluorescence images to:
determine a time-dependent intensity curve of at least one pixel in the area of interest,
identify peaks in the time-dependent intensity curve,
determine one or more of a frequency of the identified peaks and a maximum high of the identified peaks, and
generate a graphic representation of one or more of the determined frequency and maximum high for the at least one pixel and including the same in the peak frequency map, and
outputting the peak frequency map together with one or more of the visible light image and the fluorescence image.