US 12,171,524 B2
Devices, systems, and methods for imaging in certain endoscopic environments
Adam Wax, Durham, NC (US); Nicholas Shaheen, Durham, NC (US); Kengyeh Chu, Durham, NC (US); Derek Ho, Durham, NC (US); and Zachary Steelman, Durham, NC (US)
Assigned to DUKE UNIVERSITY, Durham, NC (US); and THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL, Chapel Hill, NC (US)
Filed by DUKE UNIVERSITY, Durham, NC (US); and THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL, Chapel Hill, NC (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/589,333.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/143,082, filed on Jan. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0240782 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/018 (2006.01); A61B 1/05 (2006.01); A61B 1/06 (2006.01); A61B 1/07 (2006.01); A61B 10/04 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01); G01B 9/02091 (2022.01)
CPC A61B 5/0066 (2013.01) [A61B 1/018 (2013.01); A61B 1/05 (2013.01); A61B 1/0638 (2013.01); A61B 1/07 (2013.01); A61B 10/04 (2013.01); A61B 18/14 (2013.01); G01B 9/02091 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for multi-modal imaging using an endoscope having an instrument channel, wherein the multi-modal imaging is achieved without using the instrument channel, the system comprising:
an endoscope selected from the group consisting of an anoscope, a colonoscope, a colposcope, an esophagoscope, a gastroscope, a laryngoscope, and a sigmoidoscope, the endoscope having a video camera positioned at a distal end for providing video images;
a multi-modal imaging paddle housing coupled to the distal end of the endoscope, the multi-model imaging paddle housing occupying a retracted position adjacent to the distal end of the endoscope, the multi-modal imaging paddle housing optionally adapted to be movable between the retracted position and an extended position that is extended axially and/or radially from the distal end of the endoscope, the multi-modal imaging paddle housing adapted to receive a portion of at least two imaging probes, the multi-modal imaging paddle housing having a single imaging window, through which each of the at least two imaging probes acquire images, or two imaging windows, each through which a respective one of the at least two imaging probes acquires images;
an angle-resolved low-coherence interferometry (a/LCI) probe having at least a distal portion received within the multi-modal imaging paddle housing;
an optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe having at least a distal portion received within the multi-modal imaging paddle housing; and
an imaging controller operatively coupled to the a/LCI probe and the OCT probe,
wherein the multi-modal imaging paddle housing has a shape and a location in the retracted position, wherein the shape and the location combine to make the multi-modal imaging paddle housing visible in the video images provided by the video camera, such that a user can visually guide the multi-modal imaging paddle housing to a region of interest,
wherein the a/LCI probe and the OCT probe are electronically coupled to the imaging controller and optically coupled to respective light sources and optical detectors via wires and optical fibers that are coupled to an exterior surface of the endoscope,
wherein the a/LCI probe operates within a first wavelength range and the OCT probe operates in a second wavelength range, wherein the first and second wavelength ranges are different and non-overlapping, wherein the single imaging window transmits at least 95% of light at each wavelength in the first wavelength range and the second wavelength range, wherein one of the two imaging windows transmits at least 95% of light at each wavelength in the first wavelength range, wherein the other of the two imaging windows transmits at least 95% of light at each wavelength in the second wavelength range,
wherein the instrument channel is not occupied by the a/LCI probe or the OCT probe.