Non-Contact Spectroscopic Probe For Endoscope

描述（由申请人提供）：自体荧光内窥镜系统显示出检测癌性或癌前病变的高灵敏度。这些区域通过组织自体荧光水平的降低来指示。对这些区域的视觉检测是直接的，但通常会导致假阳性读数，因为存在可能导致相同效果的良性条件。导致大量假阳性读数的方法被描述为具有低特异性的方法。为了提高自体荧光内窥镜检查的特异性，可以获取荧光强度降低的视觉评估之外的附加信息。已经证明，由从组织反射的固有荧光和/或白色光的色散或滤波产生的光谱信息在诊断癌组织方面是有效的。类似地，可从组织中的光散射的测量获得的信息可用于对组织类型进行分类并测量重要组织组分（诸如血红蛋白）的浓度。这些信息与癌性病变的存在或不存在相关。在过去，这样的信息已经从穿过内窥镜的活检通道并在视频观察下与组织直接接触的光纤光谱探针获得。该计划将开发一种非接触式光谱探头，该探头将固定在自体荧光内窥镜远端的适当位置。与自体荧光内窥镜结合使用的非接触式光谱探头具有许多优点。如果探头内置于内窥镜中，则始终可用。如果探头不接触组织，则不会通过损坏组织表面和升高一层血液（易于吸收荧光）而导致错误的阅读。组织散射更容易用非接触式探头测量，因为这种散射对局部压力敏感。非接触式探头的操作更容易，因为可以在内窥镜成像显示器上直观地指示正在进行光谱检查的区域，并通过调整远端头端的方向进行定位。该探头的设计允许其通过将其装配到标准活检通道中而用于现有内窥镜。需要在内窥镜本身内的光学部件是小的和无源的，使得在未来，它可以被构建到新的内窥镜设计中。这些探针将提高癌症和癌前病变的自体荧光检测的特异性，这将减少不必要的活检的数量。反过来，这将降低患者的风险，减少自体荧光程序所需的时间，并降低临床成本。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Autofluorescence endoscope systems demonstrate high sensitivity for the detection of cancerous or precancerous lesions. These areas are indicated by a reduction in the level of tissue autofluorescence. Visual detection of such regions is straightforward but often results in false positive readings since there are benign conditions which can cause the same effect. A method which results in a high number of false positive readings is described as one with low specificity. To improve the specificity of autofluorescence endoscopy additional information beyond a visual assessment of the reduction in fluorescence intensity can be taken. Spectral information, resulting from the dispersion or filtering of the intrinsic fluorescence and/or white light reflected from the tissue has been shown to be effective at diagnosing cancerous tissue. Similarly, information available from measurements of light scattering in the tissue can be used to classify tissue types and measure the concentration of important tissue components such as hemoglobin. This information has been correlated to the presence or absence of cancerous lesions. In the past such information has been available from fiberoptic spectroscopic probes passed through the biopsy channel of an endoscope and brought into direct contact with the tissue under video observation. This program will develop a non-contact spectroscopic probe that will be fixed in position at the distal tip of an autofluorescence endoscope. There are numerous advantages for a non-contact spectroscopic probe used in conjunction with the autofluorescence endoscope. If the probe is built into the endoscope it is always available. If the probe does not contact the tissue it cannot cause a false reading by damaging the tissue surface and raising a layer of blood (which readily absorbs fluorescence). Tissue scattering is more easily measured with non-contact probes because this scattering is sensitive to local pressure. Handling of a non-contact probe is easier because the area being examined spectroscopically can be indicated visually on the endoscope imaging display and positioned by adjusting the direction of the distal tip. The design of this probe allows it to be used in existing endoscopes by fitting it into a standard biopsy channel. The optical components required to be within the endoscope itself are small and passive so that, in the future, it may be built into new endoscope designs. These probes will improve the specificity of autofluorescence detection of cancers and precancers which will reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies. This, in turn, will reduce the risk to patients, reduce the time required for autofluorescence procedures and reduce clinical costs as well.