Non-Contact Spectroscopic Probe For Endoscope

描述（由申请人提供）：自体荧光内窥镜系统对癌症或癌前病变的检测具有高灵敏度。这些区域通过组织自身荧光水平的降低来表示。视觉检测这些区域是直接的，但往往导致假阳性读数，因为有良性条件，可以导致同样的效果。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。为了提高自身荧光内窥镜检查的特异性，除了对荧光强度降低的视觉评估外，还可以采取额外的信息。由组织反射的固有荧光和/或白光的色散或过滤产生的光谱信息已被证明可有效诊断癌变组织。同样，从组织中的光散射测量中获得的信息可用于对组织类型进行分类，并测量重要组织成分（如血红蛋白）的浓度。这一信息与癌症病变的存在与否有关。在过去，这些信息是通过光纤光谱探针通过内窥镜的活检通道并在视频观察下与组织直接接触来获得的。该计划将开发一种非接触式光谱探针，该探针将固定在自体荧光内窥镜的远端位置。与自体荧光内窥镜结合使用的非接触式光谱探针有许多优点。如果探头内置在内窥镜中，它总是可用的。如果探针不接触组织，它就不能通过破坏组织表面和增加一层血液（很容易吸收荧光）来造成错误的读数。用非接触式探针更容易测量组织散射，因为这种散射对局部压力很敏感。处理非接触式探针更容易，因为在内窥镜成像显示器上可以直观地指示正在进行光谱检查的区域，并通过调整远端尖端的方向来定位。这种探针的设计允许它在现有的内窥镜中使用，通过将其安装到标准的活检通道中。内窥镜本身所需要的光学元件是小而被动的，因此，在未来，它可能会被内置到新的内窥镜设计中。这些探针将提高自身荧光检测癌症和癌前病变的特异性，从而减少不必要的活检次数。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.