Non-Contact Spectroscopic Probe For Endoscope

描述(由申请人提供)：自体荧光内窥镜系统在检测癌症或癌前病变方面表现出高灵敏度。这些区域由组织自体荧光水平的降低来表示。这种区域的视觉检测很简单，但往往会导致错误的阳性读数，因为有良性的条件可以导致同样的效果。一种导致大量假阳性读数的方法被描述为特异性低的方法。为了提高自体荧光内窥镜检查的特异性，可以采用荧光强度降低的视觉评估以外的其他信息。从组织反射的本征荧光和/或白光的色散或过滤产生的光谱信息已被证明在诊断癌症组织方面是有效的。同样，通过测量组织中的光散射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的浓度，如血红蛋白。这些信息与癌变的存在或不存在相关。在过去，这种信息是通过光纤光谱探头通过内窥镜的活检通道并与视频观察下的组织直接接触而获得的。该项目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的远端。非接触式光谱探头与自体荧光内窥镜结合使用有许多优点。如果探头安装在内窥镜中，它总是可以使用的。如果探针不接触组织，它不会破坏组织表面并抬高一层血液(这很容易吸收荧光)，从而导致误读数。用非接触式探头测量组织散射更容易，因为这种散射对局部压力很敏感。非接触探头的处理更容易，因为被光谱检查的区域可以在内窥镜成像显示器上可视地指示，并通过调整远端尖端的方向来定位。这种探头的设计使其可以通过将其安装到标准的活检通道中而用于现有的内窥镜。内窥镜本身需要的光学部件很小，而且是无源的，因此，将来可能会将其内置到新的内窥镜设计中。这些探针将提高自体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数量。这反过来将降低患者的风险，减少自发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.