Abstract:
An apparatus can be provided according to certain exemplary embodiments. For example, the apparatus can include a waveguiding first arrangement providing at least one electromagnetic radiation. A configuration can be provided that receives and splits the at least one electromagnetic radiation into a first radiation and a second radiation. The apparatus can further include a waveguiding second arrangement which has a first waveguide and a second waveguide, whereas the first waveguide receives the first radiation, and the second waveguide receives the second radiation. The first arrangement, the second arrangement and the configuration can be housed in a probe.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application relates to and claims priority from U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/757,444 filed Jan. 28, 2013, and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/781,857 filed Mar. 14, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    This invention was made with Government support under grant number NIH R01 HL093717 awarded by the National Institute of Health. The Government has certain rights therein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    The present disclosure relates generally to exemplary methods and apparatus for providing diffuse spectroscopy, and more particularly, to exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatus for providing and/or utilizing diffuse spectroscopy of structures in a catheter. This technique can be performed individually and in conjunction with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and/or frequency domain imaging (OFDI) modalities. 
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0004]    A majority of diseases arise within luminal organs such as the coronary arteries and the gastrointestinal tract. Understanding and diagnosis of these diseases can require knowledge of their gross, microscopic, and compositional structure. 
         [0005]    An optical imaging catheter has become an important tool to assess and diagnose diseases arising from luminal organs. Since many of the mechanisms involving diseases occur on a microscopic scale, high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy techniques have become relevant. An important technique for high-resolution imaging is optical coherence tomography (OCT) and/or frequency domain imaging (OFDI) modalities, where rotationally scanning catheters can be used for studying the cross-sectional and three-dimensional microstructure of luminal tissues. In addition, absorption spectroscopy in conjunction with rotationally scanning catheters can be used to obtain the compositional content of luminal tissues. However, all of these techniques provide information at a maximum depth of about 1-2 millimeters. Therefore, a method to perform optical imaging of structures located at greater depths would be valuable. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there may be a need to address at least some of the above-described deficiencies. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0007]    In order to address the above-described unmet need and advance to obtain catheter-based diagnosis, it is beneficial to provide an exemplary catheter-based approach/system/apparatus to perform optical absorption spectroscopy at greater depths, and possibly in the diffuse regime (e.g., 2-3 mm deep). 
         [0008]    It is one of the objects of the present disclosure to provide exemplary embodiments of catheter-based systems, apparatus and methods to perform a diffuse spectroscopy—, which may include fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, uv spectroscopy, visible spectroscopy and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)—individually and/or in conjunction with OCT and/or OFDI. In accordance with certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, exemplary methods and apparatus can be provided, which facilitate the implementation of the diffuse absorption spectroscopy of structures in, e.g., a catheter. 
         [0009]    In order to perform simultaneous compositional and microstructural analysis of luminal tissue, exemplary methods for diffuse spectroscopy (e.g., NIR) combined with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and/or with optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) can be provided in a catheter. The exemplary method can employ exemplary apparatuses/devices/arrangements according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure to illuminate the tissue and collect the scattered light from the tissue. This exemplary technique/method can also utilize source and detectors at different spatial locations, thus facilitating an assessment of the diffuse region. As an example, according to one exemplary embodiment, a maximum source-detector separation of 10 mm can obtain information from approximately 5 mm deep in the tissue. 
         [0010]    Thus, an apparatus can be provided according to certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the apparatus can include a waveguiding first arrangement providing at least one electromagnetic radiation. A configuration can be provided that receives and splits the at least one electromagnetic radiation into a first radiation and a second radiation. The apparatus can further include a waveguiding second arrangement which has a first waveguide and a second waveguide, whereas the first waveguide receives the first radiation, and the second waveguide receives the second radiation. The first arrangement, the second arrangement and the configuration can be housed in a probe. 
         [0011]    According to one exemplary embodiment, the first arrangement, the second arrangement and the configuration can be configured to be rotated within the probe. The apparatus can include a drive shaft arrangement which can at least partially enclose the second arrangement. Further, the apparatus can include a lens arrangement which can be provided at an end of the first waveguide and/or the second waveguide. The lens arrangement, upon receipt of the first radiation and/or the second radiation, can illuminate at least one structure. The first and second waveguides can receive third and fourth radiations, respectively, from the structure(s) which can be associated with the respective first and second radiations. The third and fourth radiations received by the first and second waveguides, respectively, can be associated with radiations provided from locations of different portions of the structure(s). The locations can be spatially separated from one another. The spatial separated distance can be at least 1 mm, at least 2 mm. and/or at least 10 mm. 
         [0012]    In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a transparent optical sheath can be provided that can enclose the first arrangement, the second arrangement and the configuration. For example, the first arrangement can include a double-clad fiber and/or a triple-clad fiber. The first arrangement can also have a refractive index profile that can be rotationally symmetric. The first waveguide and/or the second waveguide can be a single mode optical fiber or a multimode optical fiber. The probe can be a catheter and/or an endoscope. 
         [0013]    According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a light modulating arrangement can be configured to modulate an intensity of the electromagnetic radiation(s), thereby modulating an intensity of the third and fourth radiations. The apparatus can also include a processing arrangement can be configured to obtain the intensity information regarding a modulation and a phase of the third and fourth radiations. The processing arrangement can utilize information regarding the modulation and the phase to generate further information regarding the structure(s). 
         [0014]    Further features and advantages of the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will become apparent taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures and drawings and upon reading the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and exemplary claims which follow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Further objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures showing illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a side cross-sectional view of a distal end of an optical coherence tomography-near infrared spectroscopy (OCT-NIRS) optical imaging catheter according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side cross-sectional view of an exemplary implementation of the exemplary OCT-NIRS optical fiber coupler according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the OCT-NIRS system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is another schematic diagram of the OCT-NIRS system (in which a optical fiber combiner arrangement can be placed outside the imaging catheter—inside the rotary fiber junction) according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals and characters, unless otherwise stated, are used to denote like features, elements, components, or portions of the illustrated embodiments. Moreover, while the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the figures, it is done so in connection with the illustrative embodiments and is not limited by the particular embodiments illustrated in the figures, and the exemplary claims which follow. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The exemplary apparatus can also be provided in a probe, a catheter, an eye box, an endoscope, etc. Further, at least one additional fiber can at least be located adjacent to the other fiber(s). In addition, at least one additional fiber can at least be located adjacent to the other fiber(s). 
         [0022]    According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a device/apparatus/system can be provided which can include an optical coherence tomography (OCT)-diffuse spectroscopy catheter that can illuminate the tissue, and collect signals from the inside of the lumen. Such exemplary device/apparatus/system can generate light source, detect returning light, and/or process signals. An OCT-diffuse spectroscopy rotary junction can rotate and pull back the catheter, and connect the moving catheter to the stationary system. In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a dual-modality catheter system can be provided for a simultaneous microstructural and compositional deep imaging of arteries in vivo. 
         [0023]    For example, an exemplary arrangement/apparatus/device can provide at least one electro-magnetic radiation to an anatomical structure through one or more optical fibers. Such exemplary arrangement can employ the same fiber to perform OCT and/or OFDI imaging, and an adjacent fiber for the diffuse spectroscopy processing. The exemplary arrangement/apparatus/device can also include an apparatus which can be configured to transmit the radiation(s) via OCT and/or OFDI and diffuse spectroscopy fiber(s) to and from the anatomical structure. According to further exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, other forms of diffuse spectroscopy can be implemented including, e.g., fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet spectroscopy, visible spectroscopy, etc. 
         [0024]    The exemplary arrangement/apparatus/device can be provided in a spectroscopic optical coherence tomography system. Further, a further exemplary system can be provided, which can be configured and/or programmed to obtain information regarding the anatomical structure and deeper structural and compositional information based on the radiation(s) using the diffuse spectroscopy procedures, such as but not limited to, e.g., OCT-NIRS procedure(s). 
         [0025]    The exemplary arrangement/apparatus/device can use a fiber coupler inside the OCT-diffuse spectroscopy catheter to facilitate a combination of the returning PCCT and/or OFDI and diffuse spectroscopy light into a double-clad fiber. As described herein, the fiber coupler can be used such that the core signal from the double-clad fiber can be coupled into the core of a single-mode fiber. The returning OCT and/or OFDI light from the single-mode fiber can also be coupled to the core of the double-clad fiber, while the returning diffuse spectroscopy light can be coupled to the inner-cladding of the double-clad fiber. 
         [0026]    According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the exemplary arrangement/apparatus/device can utilize a fiber coupler inside the OCT-diffuse spectroscopy rotary fiber junction to facilitate a combination of the returning OCT and diffuse spectroscopy light into a double clad fiber. As described herein, e.g., the fiber coupler can be used such that the core signal from the double-clad fiber can be coupled into the core of a single-mode fiber. The returning OCT light from the single-mode fiber can also be coupled to the core of the double-clad fiber, while the returning diffuse spectroscopy light can be coupled to the inner-cladding of the double-clad fiber. 
         [0027]    For example,  FIG. 1  shows a side cross-sectional view of a distal end of a an OCT-diffuse spectroscopy optical imaging catheter that uses two separate illumination optics (e.g., angle-polished ball lenses) to permit deeper spectroscopy measurements according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In this exemplary configuration, an OCT and/or OFDI illumination and detected light/diffuse spectroscopy illumination light  100  can be provided via a first optical fiber  102  and a first spacer  104 . One lens  106  (although a plurality of lenses can be used)—which can be a ball lens—can act as the illumination probe for both the diffuse spectroscopy and OCT/OFDI lights  100 , while such lens(es)  106  can also collect the returning OCT/OFDI light  100 . The illumination probe (e.g., the lens(es)  106 ) can focus the electromagnetic radiation  108  on a tissue  110 . The illumination probe  106  can be used for a collection of the OCT/OFDI light  100 , which can then be sent back to an OCT/OFDI processing unit/arrangement/apparatus. A transported light  112  provided through the tissue  110  can be collected through a second collection optics (e.g., lens(es)  116 ), and sent back to a diffuse spectroscopy processing unit/arrangement/apparatus. For example, a second ball lens  116  can be used to collect a diffuse spectroscopy light  114 , provided via a second optical fiber  120  and a second spacer  118 , that can be diffused into the tissue  110  using two separate ball lenses. A collected light  122  can be transmitted via the fiber  120  to the diffuse spectroscopy processing unit/arrangement/apparatus. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of a fiber coupler which can be used to implement the exemplary OCT-diffuse spectroscopy system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the exemplary coupler can include a double-clad fiber  200 , a multimode fiber  202 , and a single-mode fiber  204 . In particular, a broadband light or other electro-magnetic radiation can be delivered through a core  206  of the double-clad fiber  200 . A signal provided in the core  206  can be coupled to a core  208  of the single-mode fiber  204 . The OFDI return light can be transmitted back through the same core  208 , while a diffuse spectroscopy return light  210  can be collected via the multimode fiber  202 , and can be coupled into an inner cladding  212  of the double-clad fiber  200 . 
         [0029]    In summary, the exemplary fiber coupler can be placed inside the exemplary catheter of  FIG. 1  to facilitate a combination of the returning OCT/OFDI light and/or diffuse spectroscopy light(s)  122  into the double-clad fiber  200 . The exemplary fiber coupler can be used such that the returning OCT/OFDI light  100  can be coupled to the core  206  of the double-clad fiber  200 , while the returning diffuse spectroscopy light  122  can be coupled to the inner-cladding  212  of the double-clad fiber  200 . 
         [0030]    Alternatively, e.g., the exemplary fiber coupler can be placed inside a fiber rotary junction to facilitate a combination of the returning OCT light and/or diffuse spectroscopy light(s)  122  into the double-clad fiber  200 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary OCT-diffuse spectroscopy system/apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , an SD-OCT apparatus can be provided that can utilize a broadband OCT source  302  and a spectrometer  310 . Alternatively or in addition, a swept source can be utilized and photodiode detectors, as can be used for OFDI and/or SS-OCT forms of OCT modalities. In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the form of OCT can be time-domain OCT (TD-OCT), where a broadband source and a moving reference mirror can be utilized in conjunction with photodiode detectors. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , an exemplary OCT-diffuse spectroscopy system can utilize an OCT unit/arrangement/system  300 , which for example, can include an OCT source  302 , an optical circulator  304 , an optical splitter  306 , an OCT reference arm  308 , and an OCT spectrometer  310 . An output of the OCT unit/arrangement/system  300  can be combined with diffuse spectroscopy light source  312  using, e.g., a wavelength multiplexer  314  (or an optical coupler). The combined electromagnetic radiation can enter into the core of a double-clad (or triple-clad) fiber coupler arrangement/device  316 . The radiation/light can then propagate through a fiber rotary junction  318 . Such propagated radiation/light can then be provided into a double-clad OCT-diffuse spectroscopy catheter  320 . Using a combiner arrangement/device  322  (e.g., at least similar to or same as that shown in  FIG. 2 ), the core radiation/light can be transmitted into a single mode fiber (SMF)  324 . The OCT and diffuse spectroscopy radiation/lights can illuminate the tissue using an exemplary configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0033]    For example, the return OCT/OFDI radiation/light is collected using the SMF  324 , while the return diffuse spectroscopy detection light can be collected using a multi-mode fiber (MMF)  326 . Most or all return radiation/lights can then be re-combined using the combiner arrangement/device  322  into a double-clad or triple-clad fiber and returned back to the system. The fiber coupler arrangement/device  316  can extract the diffuse spectroscopy radiation/light from the inner cladding of the double-clad fiber and can transmit it to a diffuse spectroscopy detector  328 , while the OCT/OFDI radiation/light from the core of the double-clad fiber can be transmitted back to the OCT unit/arrangement/system  300  for processing. Further, OCT/OFDI and diffuse spectroscopy data can be acquired, processed and displayed using a computer/storage unit/arrangement/system  330 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic block diagram of a further exemplary OCT-diffuse spectroscopy system/apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The exemplary OCT-diffuse spectroscopy system illustrated in  FIG. 4  can utilize an OCT unit/arrangement/system  400 , which for example, can include an OCT source  402 , an optical circulator  404 , an optical splitter  406 , an OCT reference arm  408 , and an OCT spectrometer  410 . The output of the OCT unit/arrangement/system  400  can be combined with diffuse spectroscopy light source arrangement/system  412  using a wavelength multiplexer  414  (or an optical coupler). The combined electromagnetic radiation can enter into a core of a double-clad (or triple-clad) fiber coupler  416 . The radiation/light can then propagate through a fiber rotary junction  418 . The rotary junction  418  can include static and/or spinning fiber collimators  420  and an optical combiner arrangement/system  422  (e.g., at least similar to or same as those shown in  FIG. 2 ) in which the OCT and diffuse spectroscopy radiation/lights can be transmitted from the core of a double-clad fiber through the core of a single-mode fiber (SMF)  426 . The fiber rotary junction  418  can then be interfaced with the exemplary OCT-diffuse spectroscopy catheter  424 . The OCT and diffuse spectroscopy radiation/lights can illuminate the tissue using, e.g., an exemplary configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0035]    For example, the return OCT radiation/light can be collected using the SMF  426 , while the return diffuse spectroscopy detection light is collected using a multi-mode fiber (MMF)  428 . Most or all return radiation/lights can then be re-combined using the combiner arrangement/system  422  (e.g., placed in the fiber rotary junction  418 ) into a double-clad or triple-clad fiber, and returned back to the system. The fiber coupler  416  can extract the diffuse spectroscopy arrangement/system from the inner cladding of the double-clad fiber, and transmit it to diffuse spectroscopy detector  430 , while the OCT arrangement/system from the core of the double-clad fiber is transmitted back to the OCT unit/arrangement/system  400  for processing. Finally, OCT and diffuse spectroscopy data are acquired, processed and displayed using a computer/storage unit/arrangement/system  432 . 
         [0036]    The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the disclosure. Various modifications and alterations to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. Indeed, the arrangements, systems and methods according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can be used with and/or implement any OCT system, OFDI system, SD-OCT system, TD-OCT system, or other imaging systems, and for example with those described in International Patent Application PCT/US2004/029148, filed Sep. 8, 2004 which published as International Patent Publication No. WO 2005/047813 on May 26, 2005, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/266,779, filed Nov. 2, 2005 which published as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0093276 on May 4, 2006, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/501,276, filed Jul. 9, 2004 which published as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0018201 on Jan. 27, 2005, and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0122246, published on May 9, 2002, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous systems, arrangements, and procedures which, although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of the disclosure and can be thus within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. In addition, all publications and references referred to above can be incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. It should be understood that the exemplary procedures described herein can be stored on any computer accessible medium, including a hard drive, RAM, ROM, removable disks, CD-ROM, memory sticks, etc., and executed by a processing arrangement and/or computing arrangement which can be and/or include a hardware processors, microprocessor, mini, macro, mainframe, etc., including a plurality and/or combination thereof. In addition, certain terms used in the present disclosure, including the specification, drawings and claims thereof, can be used synonymously in certain instances, including, but not limited to, e.g., data and information. It should be understood that, while these words, and/or other words that can be synonymous to one another, can be used synonymously herein, that there can be instances when such words can be intended to not be used synonymously. Further, to the extent that the prior art knowledge has not been explicitly incorporated by reference herein above, it can be explicitly being incorporated herein in its entirety. All publications referenced above can be incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.