WO2016039001A1

WO2016039001A1 - Imaging device

Info

Publication number: WO2016039001A1
Application number: PCT/JP2015/069603
Authority: WO
Inventors: 小田　一郎; 紘之妻鳥
Original assignee: 株式会社島津製作所
Priority date: 2014-09-08
Filing date: 2015-07-08
Publication date: 2016-03-17

Abstract

A light source for verification (24) is lit, and an image at that time is photographed with a camera (21). A near-infrared light with a wavelength of 810nm is projected from the light source for verification (24), approximating the wavelength of fluorescent light which is emitted from indocyanine green. When the camera (21) is operating normally, an image of a region in which the near-infrared light is projected is photographed by the camera (21), and the image thereof is displayed in a display unit (14). It is thus possible to easily execute an operation verification of the camera (21).

Description

Imaging device

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus for irradiating a fluorescent dye injected into a subject with excitation light and photographing fluorescence generated from the fluorescent dye.

In recent years, a technique called near-infrared fluorescence imaging has been used for surgery. In this near-infrared fluorescence imaging, indocyanine green (ICG) as a fluorescent dye is injected into the affected area. When the indocyanine green is irradiated with near-infrared light of about 600 to 850 nm (nanometer) as excitation light, the indocyanine green emits near-infrared fluorescence of about 750 to 900 nm. This fluorescence is photographed by a camera capable of detecting near infrared light, and the image is displayed on a display unit such as a liquid crystal display panel. According to this near-infrared fluorescence imaging, it is possible to observe blood vessels, lymph vessels, and the like existing at a depth of about 20 mm from the body surface.

Patent Document 1 discloses a near-infrared fluorescence intensity distribution image obtained by irradiating an indocyanine green excitation light to a living organ to which indocyanine green is administered, and indocyanine green administration. Compared with the cancer lesion distribution image obtained by applying X-rays, nuclear magnetic resonance or ultrasound to the previous test organ, it is detected by the intensity distribution image of near-infrared fluorescence, A data collection method is disclosed in which data of a region that is not detected in a cancer lesion distribution image is collected as cancer secondary lesion region data.

International Publication No. 2009/139466

Among near infrared light, near infrared light having a wavelength of about 700 nm is not impossible to visually confirm, but near infrared light having a wavelength of about 800 nm cannot be visually confirmed. Under these circumstances, in order to check the operation of a camera for photographing fluorescence, a card-like or rod-like jig kneaded with indocyanine green has been prepared in the past. The operation of the camera is confirmed by irradiating the excitation light and photographing the jig irradiated with the excitation light with a camera. For this reason, not only a dedicated jig is required, but also a complicated operation of preparing the jig and executing a photographing operation is required.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of very easily executing an operation check of a camera for photographing fluorescence.

In the first invention, the excitation light source that irradiates the subject with excitation light for exciting the fluorescent dye injected into the subject, and the fluorescence generated from the fluorescent dye when irradiated with the excitation light are photographed. A second light source for irradiating light with a wavelength corresponding to the fluorescence is attached to the excitation light source.

In the second invention, the second light source irradiates light having a wavelength corresponding to the fluorescence and takes an image of an irradiation area with the camera to check whether the camera is operating normally. This is a light source for confirmation.

In the third invention, the excitation light source and the second light source are attached to the camera.

In the fourth invention, the excitation light and the fluorescence are near-infrared light.

In the fifth invention, an image processing unit is provided for displaying a blood vessel image obtained by irradiating a subject with light having a wavelength corresponding to the fluorescence, on a display unit.

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, it is possible to very easily check the operation of a camera that captures fluorescence using light having a wavelength corresponding to the fluorescence from the second light source.

According to the third invention, by turning on the second light source, it is always easy to check the operation of the camera that captures fluorescence regardless of the arrangement of the camera that captures fluorescence and the second light source. It becomes possible. In addition, it is possible to direct excitation light and fluorescence to the imaging region of the camera simply by moving the camera.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to check the operation of a camera that captures fluorescence with respect to near infrared rays that are difficult to visually recognize.

According to the fifth aspect, it is possible to display a blood vessel image using a mechanism for confirming the operation of a camera that captures fluorescence.

1 is a schematic diagram of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention. 2 is a perspective view of an illumination / photographing unit 12. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the illumination / photographing unit 12. It is a block diagram which shows the main control systems of the imaging device which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which displays the image of the blood vessel 101 in the hand 100 of the patient 17 with the imaging device which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

The imaging apparatus includes an input unit 11 such as a touch panel, and includes a main body 10 including a control unit 30 and the like described later, an illumination / photographing unit 12 supported movably by an arm 13, a liquid crystal display panel, and the like. And a treatment table 16 on which a patient 17 is placed. Note that the illumination / imaging unit 12 is not limited to the one supported by the arm 13, and may be one carried by the operator or fixed to an existing facility.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the illumination / photographing unit 12 described above. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the illumination / photographing unit 12.

The illumination / photographing unit 12 includes a camera 21 capable of detecting near-infrared light and visible light, a visible light source 22 including one or more LEDs disposed on the outer periphery of the camera 21, and an outer periphery of the visible light source 22. An excitation light source 23 composed of one or more LEDs disposed in the section, and a confirmation light source 24 composed of one or more LEDs disposed in the LEDs constituting the visible light source 22 (corresponding to a second light source) .). In addition, each arrangement | positioning is not limited to this. The visible light source 22 emits visible light. The excitation light source 23 irradiates near infrared light having a wavelength of 760 nm, which is excitation light for exciting indocyanine green. The confirmation light source 24 emits near-infrared light having a wavelength of 810 nm, which approximates the wavelength of fluorescence generated from indocyanine green. In FIG. 3, some of the many LEDs constituting the visible light source 22 and the many LEDs constituting the excitation light source 23 are not shown. The wavelength of the excitation light source 23 is not limited to 760 nm, and may be any wavelength that can excite indocyanine green. The wavelength of the light source 24 for confirmation is not limited to 810 nm, and may be longer than the wavelength emitted by indocyanine green.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main control system of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

This imaging apparatus is composed of a CPU that performs logical operations, a ROM that stores operation programs necessary for controlling the apparatus, a RAM that temporarily stores data during control, and the like, and a control unit that controls the entire apparatus 30. The control unit 30 includes an image processing unit 31 that executes various image processing described later. The control unit 30 is connected to the input unit 11 and the display unit 14 described above. The control unit 30 is connected to an illumination / photographing unit 12 including a camera 21, a visible light source 22, an excitation light source 23, and a confirmation light source 24. Further, the control unit 30 may be connected to an image storage unit 33 that stores an image captured by the camera 21. The image storage unit 33 includes a near-infrared image storage unit 34 that stores a near-infrared image and a visible image storage unit 35 that stores a visible image. Instead of providing the near-infrared image storage unit 34 and the visible image storage unit 35, a composite image storage unit that stores an image obtained by combining the visible image and the near-infrared image may be provided.

Hereinafter, an operation when performing a surgical operation using the imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described. In the following description, a case where breast cancer surgery is performed on the patient 17 will be described.

When performing an operation for breast cancer using the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, first, the confirmation light source 24 is turned on and an image at that time is taken by the camera 21. The confirmation light source 24 emits near-infrared light having a wavelength of 810 nm that approximates the wavelength of fluorescence generated from indocyanine green. This near infrared light cannot be confirmed by human eyes. On the other hand, when near-infrared light having a wavelength of 810 nm is emitted from the light source for confirmation 24 and an image of this irradiation region is taken by the camera 21, when the camera 21 is operating normally, near-infrared light is emitted. An image of a region irradiated with is taken by the camera 21, and the image is displayed on the display unit 14. This makes it possible to easily check the operation of the camera 21.

Thereafter, indocyanine green is injected into the breast of the patient 17 who is supine on the treatment table 16 by injection. Then, near infrared rays are emitted from the excitation light source 23 toward the subject including the affected part, and visible light is emitted from the visible light source 22. As the near infrared light emitted from the excitation light source 23, as described above, 760 nm near infrared light acting as excitation light for indocyanine green to emit fluorescence is employed. Thereby, indocyanine green generates fluorescence in the near infrared region having a peak at about 800 nm.

Then, the camera 21 captures the vicinity of the affected part of the patient 17. The camera 21 can detect near infrared light and visible light. The near-infrared image and visible image captured by the camera 21 are sent to the image processing unit 31 shown in FIG. The image processing unit 31 converts the near-infrared image and the visible image into image data that can be displayed on the display unit 14. The near-infrared image data is stored in the near-infrared image storage unit 34 in the image storage unit 33. The visible image data is stored in the visible image storage unit 35 of the image storage unit 33.

The image processing unit 31 uses the near-infrared image data and the visible image data to create a composite image obtained by fusing the visible image and the near-infrared image. Then, the image processing unit 31 displays the near-infrared image, the visible image, and the composite image on the display unit 14 at the same time or selectively in divided regions.

It is also possible to display an image of the blood vessel of the patient 17 with this imaging apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an image of the blood vessel 101 in the hand 100 of the patient 17 is displayed by the imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

When photographing an image of the blood vessel 101, near-infrared light having a wavelength of 810 nm is irradiated from the light source 24 for confirmation. With near-infrared light having a wavelength of 810 nm, blood vessels can be visualized, and in particular, an artery in the blood vessel 101 can be clearly visualized. On the other hand, since the vein is close to the body surface, the vein can be visualized with near-infrared light of 810 nm. When the hand 100 of the patient 17 is irradiated with near-infrared light having a wavelength of 810 nm from the confirmation light source 24 and photographed with the camera 21, as shown in FIG. The blood vessel 101 in the hand 100 of the patient 17 can be displayed on the display unit 14. For this reason, the image of the blood vessel 101 can be visualized using the confirmation light source 24 for confirming the operation of the camera 21.

In the above-described embodiment, since the excitation light source 23 and the confirmation light source 24 are attached to the camera 21, near-infrared light having a wavelength of 810 nm and a wavelength of 760 are associated with the movement of the camera 21. The irradiation region of near infrared light can also be moved. Further, since the confirmation light source 24 always faces the imaging region of the camera 21, it is extremely easy to confirm the operation of photographing a near-infrared image having a wavelength of 810 nm by the camera 21 regardless of the orientation of the camera 21 and the confirmation light source 24. Can be executed.

However, the camera 21, the visible light source 22, the excitation light source 23, and the confirmation light source 24 may be arranged separately. Even in this case, it is possible to shoot and display a necessary image by matching the imaging region of the camera 21 with the light irradiation region of the visible light source 22, the excitation light source 23, and the confirmation light source 24. . However, when the confirmation light source 24 is installed in another place such as the main body 10, it is necessary to point the camera 21 in that direction in order to confirm the operation state of the camera 21. At this time, as described above, near-infrared light having a wavelength of 810 nm cannot be visually confirmed, so that the operation confirmation operation of the camera 21 becomes complicated.

In the above-described embodiment, the excitation light source 23 that emits near-infrared light having a wavelength of 760 nm is used. However, as the excitation light source 23, indocyanine green is excited to emit light. What can irradiate near infrared light of about 700 nm to 900 nm can be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the confirmation light source 24 that emits near-infrared light having a wavelength of 810 nm is used. However, the confirmation light source 24 has a light emission wavelength of indocyanine green of 750 nm to 900 nm. Any device can be used as long as it can irradiate nearby near infrared rays.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, indocyanine green is used as a material containing a fluorescent dye, and the indocyanine green is irradiated with near-infrared light of 760 nm as excitation light, thereby approximately 800 nm from indocyanine green. Although the case of emitting fluorescence in the near-infrared region having a peak at, light other than near-infrared light may be used.

For example, 5-ALA (5-aminolevulinic acid / 5-aminolevulinic acid) can be used as a fluorescent dye. When 5-ALA is used, 5-ALA that has entered the body of the patient 17 changes to a protoporphyrin IX / PpIX that is a fluorescent substance. When visible light of about 400 nm is irradiated toward the protoporphyrin, red visible light is irradiated as fluorescence from the protoporphyrin. Therefore, when 5-ALA is used, an excitation light source that emits visible light having a wavelength of about 400 nm may be used, and a light source for confirmation emits fluorescence from protoporphyrin. What irradiates red visible light to be used may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main body 11 Input part 12 Illumination / imaging | photography part 13 Arm 14 Display part 16 Treatment table 17 Patient 21 Camera 22 Visible light source 23 Light source for excitation 24 Light source for confirmation 30 Control part 31 Image processing part 33 Image storage part 34 Near infrared image memory | storage Part 35 Visible Image Storage Unit

Claims

An excitation light source that irradiates the subject with excitation light for exciting the fluorescent dye injected into the subject;
A camera that captures fluorescence generated from the fluorescent dye when irradiated with excitation light;
In a fluorescence imaging apparatus comprising:
An imaging apparatus in which a second light source for irradiating light of a wavelength corresponding to the fluorescence is attached to the excitation light source.
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The second light source is a confirmation light source for confirming whether or not the camera is operating normally by irradiating light of a wavelength corresponding to the fluorescence and taking an image of an irradiation area with the camera. An imaging device.
The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The excitation light source and the second light source are imaging devices attached to the camera.
The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The imaging apparatus in which the excitation light and the fluorescence are near infrared light.
The imaging device according to claim 4.
An imaging apparatus comprising an image processing unit for displaying a blood vessel image obtained by irradiating a subject with light having a wavelength corresponding to the fluorescence on a display unit.