WO2018015437A1 - Dispositif d'imagerie et procédé de visualisation d'un ganglion lymphatique sentinelle - Google Patents

Dispositif d'imagerie et procédé de visualisation d'un ganglion lymphatique sentinelle Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018015437A1
WO2018015437A1 PCT/EP2017/068231 EP2017068231W WO2018015437A1 WO 2018015437 A1 WO2018015437 A1 WO 2018015437A1 EP 2017068231 W EP2017068231 W EP 2017068231W WO 2018015437 A1 WO2018015437 A1 WO 2018015437A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
imaging device
visible light
light camera
pinhole
collimator
Prior art date
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Ceased
Application number
PCT/EP2017/068231
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English (en)
Inventor
Philippe C. CATTIN
Stephan HAERLE
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Universitaet Basel
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Universitaet Basel
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Universitaet Basel filed Critical Universitaet Basel
Publication of WO2018015437A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018015437A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01T—MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
    • G01T1/00—Measuring X-radiation, gamma radiation, corpuscular radiation, or cosmic radiation
    • G01T1/16—Measuring radiation intensity
    • G01T1/1603—Measuring radiation intensity with a combination of at least two different types of detectors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01T—MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
    • G01T1/00—Measuring X-radiation, gamma radiation, corpuscular radiation, or cosmic radiation
    • G01T1/16—Measuring radiation intensity
    • G01T1/161—Applications in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an imaging device and more particularly to a method of visualizing a sentinel lymph node.
  • Such imaging device and method can be used for visualizing a radioactive tracer in a human or animal body or for visualizing a sentinel lymph node of a human or animal patient, respectively.
  • tracers are used for identifying or visualizing items or processes within human or animal bodies.
  • Such tracers often are radioactive substances which are, e.g. with a syringe, administered to the human or animal patient and which have properties to suitably behave in the body of the patient such that conclusions related to the medical conditions of the patient can be drawn. Since the substances are radioactive they can be located from outside the body by appropriate means.
  • Sentinels are the first lymph nodes in the lymphatic systems after the tumor. I.e., sentinels are the lymph nodes neighboring the tumors. Analyzing the sentinel allows for concluding if and to what extent lymph nodes have to be removed for preventing the tumor to propagate.
  • gamma cameras For locating the tracers within the bodies it is known to use gamma cameras. Such cameras usually have a collimator and a gamma photon detector. The collimator is arranged adjacent to the body where the tracer is suspected. Gamma photons which are emitted by the tracer and which permeate the body are provided through the collimator and are detected by the gamma photon detector. The gamma photon detector provides signals which precisely correspond to the emission of gamma photons by the tracer.
  • the invention deals with an imaging device for visualizing a radioactive tracer in a human or animal body.
  • the imaging device comprises a collimator, a radiation detector and a visible light camera.
  • the collimator has a passage which on one side ends in a pinhole. It can be made of a material which is suitable to shield radiation, particularly radioactive radiation, gamma radiation or gamma photons. For example, it can be made of lead.
  • the passage of the collimator can have the same dimension as the pinhole such that the pinhole simply is one of the two axial ends of the passage. It can also have a larger diameter than the pinhole such that the pinhole forms a narrowed entrance of the passage.
  • the pinhole can form an opening of one side of the passage.
  • the radiation detector is arranged adjacent to a side of the passage opposite to the pinhole of the collimator.
  • the term "opposite" can relate to a position of the radiation detector being vis-a-vis the pinhole such that the radiation detector is facing the pinhole via the passage.
  • the pinhole can form an opening of the passage at one side opposite to the radiation detector.
  • the radiation can be radioactive radiation and particularly gamma radiation.
  • the radiation detector can be a gamma photon detector.
  • the collimator and the radiation detector of the imaging device can form or be comprised by a gamma camera or collimator gamma camera.
  • the visible light camera is arranged at the pinhole of the collimator.
  • the term "at the pinhole” can relate to the visible light camera being located in the pinhole or close to it.
  • the term "close” in this context can relate to being within a distance which not larger than the diameter of the pinhole.
  • the imaging device By positioning the visible light camera at the pinhole the imaging device can provide an image or data of the visible situation together with detected radiation.
  • the collimator and radiation combination can provide a scope of information which is similar or identical to the scope of the visual light camera. Due to the proximity of the visual light camera and the passage the visual light camera and the collimator can have the same or essentially same optical center and aligned optical axis. This allows for efficiently providing a comparably high precision, particularly for comparably close objects.
  • the imaging device allows for efficiently providing an augmented reality imaging at a comparably high precision. Particularly, the images or data provided by the visual light camera and the radiation detector can be overlaid in a comparably easy manner.
  • the imaging device can be positioned in proximity of a human or animal body to which a tracer is provided and which might be appropriately prepared.
  • the imaging device then generates an image of the body by its visual light camera which is augmented by an image of the radiation detector.
  • no 3D camera structure such as plural appropriately positioned visual light cameras is necessary. This allows for making the set up particularly easy and efficient.
  • the imaging device according to the invention allows for a precise and reliable detection of a tracer in a human or animal body in an efficient way and, also, for an efficient and precise detection of a sentinel.
  • the visible light camera is a micro-camera or a nano-camera.
  • Such micro-cameras or nano-cameras can be similar or identical to endoscopic cameras. Endoscopic cameras have been proved to be sufficiently accurate and robust such that they can allow for an efficient implementation of the imaging device.
  • the micro- or nano-cameras can be dimensioned with a base area of about 1 -1 .5 mm x 1 -1 .5 mm. Thus, such cameras can be appropriately precise and small to be used within the imaging device.
  • the visible light camera is arranged in a plane defined by a diameter of the pinhole of the collimator. Like this, the visible light camera can be placed in the pinhole or on the pinhole.
  • the visible light camera preferably completely or essentially covers the pinhole of the collimator.
  • the term "essentially covers” can relate to an arrangement of the visual light camera substantially closing the pinhole. Thereby, around the visual light camera there can still be some gaps but the major portion of the pinhole is closed. In such an arrangement the radiation can pass the visible light camera and corresponding visible light can be caught by it.
  • the passage has a longitudinal axis and the visible light camera has an optical axis which is essentially or completely identical to the longitudinal axis of the passage. Like this, it can efficiently be achieved that the collimator and radiation combination has the same alignment as the visual light camera. This allows for efficiently providing an accurate augmented image.
  • the collimator and the radiation detector preferably together form part of a radiation camera, wherein imaging properties of the visible light camera do essentially correspond to imaging properties of the radiation camera.
  • the radiation camera can particularly be a gamma camera or a collimator gamma camera.
  • image and data gathered or generated by the visual light camera and the radiation camera can efficiently be combined in an accurate manner.
  • a field of view of the visible light camera preferably is essentially identical or bigger than a field of view of the radiation camera. This allows for providing a particular high consistency and accuracy of the images and data generated by the radiation and visual light cameras.
  • the imaging device further comprises a processing unit which is connected to the visible light camera and to the radiation detector such that signals generated by the visible light camera and by the radiation detector are transferrable to the processing unit wherein the processing unit is adapted to overlay the signals of the visible light camera and the radiation detector and to generate an augmented image.
  • the signals generated can particularly be images, a stream of images or similar data capable for generating a visual representation.
  • the term "overlay" in this connection can relate to adding the signals or information generated by one of the visible light camera and the radiation detector to the other one of the same.
  • the augmented image can be an image of the real visual situation enriched with information which is not visible or identifiable. This allows for an efficient evaluation of the information gathered.
  • the collimator has at least one further passage which on one side ends in an at least one further pinhole and which comprises at least one further visible light camera arranged at the at least one further pinhole of the collimator.
  • the pinhole and the at least one further pinhole preferably form a systematic array together with the visible light camera and the at least one further visible light camera.
  • Such a multi camera or camera array imaging device allows for providing a larger area covered by the imaging device.
  • the images or augmented images generated by the single visible light camera and collimator/detector combinations can be combined or put together to a larger image covering a comparably large area of the body or object to be monitored.
  • the single augmented images can form pixel like sub-images of the final image combining the sub-images.
  • An additional advantage of such a multi pinhole and passage collimator or multi camera imaging device can be that the different pinholes and visible light cameras may capture the targets or lymph nodes from different angles. Due to these different angles the lymph nodes can also be mapped for each visible light camera on different locations. This parallax effect can be readily used to estimate the distance of the sentinel node from the collimator. It even might allow for differentiating two lymph nodes that are behind each other and as such indistinguishable from each other with any other imaging device. [0026] In embodiments of imaging devices having plural pinholes, passages and visible light cameras the visible light cameras and the pinholes can lie in a plane.
  • the planes of the visual light cameras and of the pinholes may be identical or different such as parallel to each other.
  • the visible light cameras and the pinholes can be arranged in a curve or other non-planar arrangement. In some applications, such curved or non-planar arrangement can allow for an improved evaluation or gathering of information in 3-dimensions.
  • the visual light cameras and the pinholes can also be arranged in a random fashion on the plane.
  • the collimator is made of a material essentially impervious for a radioactive radiation or for gamma photons. Such material allows for sidewardly shielding the radiation and efficiently aligning it. Like this, a precise radiation image can be generated.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of visualizing a sentinel lymph node of a human or animal patient.
  • the method comprises the steps of: administering a radioactive tracer to the patient; positioning an imaging device according to any one of the preceding claims in proximity of the patient; overlaying signals of a visible light camera of the imaging device and a radiation detector of the imaging device; and generating an augmented image from the overlayed signals of the visible light camera of the imaging device and the radiation detector of the imaging device.
  • the imaging device preferably is positioned to be directed to a face, neck or breast of the patient.
  • Such a method allows for implementing effects end benefits described above in connection with the imaging device in a sentinel analysis application. This allows for efficiently evaluating the conditions of the body with respect to a tumor.
  • Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross sectional view of a section of an embodiment of an imaging device according to the invention
  • Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the imaging device of Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross sectional view of a collimator and radiation detector combination of the imaging device of Fig. 1 .
  • FIG. 1 shows a section of an embodiment of an imaging device 1 according to the invention.
  • the imaging device 1 comprises a number of collimators 2, an identical number of micro-cameras 4 as visual light cameras and a gamma photon detector 3 as radiation detector.
  • the collimators 2 are formed by a lead body 22 which is impervious for gamma photons.
  • Each of the collimators 2 has a pinhole 21 facing the detector 3.
  • the micro-cameras 4 have a housing 41 encasing an optics 42 and a visual light detector 43.
  • each micro-camera 4 is arranged at each of the pinholes 21 . More specifically, each micro-camera 4 is arranged in a plane defined by a diameter of the associated pinhole 21 . Thereby, the micro-camera 4 essentially covers the associated pinhole 21 .
  • the imaging device 1 has three rows of six collimators
  • each collimator 2 has a passage 23 shaped by the lead body 22.
  • the passage 23 has a longitudinal axis 24.
  • the detector 3 is positioned adjacent to the passage 23, i.e. at the open longitudinal end side of the passage 23 opposite to the pinhole 21 .
  • the pinhole 21 forms a narrowed opening opposite the detector 3.
  • the micro-camera 4 has an optical axis 52 which is identical to the longitudinal axis 24 of the passage 23.
  • the imaging device 1 further comprises a computer as processing unit (not shown in the Figs.).
  • the computer is connected to the micro-cameras 4 and to the detector 3. Signals generated by the micro-cameras 4 and by the detector 3 can be transferred to the computer.
  • the computer is adapted to overlay the signals of the micro-cameras 4 and the detector 3 and to generate an augmented image out of it.
  • the imaging device 1 For visualizing a radioactive tracer 6 in a human or animal body, as shown in Fig. 3, the imaging device 1 is placed such that the body provided with the tracer 6 is positioned near the pinholes 21 of the collimators 2. In particular, for visualizing a sentinel lymph node of a human or animal patient, the radioactive tracer 6 is previously administered to the human or animal patient. Then the imaging device 1 is positioned in proximity of the patient and particularly near where the tracer 6 is assumed. The imaging device 1 generates augmented images out of the overlaid signals of the micro- cameras 4 and the detector 3. The augmented images are then evaluated by a doctor or other skilled person.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif d'imagerie (1) comprenant un collimateur (2), un détecteur de rayonnement (3) et une caméra de lumière visible (4). Le collimateur présente un passage qui, sur un côté, se termine dans un trou d'épingle (21). Le détecteur de rayonnement (3) est disposé de manière adjacente à un côté du passage opposé au trou d'épingle (21) du collimateur (2). La caméra de lumière visible (4) est disposée au niveau du trou d'épingle (21) du collimateur (2). Un tel dispositif d'imagerie permet de visualiser efficacement un traceur radioactif dans le corps humain ou animal. En particulier, il peut être utilisé pour visualiser de manière efficace et précise un ganglion lymphatique sentinelle d'un patient humain ou animal.
PCT/EP2017/068231 2016-07-19 2017-07-19 Dispositif d'imagerie et procédé de visualisation d'un ganglion lymphatique sentinelle Ceased WO2018015437A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP16180176.6 2016-07-19
EP16180176 2016-07-19

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WO2018015437A1 true WO2018015437A1 (fr) 2018-01-25

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109239757A (zh) * 2018-10-08 2019-01-18 西安交通大学 一种强脉冲伽马辐射剂量场分布测量与诊断装置及方法
WO2019202330A1 (fr) * 2018-04-20 2019-10-24 Cavendish Nuclear Limited Améliorations de détection et liées à celle-ci

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009047328A2 (fr) * 2007-10-11 2009-04-16 Dkfz Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Stiftung Des Öffentlichen Rechts Association de détecteur à tomographie d'émission monophotonique et d'imagerie optique

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009047328A2 (fr) * 2007-10-11 2009-04-16 Dkfz Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Stiftung Des Öffentlichen Rechts Association de détecteur à tomographie d'émission monophotonique et d'imagerie optique

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
LEES J E ET AL: "A Hybrid Camera for simultaneous imaging of gamma and optical photons", JOURNAL OF INSTRUMENTATION, INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS PUBLISHING, BRISTOL, GB, vol. 7, no. 6, 18 June 2012 (2012-06-18), pages P06009, XP020224898, ISSN: 1748-0221, DOI: 10.1088/1748-0221/7/06/P06009 *
PROFETA ANDREA CORRADO ET AL: "Augmented reality visualization in head and neck surgery: an overview of recent findings in sentinel node biopsy and future perspectives", BRITISH JOURNAL OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACISL SURGERY, CHURCHILL LIVINGSTONE, EDINBURGH, GB, vol. 54, no. 6, 22 January 2016 (2016-01-22), pages 694 - 696, XP029600448, ISSN: 0266-4356, DOI: 10.1016/J.BJOMS.2015.11.008 *

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019202330A1 (fr) * 2018-04-20 2019-10-24 Cavendish Nuclear Limited Améliorations de détection et liées à celle-ci
GB2574927B (en) * 2018-04-20 2022-10-05 Cavendish Nuclear Ltd Radiation detector with visual imaging
CN109239757A (zh) * 2018-10-08 2019-01-18 西安交通大学 一种强脉冲伽马辐射剂量场分布测量与诊断装置及方法

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