KR20040094936A - Method and apparatus for diagnosis of photodynamic cancer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method and an apparatus are provided to diagnose the size of a local tumor by fluorescence detecting only cancer cell through the use of a photosensitizer and photo-chemical reaction. CONSTITUTION: An apparatus comprises a light source(a) including a blue laser diode having an output of 30 to 500mW, an optical fiber, a photo-coupler, and a power unit; a detection unit(c) including a long-pass filter(7) for cutting off the light of short wavelength, a camera head mounted with a CCD camera(8), a coupler for coupling the light source to an endoscope, a color monitor(9), and a PDD image processor(10) for accuracy of diagnosis; and a controller(11) for controlling the light source and the detection unit.

Description

Photodynamic cancer diagnosis apparatus and method {Method and apparatus for diagnosis of photodynamic cancer}

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for diagnosing photodynamic cancer, and more particularly, a photosensitizer is injected into a human body through intravenous injection among medical devices using laser beams and Xenon lamps, which are widely used in the medical field. After a certain period of time, this substance is selectively accumulated in cancer tissues. At this time, when a blue light having a specific wavelength of 400 to 450 nm is irradiated through an optical fiber and an endoscope, the substance selectively reacts with the cancer tissues and photons that react with the photons. Photodynamic cancer diagnosis apparatus using 800nm red fluorescence, and blue light of 400-450nm specific wavelength is irradiated to cancer tissue accumulated drug through optical fiber and endoscope, and photodynamic cancer diagnosis using fluorescence generated by this It is about a method.

Conventionally, microscopic examination was necessary to distinguish between swelling and tumor due to general inflammation, lump formation, bleeding, etc., and the tumor is spread to the whole body starting with local disease. However, even if the tumor cells are limited to the surface of the site of development or invade surrounding tissues through the surface, small cases of 1 mm to 2 cm rarely metastasize to lymph nodes or the whole body. In the case of clinical diagnosis, the symptoms and symptoms are examined, and after a thorough medical examination, lesions are determined by angiography, CT, ultrasonography, MRL, endoscopy, immunological examination, cytology, and pathological examination. You should check. In addition, the conventional diagnostic method is a black and white, but the diagnosis through a fixed image, the present invention is a color image can be selectively diagnosed and suspected area can be treated with the diagnosis. It also has an excellent effect on early cancer diagnosis. In the conventional German wolf, karl-storz and Olympus, there is a cancer diagnosis apparatus for diagnosing cancer by generating blue light using a Zenen lamp, but the devices of the manufacturer have a spectrum analysis function for accurately determining cancer tissue. There is also a problem that it is difficult to distinguish between cancerous tissue and normal tissue with the naked eye because the images are dark.

On the other hand, the photodynamic cancer diagnosis method using endoscopy is a new non-invasive diagnostic method for cancer diagnosis, which is the preferred method for clinicians. Compared to biopy, which is used to culture tissues, photodynamic diagnosis technique is a technique for diagnosing a suspected area by using an endoscope without extracting biological tissues. It is convenient and simple to perform, and it is also a diagnostic technique that has the advantage of accurate cancer diagnosis and early detection of cancer. The photodynamic cancer diagnosis is a cancer diagnosis method for selectively diagnosing tumor tissues, and has the advantage that only normal tissues can be diagnosed with minimal damage. The above diagnosis is a method of diagnosing cancer using fluorescence generated in cancer tissue by irradiating light of a certain wavelength to a photosensitizer selectively remaining in tumor tissue. In addition to intravenous injection, there is also a new method of spraying drugs on suspected lesions to accumulate drugs in suspected cancer tissue.

In the optical characteristics of tumors, tumor tissues generally have an increased absorption coefficient due to hemoglobin and an increase in the volume of microvascular vessels due to angiogenesis in the tumor, and higher scattering coefficients attenuated by mitochondria. Spawning takes the lead. On the other hand, when the light is incident on the material, a reaction such as absorption, scattering and transmission of the light occurs in the material, which occurs even when the light is incident on the biological tissue. Thus, the secondary light generated in response to the biological tissue represents the unique information of the biological tissue, and when the information is acquired and reconstructed, the state of the biological tissue can be diagnosed. The screening technology using the optical characteristics of the biological tissue has the advantage of being able to be screened out of the existing risks and inefficiencies, and a photosensitizer injected into the human body.

) Typically absorbs light best at wavelengths between 400 and 450 nm and emits fluorescence at wavelengths or red portions between 600 and 800 nm.

Therefore, the present invention can play a secondary role in diagnosis by graphically analyzing the biochemical state of cancer tissues through spectral analysis, and accumulate drugs by using blue laser diodes together to complement and improve dark images. By exciting the cancer tissue more and increasing the brightness of the acquired image, it is possible to increase the precision, accuracy, and convenience of visual diagnosis of cancer. In addition, high-quality fluorescence images can be used for precise diagnosis, and spectra capable of quantitative evaluation can be used to determine ambiguous lesions.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is derived to solve the above problems, by fluorescence only cancer cells without damaging the normal tissue by a photosensitive agent and a photochemical reaction in the selective wavelength band of 400 to 450nm, There is no side effect, it is possible to understand the size and shape of the tumor and the biochemical state, and to provide a photodynamic cancer diagnosis device that can diagnose the cancer that is progressing early and improve the quality of life.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to obtain an image from an optical wavelength generator of 400 to 450nm, a control device consisting of a light source power supply and a one-chip microcomputer, optical fiber for guiding / radiating the generated light to the lesion, endoscope, fluorescence lesion It is to provide a photodynamic cancer diagnostic apparatus which can improve the accuracy and precision by having a detection device for displaying.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to diagnose the color image, thereby increasing the degree of clarity and accuracy, and can efficiently irradiate the cancer tissue accumulating the drug through the optical fiber and the endoscope blue light of a specific wavelength of 400 to 450nm In addition, the present invention provides a method for diagnosing photodynamic cancer using fluorescence generated thereby.

1 is a block diagram showing a cancer diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

2 is a flow chart showing a cancer diagnostic method according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Blue laser diode 2 Optical fiber 3: Xenon lamp

4: brightness control device 5: wavelength conversion device 6: optical fiber

7 filter 8 R / G / B CCD camera 9 monitor

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 PDD image processing apparatus 11 control apparatus 12 spectrum analyzer 13 image augmentation apparatus 1 14 SIT camera 1 15 spectrum processing part

16: image enhancer 2 17: SIT camera 2 18: R-image processing unit

19: G-image processing unit 20: B / W camera

a: light source 1 b: light source 2 c: detection device

d: endoscope

In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, the photodynamic cancer diagnosis apparatus includes a light source unit 1 (a) consisting of a blue laser diode 1, an optical fiber 2, and a power supply for a blue laser diode, a Zenen lamp 3, and a tissue. A light source unit 2 (b) consisting of a brightness adjusting device 4 for adjusting the brightness of the light transmitted to the light, a wavelength converting device 5 and an optical fiber 6 for converting white light for general endoscopes, and light in the wavelength range of 400 to 450 nm; Long-pass filter (7) for blocking light shorter than 500nm, 24bit R / G / B CCD camera (8), optical transmission unit, color monitor (9) for screen output and diagnosis of cancer tissue A detection device (c) comprising a PDD image processing device (10) for enhancing precision and convenience, and a control device (11) for controlling the light source unit (1), the light source unit (2), and the detection device (c). It is made by the feature.

Fluorescence in normal tissues is light between green and blue, natural fluorescence (fluorescence of normal tissue: green) starts at 500 nm, and fluorescence in cancer tissue (red fluorescence) occurs at 600 nm. . Therefore, the light having a wavelength shorter than 500 nm as excitation light is unnecessary for diagnosis, and the long-pass filter 7 may be used to block wavelengths shorter than 500 nm which are unnecessary wavelength bands in advance because it may cause efficiency degradation and error in diagnosis. do.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing an apparatus for diagnosing cancer according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a photodynamic cancer diagnosis apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a light source unit 1 (a), a light source unit 2 (b), a detection device (c), and a control device 11. The function of each technical means will be described below.

The light source unit 1 (a) is composed of a blue laser diode 1 having an output of 30 mW to 500 mW having a laser wavelength band of 400 to 450 nm, an optical fiber 2, an optical coupling and transmission device, and a power supply for a blue laser diode. The blue laser diode power supply supplies a stable power to the blue laser diode in comparison with the set value by feeding back the output current and voltage by a high speed SMPS method with a power supply of 100 to 240V. Supply differential power accordingly. The laser light of 30mW to 500mW generated from the blue laser diode is radiated through the endoscope (d) to the cancer tissue accumulating the drugs requiring diagnosis through the optical fiber 2 and the light coupling and delivery device. The blue laser beam excites the cancer tissue accumulated in the drug to emit red fluorescence in the 600 to 800 nm wavelength range.

The light source unit 2 (b) includes a Zenen lamp (3) having an output of 150mW to 300mW having all wavelength bands, a brightness adjusting device (4) for adjusting the brightness of light transmitted to the tissue, white light for general endoscopes, and a wavelength range of 400 to 450nm. It consists of a wavelength conversion device 5 and an optical fiber 6 to convert the light, the light generated from the Zenen lamp 3 of 300W output is converted to the appropriate brightness through the brightness control device 4, the light is a wavelength White light and blue light of 400 to 450 nm are selected by the control device 11 while passing through the converting device 5, and the optical fiber 6 is radiated to cancer tissues that accumulate a chemical requiring diagnosis. In the light source unit 2 (b), the white light and the 400 to 450nm blue light is divided into a general white light through the endoscope (d) the primary internal loss after checking the drug through the blue light of 400 to 450nm first Accumulated cancer tissue is excited to obtain a fluorescence image through the endoscope (d). The blue light also functions to excite the cancer tissue accumulated in the drug to emit red fluorescence in the 600 to 800 nm wavelength band. Since the excitation light is dark, the problem may be compensated by simultaneously using the light source unit 1 (a) and the light source unit 2 (b) for a more accurate diagnosis. Since the light source units 1 and 2 can select and output only a specific wavelength that responds particularly well to cancer tissue among the 400 to 450 nm wavelength band, the light source unit 1 and 2 have an overall output for 400 to 450 nm, that is, the Xenon lamp having no output in wavelength selection. The efficiency can be further increased for blue light. Cancer diagnosis can be performed only by the light source unit 1 (a) and the detection device (c), and can also be performed only by the light source unit 2 (b) and the detection device (c). However, when the light sources 1 and 2 are used at the same time, the intensity of the blue light for cancer diagnosis is further increased, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of cancer diagnosis. In addition, the cooling method of said blue laser diode and a disaster lamp is air-cooled.

The detection device (c) is equipped with a long-pass filter (7) that blocks light of wavelengths shorter than 500 nm that is not required for diagnosis, and an R / G / B CCD camera (8) of 24 bits (8 bits for each primary color). Mechanism coupling device for combining the camera head and the light source (blue, white) with the endoscope (d), the color monitor 9 for performing the screen output and the PDD image processing device (10) to increase the precision and convenience in the diagnosis of cancer tissue Or a B / W camera of the PDD image processing apparatus 10 to transmit whether the image is a general light image or a blue color image to the R / G / B CCD camera 8 through a signal of the control device 11. 20) to distinguish whether or not to transmit. Excitation of the cancer tissue using only the light source unit 1 (a), or only the light source unit 2 (b), or the light source unit 1 (a) and the light source unit 2 (b) simultaneously causes the fluorescence to be emitted. The surrounding spectral information and the image are transmitted to the detection device (c), and the cancer tissue and the surrounding spectral information are formed into a spectrum (band) through the spectrum analyzer 12 for analyzing the distribution of the spectrum of the diagnostic tissue. The level of the dark spectrum (band) through the augmentation device 1 (13) is tuned to the signal of the control device 11 to be constantly raised and processed as discrete signals (data) of each color through the 24-bit SIT camera 1 (14). Through the spectrum processing unit 15, the information of each wavelength band can be graphically viewed through a monitor. The cancer diagnosis image (PDD image) is 16 bit by blocking the unnecessary light through the filter (7) and constantly raising the level of the dark PDD image through the image 24 bit sensitizer 2 (16) to the signal of the control device (11). R-image processing unit 18 which is processed as red color (R) and green (G) color discrete signals (data) through SIT camera 2 (17), and is responsible for red image processing, and G- which is responsible for green image processing. The cancer tissue (R image) and the normal tissue (G image) are precisely divided through the image processor 19 and displayed on the monitor. In addition, the function of the PDD image processing apparatus will be described in more detail. Reddish Color contrast of cancer tissue having 600-700 nm wavelength band and normal tissue having 500-600 nm wavelength band of green color is optimized through the R / G image processing units 18 and 19, and image enhancement apparatuses 1 and 2 (13 and 16). ), The contrast can be automatically adjusted and exposed to increase diagnostic accuracy. In addition, the PDD image processing apparatus corrects moire generation and grid phenomena caused by external noise or interference, which is a harmful element of diagnosis, and performs a spectrum analysis device for each wavelength range of 500 nm to 800 nm. 12) to analyze the amount of photons, and through the spectrum processor 15 performs a function to plot the amount of photons for each wavelength band.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a cancer diagnosis method according to the present invention. Referring to Figure 2, it will be described a photodynamic cancer diagnostic method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, in step S10, blue light having a specific wavelength of 400 to 450 nm is made through the light source unit. Thereafter, the blue light generated in step S10 is irradiated to the suspected site requiring diagnosis through optical fiber and endoscope in step S20. Subsequently, the blue light excites the suspected site where the medicine is accumulated in step S30 to generate red fluorescence in the 600 to 800 nm wavelength band. In the next step, S40, the image is connected to the CCD camera again through endoscopy. In operation S50, the image acquired by the CCD camera 8 may be diagnosed by the PDD image processing apparatus 10.

In addition, through the endoscope using the optical fiber (D) as the photodynamic cancer diagnosis device, as well as bronchial cancer (Endobronchial tumor), esophageal cancer (Esophageal tumor), gastric cancer (Stomach tumor), skin cancer (skin tumor), brain cancer (brain tumor) Many types of cancer can be treated, including bladder tumors, breast tumors, and gynecologic neoplasms.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, by fluorescence of only cancer cells in red without damaging normal tissues by photosensitive agents and photochemical reactions, it is possible to grasp local tumor size without any side effects, and is progressing at an early stage. Diagnosis of cancer can improve the quality of life, and equipped with a PDD image processing device can improve the accuracy and precision.

Claims (5)

In the photodynamic cancer diagnosis device, A light source unit 1 (a) comprising a blue laser diode 1 having an output of 30 mW to 500 mW having a laser wavelength range of 400 to 450 nm, an optical fiber 2, an optical coupling and transmission device, and a power supply for a blue laser diode; ; A camera head equipped with a long-pass filter (7) for blocking light of 500 nm or more, which is not required for diagnosis, a 24-bit R / G / B CCD camera (8 bits for each primary color), and a light source A mechanism combining device for combining (blue, white) with the endoscope (d), a color monitor 9 for performing screen output, and a PDD image processing device 10 for improving accuracy and convenience in diagnosing cancerous tissues. Device (c) and; And a control device (11) for controlling the light source unit (1) and the detection device (c). In the photodynamic cancer diagnosis device, Xenon lamp (3) having an output of 150-300W having all wavelength bands, brightness control device (4) for adjusting the brightness of the light transmitted to the tissue, and converts into a white light for general endoscopes and light in the wavelength range of 400 to 450nm A light source unit 2 (b) composed of the wavelength conversion device 5 and the optical fiber 6; A camera head equipped with a long-pass filter (7) for blocking light of 500 nm or more, which is not required for diagnosis, a 24-bit R / G / B CCD camera (8 bits for each primary color), and a light source A mechanism combining device for combining (blue, white) with the endoscope (d), a color monitor 9 for performing screen output, and a PDD image processing device 10 for improving accuracy and convenience in diagnosing cancerous tissues. Device (c) and; And a control device (11) for controlling the light source unit (2) and the detection device (c). In the photodynamic cancer diagnosis device, A light source unit 1 (a) comprising a blue laser diode 1 having an output of 30 mW to 500 mW having a laser wavelength range of 400 to 450 nm, an optical fiber 2, an optical coupling and transmission device, and a power supply for a blue laser diode; ; Xenon lamp (3) having an output of 150-300W having all wavelength bands, brightness control device (4) for adjusting the brightness of the light transmitted to the tissue, and converts into a white light for general endoscopes and light in the wavelength range of 400 to 450nm A light source unit 2 (b) composed of the wavelength conversion device 5 and the optical fiber 6; A camera head equipped with a long-pass filter (7) for blocking light of 500 nm or more, which is not required for diagnosis, a 24-bit R / G / B CCD camera (8 bits for each primary color), and a light source A mechanism combining device for combining (blue, white) with the endoscope (d), a color monitor 9 for performing screen output, and a PDD image processing device 10 for improving accuracy and convenience in diagnosing cancerous tissues. Device (c) and; And a control device (11) for controlling the light source part (1), the light source part (2), and the detection device (c). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The PDD image processing apparatus 10 A spectrum analyzer 12 which performs a function of analyzing the amount of photons for each wavelength band of 500 nm to 800 nm; An image augmentation apparatus 1 (13) which is formed into a spectrum (band) through the spectrum analyzer 12 and performs a function of increasing accuracy of diagnosis by automatically adjusting and exposing contrast; By increasing the level of the dark spectrum (band) through the image enhancer 1 (13) to the signal of the control device 11 and raising it constantly, discrete signals (data) of each of red (R) and green (G) colors are obtained. 24bit SIT camera 1 (14) performing a function of processing; A spectrum processor 15 for graphically plotting the discrete signals (data) for each wavelength band; An image augmentation apparatus 2 (16) which performs a function of blocking unnecessary light through the filter (7) and automatically adjusting and exposing the contrast to increase the precision of the diagnosis; By adjusting the level of the dark PDD image to the signal of the controller 11 through the image sensitizer 2 (16) and increasing it constantly, the red (R) and green (G) colors are divided into signals (data). 24bit SIT camera 2 (17) for performing a function of processing; An R-image processing unit 18 that is processed as a color discrete signal (data) of each of red (R) and green (G) through the 16-bit SIT camera 2 (17) to perform red (dark tissue) image processing; A photodynamic cancer diagnostic apparatus comprising a G-image processing unit (19) in charge of green (normal tissue) image processing. In the photodynamic cancer diagnostic method, Creating a blue light having a specific wavelength of 400 to 450 nm through the light source unit (S10); Irradiating the generated blue light to a suspected site requiring diagnosis through an optical fiber and an endoscope (S20); Exciting the suspected site accumulating the drug using the blue light to generate red fluorescence in the wavelength range of 600 to 800 nm (S30), Connecting the image to the CCD camera 8 again through an endoscope (d) (S40); And diagnosing the image acquired by the CCD camera (8) through a PDD image processing apparatus (S50) (S50).