High-sensitive fluorescence endoscope using electrocardiograph-synchronized multiple exposure

Endomicroscopy for Computer and Robot Assisted Intervention

Endomicroscopy is a new technique that allows human tissue to be characterized in vivo and in situ, circumventing the need for conventional biopsy and histology. Despite increased application and growing research interests in this area, the clinical application of endomicroscopy, however, is limited by difficulties in ergonomic control, consistent probe-tissue contact, large area surveillance, and retargeting. Recently, advances in high-speed imaging, mosaicing, and robotics have aimed to address these difficulties. The development of robot-assisted devices in particular has shown great promises in extending the clinical potential of endomicroscopy. Issues related to miniaturization, adaptation to tissue deformation, control stability, force and position compensation, cost, and sterility are being pursued by both research and commercial communities. In this review, recent clinical and technical developments in different aspects of computer and robotic assisted endomicroscopy interventions including instrumentation, multiscale integration, and high-speed imaging techniques are presented. We further address emerging trends and new research opportunities toward more widespread clinical acceptance of robotically assisted endomicroscopy technologies.

Advances in research of fluorescence imaging for detection of gastrointestinal tumors

Fluorescence imaging, which has a high sensitivity, produces images by capturing fluorescence signal from the inside of organisms. Over the past few years, notable development of fluorescence imaging technique has been made in the field of gastrointestinal cancer. Imaging instruments and fluorescent probes for fluorescence imaging are being improved and innovated, making it a promising technique for broad clinical applications in the near future. Future clinical applications of fluorescence imaging include aiding diagnosis and surgical treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, which are important development directions of this technique. However, increasing the safety and the accuracy for tumor detection is a challenge for fluorescence imaging. Besides, in order to acquire better diagnostic effects, the combination of fluorescence imaging and other imaging modalities which require novel imaging probes for tumor is also an important trend for fluorescence imaging development.

Simultaneous evaluation of wall motion and blood perfusion of a beating heart using stereoscopic fluorescence camera system

In this study, we aimed to develop a stereoscopic fluorescence camera system for simultaneous evaluation of wall motion and tissue perfusion using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging. The system consists of two high-speed stereo cameras, an excitation lamp, and a computer for image processing. Evaluation experiments demonstrated that the stereoscopic fluorescence camera system successfully performed the simultaneous measurement of wall motion and tissue perfusion based on ICG fluorescence imaging. Our system can be applied to intraoperative evaluation of cardiac status, leading to an improvement in surgical outcomes.