Relative capacities of time-gated versus continuous-wave imaging to localize tissue embedded vessels with increasing depth

Gated Luminescence Imaging of Silicon Nanoparticles

The luminescence lifetime of nanocrystalline silicon is typically on the order of microseconds, significantly longer than the nanosecond lifetimes exhibited by fluorescent molecules naturally present in cells and tissues. Time-gated imaging, where the image is acquired at a time after termination of an excitation pulse, allows discrimination of a silicon nanoparticle probe from these endogenous signals. Because of the microsecond time scale for silicon emission, time-gated imaging is relatively simple to implement for this biocompatible and nontoxic probe. Here a time-gated system with ∼10 ns resolution is described, using an intensified CCD camera and pulsed LED or laser excitation sources. The method is demonstrated by tracking the fate of mesoporous silicon nanoparticles containing the tumor-targeting peptide iRGD, administered by retro-orbital injection into live mice. Imaging of such systemically administered nanoparticles in vivo is particularly challenging because of the low concentration of probe in the targeted tissues and relatively high background signals from tissue autofluorescence. Contrast improvements of >100-fold (relative to steady-state imaging) is demonstrated in the targeted tissues.

From shadow to light: visualization of extrahepatic bile ducts using image-enhanced laparoscopy

BACKGROUND

Correct recognition of the extrahepatic bile ducts is thought to be crucial to reduce the risk of bile duct injuries during various laparoscopic procedures. Image-enhanced laparoscopy techniques, utilizing various optical modalities other than white light, may help in detecting structures "hidden" underneath connective tissue.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted of studies describing image-enhanced laparoscopy techniques for visualization of the extrahepatic bile ducts.

RESULTS

In all, 29 articles met inclusion criteria. They describe various techniques in the animal or human setting, including autofluorescence imaging, drug-enhanced fluorescence imaging, infrared thermography, and spectral imaging. This review describes these various techniques and their results.

CONCLUSION

Image-enhanced laparoscopy techniques for real-time visualization of extrahepatic bile ducts are still in its infancy. Out of the techniques currently described, indocyanine green-enhanced near-infrared fluorescence laparoscopy has the most mature results, but other techniques also appear promising. It can be expected that in the future, image-enhanced laparoscopy might become a routine adjunct to any white-light laparoscopic operation near the hepatic hilum.

Coherence-controlled holographic microscopy in diffuse media

Low-coherence interferometric microscopy (LCIM) enables to image through scattering media by filtration of ballistic light from diffuse light. The filtration mechanism is called coherence gating. We show that coherence-controlled holographic microscope (CCHM), which belongs to LCIM, enables to image through scattering media not only with ballistic light but also with diffuse light. The theoretical model was created which derives the point spread function of CCHM for imaging through diffuse media both with ballistic and diffuse light. The results of the theoretical model were compared to the experimental results. In the experiment the resolution chart covered by a ground glass was imaged. The experimental results are in the good agreement with the theoretical results. It was shown both by experiments and the theoretical model, that with ballistic and diffuse light we can obtain images with diffraction limited resolution.