Claims
- 1. A method of focusing an optical instrument on a tissue sample, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) projecting a plurality of light spots onto a tissue sample; (b) superimposing a plurality of focusing elements in a visual field comprising said tissue sample; and (c) aligning a subset of said light spots substantially within said focusing elements.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said projecting step comprises projecting a plurality of laser beams toward said tissue sample.
- 3. The method of claim 2, wherein each member of said plurality of laser beams strikes said tissue sample at a different angle.
- 4. The method of claim 2, wherein each member of said plurality of laser beams strikes said tissue sample at a fixed angle with respect to an objective axis.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said projecting step comprises projecting four light spots.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said focusing elements are rings.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said superimposing step comprises superimposing said plurality of focusing elements in a sequence of images of said tissue.
- 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said sequence of images comprises real-time video images.
- 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said superimposing step comprises displaying said plurality of focusing rings in a viewfinder.
- 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said tissue sample comprises in-situ tissue.
- 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said aligning step comprises adjusting a component of an optical instrument used to visualize said tissue.
- 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said component is a probe.
- 13. A method of focusing an optical instrument on a tissue sample, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) projecting a plurality of light spots onto a tissue sample; (b) superimposing a plurality of focusing elements in a visual field comprising said tissue sample; (c) aligning a subset of said light spots substantially within said focusing elements; and (d) automatically validating an alignment of said subset of light spots within said focusing elements.
- 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said projecting step comprises projecting a plurality of laser beams toward said tissue sample.
- 15. The method of claim 13, wherein said validating step comprises detecting locations of said subset of light spots.
- 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said validating step comprises using a measure of greenness to detect said locations.
- 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said measure of greenness is expressed as GE=G−R−15, where GE is the measure of greenness, G is a green channel value, and R is a red channel value.
- 18. The method of claim 15, wherein said validating step comprises using a measure of blueness to detect said locations.
- 19. The method of claim 15, wherein said validating step comprises using a measure of a color corresponding to a color of said light spots to detect said locations.
- 20. The method of claim 15, wherein an image of said tissue is enhanced to increase contrast between said light spots and surrounding tissue.
- 21. The method of claim 15, wherein said validating step comprises comparing said locations with predetermined positions.
- 22. The method of claim 15, wherein said validating step comprises applying a decision rule based at least in part on said locations.
- 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said decision rule is based at least in part on a number of light spots detected.
- 24. The method of claim 13, wherein said validating step comprises performing iterative dynamic thresholding.
- 25. The method of claim 24, wherein said validating step comprises performing morphological processing between thresholding iterations.
- 26. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:
(e) obtaining diagnostic optical data from said tissue sample after said validating step, wherein said obtaining occurs within an optimal data acquisition window.
- 27. The method of claim 26, wherein said optimal data acquisition window is a period of time beginning about 30 seconds after an application of a contrast agent to said tissue sample and ending about 130 seconds after said application.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to the following commonly-owned applications: Attorney Docket No. MDS-035, entitled, “Methods and Apparatus for Characterization of Tissue Samples”; Attorney Docket No. MDS-035A, entitled, “Methods and Apparatus for Displaying Diagnostic Data”; Attorney Docket No. MDS-035B, entitled, “Methods and Apparatus for Visually Enhancing Images”; Attorney Docket No. MDS-035D, entitled, “Methods and Apparatus for Characterization of Tissue Samples”; Attorney Docket No. MDS-035E, entitled, “Methods and Apparatus for Processing Image Data for Use in Tissue Characterization”; Attorney Docket No. MDS-035F, entitled, “Methods and Apparatus for Processing Spectral Data for Use in Tissue Characterization”; and MDS-035H, entitled, “Methods and Apparatus for Calibrating Spectral Data,” all of which are filed on even date herewith.