title: Augmented microscopy: real-time overlay of bright-field and near-infrared fluorescence images.
abstract: Intraoperative applications of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent contrast agents can be aided by instrumentation capable of merging the view of surgical field with that of NIR fluorescence. We demonstrate augmented microscopy, an intraoperative imaging technique in which bright-field (real) and electronically processed NIR fluorescence (synthetic) images are merged within the optical path of a stereomicroscope. Under luminance of 100,000 lx, representing typical illumination of the surgical field, the augmented microscope detects 189 nM concentration of indocyanine green and produces a composite of the real and synthetic images within the eyepiece of the microscope at 20 fps. Augmentation described here can be implemented as an add-on module to visualize NIR contrast agents, laser beams, or various types of electronic data within the surgical microscopes commonly used in neurosurgical, cerebrovascular, otolaryngological, and ophthalmic procedures.
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 1657 E. Helen Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States.
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 1657 E. Helen Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States.
authors.forename: Christian F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Gainer
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States.
authors.forename: Nikolay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martirosyan
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States.
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Skoch
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States.
authors.forename: G Michael
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lemole
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States.
authors.forename: Rein
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anton
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 1657 E. Helen Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romanowski
mesh_terms: D003199:Computer Systems; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique / Q000295:instrumentation*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes