Endoscopic fluorescence imaging and point spectroscopy system for the detection of gastro-intestinal cancers

We describe a combined endoscopic fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy system for the detection of gastro-intestinal cancers, utilizing the fluorescence from aminolaevulinic acid-induced protoporphyrin IX. Both the imaging and spectroscopy systems are controlled by a single desktop PC, which also carries out image processing and stores spectral data, enabling real-time display of images and spectra on one monitor. These systems have been tested in vivo and the results illustrate the potential of both systems in the detection of early cancers. Preliminary testing of the combined system using a foam model has shown that the combined system may better facilitate cancer detection than the use of either system individually.