3D bladder models for fluorescence imaging on bimodal system

For a favorable treatment result, early diagnosis of pathological cancerous micro-areas with their subsequent removal is highly important and can be achieved by the development of new modeling techniques and conducting relevant experiments. Various models of the bladder can be developed and applied to provide a platform for studying, processing and improving the signals received from various video systems. Here, in order to study visualization properties at fluorescence endoscopy, 3D optical phantoms of urinary bladder have been developed. The phantoms simulated optical properties of the bladder wall, including localized areas that represent tumor tissues and contained PpIX photosensitizer at various concentrations for fluorescence "diagnostics". To perform bimodal fluorescence imaging, a two-channel video fluorescence system was used. First, intraoperative images of the bladder wall were obtained in a patient with bladder cancer. A video system was used to reveal and image pathological areas with increased fluorescence intensity. Fluorescence indices in tumor tissue were recorded and corresponded to different concentrations of PpIX photosensitizer. Then, a bimodal fluorescence imaging was performed on 3D phantoms. The obtained images and fluorescence intensity measurements showed the ability of the video fluorescence system to register bladder wall structures and accumulated in them photosensitizers in concentrations from 0.25 to 20 mg/kg. The developed models can serve as a useful instrument for test measurements for constructing multimodal mosaic panoramic images of the bladder surface. This will help to advance in solving problems of endoscopic image processing using bimodal imaging, which uses diagnostic (fluorescence) and color channels.