Apparatus and methods relating to color imaging endoscope systems
First Claim
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1. A color imaging endoscope system comprising:
- a) an endoscope body including a proximal end and a distal end, the body configured to position the distal end proximate to a target tissue;
b) a tunable light source configured to emit from the distal end an illumination light comprising a selectively variable selected spectral output and a selectively variable wavelength dependent intensity distribution;
c) a substantially monochromatic sensor disposed at the distal end and configured to detect light emanating from the target tissue and to transmit a signal representing an intensity of the light to a processor; and
, d) a controller operably connected to the light source, the monochromatic sensor and the processor, the controller containing computer-implemented programming configured to coordinate the light source, sensor and processor such that the light source provides over time a plurality of different desired wavelength bands of illumination light each having a selected, substantially pure, variable distribution and intensity, the monochromatic sensor detects light intensity emanating from the target tissue to provide a detected light intensity for each of the desired wavelength bands, and the processor associates the detected light intensity for each of the bands with a selected color suitable for display on a display device.
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Abstract
Color endoscopes, light sources and endoscopy systems, etc., that have good dynamic range and/or resolution while reducing the size and cost of the endoscopes. The endoscopes achieve this, in part, by using a black and white (grayscale or monochromatic) sensor at the tip of the endoscope instead of a color sensor. The endoscope uses a light system that precisely and specifically illuminates the tissue one color at time, captures the image in grayscale, then uses a computer to associate the image with the color. Certain aspects of the invention apply to imaging systems in addition to endoscopes.
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Citations
82 Claims
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1. A color imaging endoscope system comprising:
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a) an endoscope body including a proximal end and a distal end, the body configured to position the distal end proximate to a target tissue;
b) a tunable light source configured to emit from the distal end an illumination light comprising a selectively variable selected spectral output and a selectively variable wavelength dependent intensity distribution;
c) a substantially monochromatic sensor disposed at the distal end and configured to detect light emanating from the target tissue and to transmit a signal representing an intensity of the light to a processor; and
,d) a controller operably connected to the light source, the monochromatic sensor and the processor, the controller containing computer-implemented programming configured to coordinate the light source, sensor and processor such that the light source provides over time a plurality of different desired wavelength bands of illumination light each having a selected, substantially pure, variable distribution and intensity, the monochromatic sensor detects light intensity emanating from the target tissue to provide a detected light intensity for each of the desired wavelength bands, and the processor associates the detected light intensity for each of the bands with a selected color suitable for display on a display device. - View Dependent Claims (3, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32)
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2. (canceled)
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4-5. -5. (canceled)
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7-9. -9. (canceled)
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19-22. -22. (canceled)
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24-26. -26. (canceled)
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29. (canceled)
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33-68. -68. (canceled)
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69. A color imaging system comprising:
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a) a tunable light source configured to emit to a target an illumination light comprising a selectively variable selected spectral output and a selectively variable wavelength dependent intensity distribution;
b) a substantially monochromatic sensor configured to detect light emanating from the target and to transmit a signal representing an intensity of the light to a processor; and
,c) a controller operably connected to the light source, the monochromatic sensor and the processor, the controller containing computer-implemented programming configured to coordinate the light source, sensor and processor such that the light source provides over time a plurality of different desired wavelength bands of illumination light each having a selected, substantially pure, variable distribution and intensity, the monochromatic sensor detects light intensity emanating from the target to provide a detected light intensity for each of the desired wavelength bands, and the processor associates the detected light intensity for each of the bands with a selected color suitable for display on a display device. - View Dependent Claims (71, 76, 81)
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70. (canceled)
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72-75. -75. (canceled)
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77-80. -80. (canceled)
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82-131. -131. (canceled)
Specification