SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING

• US 20120307056A1
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Crowell
• Original Assignee: Digital Light Innovations
• Inventors: Dewald, Duane Scott, Crowell, Brian, Zuzak, Karel J., Werner, William Boyd
• Granted Patent: US 8,891,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/216 using circular polarised light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3144 for oxymetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6423 Spectral mapping, video display
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/21 Polarisation-affecting properties G01N21/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/1293 resolving multicomponent spectra
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/06 Means for illuminating specimens

Abstract

A system and method for visualizing a biological sample. One or more spectra are selected for illuminating the biological sample to indicate one or more chemicals in the biological sample. The biological sample is illuminated with the one or more spectra. Reflected light is analyzed to determine characteristics of the biological sample.

Claims

1. A method for visualizing a biological sample, the method comprising:

selecting one or more spectra for illuminating the biological sample to indicate one or more chemicals in the biological sample;

illuminating the biological sample with the one or more spectra;

analyzing reflected light to determine characteristics of the biological sample.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is controlled remotely.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more spectra include wavelengths from ultraviolet to thermal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the illumination includes hyperspectral imaging and imaging fluorescence.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the illuminating is performed a plurality of times utilizing a plurality of spectra, wherein the plurality of spectra are complex spectra.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more spectra include three spectra.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the three spectra are generated by light emitting diodes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the reflected light is for Hb and HbO₂.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the biological sample is exposed for a different time period for each of the one or more color spectra.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises:

acquiring one or more images for each of the one or more spectra.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more images are utilized to generate an imaging cube.

12. A system for performing hyperspectral imaging, the system comprising:

a hyperspectral illuminator configured to illuminate a target utilizing a plurality of spectra;

a camera in communication with the hyperspectral illuminator and configured to capture one or more images for each of the plurality of spectra;

a data processing system controlling the hyperspectral illuminator and the camera, the data processing system processes data captured by the camera, the data processing system triggers illumination of the target for each of the plurality of spectra, the data processing system controls exposure of the camera for each of the plurality of spectra.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of spectra are complex spectra

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of spectra are three spectra generated by light emitting diodes.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the one or more spectra include wavelengths of 270-1000 nm.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein reflectance and absorption are determined for each of the one or more images to determine whether one or more thresholds are exceeded for the target.

17. A method for performing imaging, comprising:

illuminating a target with a plurality of spectra;

exposing an image sensor of an imaging system for one of a plurality of time periods associated with each of the plurality of spectra;

processing reflectance images from the target utilizing chemometric algorithms; and

visualizing one or more chemicals in the target.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

saving the reflectance images.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

performing digital signal processing for the reflected images; and

performing image stretching;

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

measuring reflectance components for the one or more chemicals;

determining apparent absorption;

normalizing the plurality of spectra; and

performing superposition of the plurality of spectra.