Compact fluorescence endoscopy video system
First Claim
1. A fluorescence endoscopy video system including:
- a multimode light source for producing white light for use in a white light imaging mode, and fluorescence excitation light or fluorescence excitation light with a reference reflectance light for use in a fluorescence imaging mode;
an endoscope for directing the light from the light source into a patient to illuminate a tissue sample and to collect the reflected light or fluorescence light produced by the tissue;
a camera positioned to receive the light collected by the endoscope, the camera including;
a color image sensor;
a low light image sensor; and
a beam splitter for splitting the light received from the endoscope into at least two beams with the same spectrum and directing those beams onto the low light and color image sensors;
one or more filters positioned in front of the low light image sensor for passing light in an autofluorescence spectral band;
one or more filters that are positionable in front of the color image sensor and pass light within a desired wavelength band when the camera operates in the fluorescence imaging mode and are removable from the front of the color image sensor when the camera operates in the white light imaging mode;
one or more optical imaging components that project images onto both the color image sensor and the low light image sensor;
an image processor/controller for digitizing, processing and encoding the image signals received from the sensor(s) as a video signal, wherein the image processor/controller simultaneously displays or combines the image signals from the low light image sensor and the color image sensor when the camera operates in the fluorescence imaging mode; and
a video monitor for displaying the video signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluorescence endoscopy video system includes a multimode light source that produces light for color and fluorescence imaging modes. Light from the light source is transmitted through an endoscope to the tissue under observation. The system also includes a compact camera for color and fluorescence imaging. Images obtained through the endoscope are optically divided and projected onto one or more image sensors by a fixed beam splitter in the camera. The fixed beam splitter eliminates the need for inserting a movable mirror into the light path between the endoscope and the image sensors. Image signals from the camera are processed in the system processor/controller where a contrast enhancement function can be applied. The contrast enhancement function increases the color contrast between normal tissue and tissue suspicious for early cancer. Finally, the system also includes a calibration feature whereby the system performance can be maintained when used with different endoscopes.
163 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A fluorescence endoscopy video system including:
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a multimode light source for producing white light for use in a white light imaging mode, and fluorescence excitation light or fluorescence excitation light with a reference reflectance light for use in a fluorescence imaging mode;
an endoscope for directing the light from the light source into a patient to illuminate a tissue sample and to collect the reflected light or fluorescence light produced by the tissue;
a camera positioned to receive the light collected by the endoscope, the camera including;
a color image sensor;
a low light image sensor; and
a beam splitter for splitting the light received from the endoscope into at least two beams with the same spectrum and directing those beams onto the low light and color image sensors;
one or more filters positioned in front of the low light image sensor for passing light in an autofluorescence spectral band;
one or more filters that are positionable in front of the color image sensor and pass light within a desired wavelength band when the camera operates in the fluorescence imaging mode and are removable from the front of the color image sensor when the camera operates in the white light imaging mode;
one or more optical imaging components that project images onto both the color image sensor and the low light image sensor;
an image processor/controller for digitizing, processing and encoding the image signals received from the sensor(s) as a video signal, wherein the image processor/controller simultaneously displays or combines the image signals from the low light image sensor and the color image sensor when the camera operates in the fluorescence imaging mode; and
a video monitor for displaying the video signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A fluorescence endoscopy video system including;
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a multimode light source for producing white light, fluorescence excitation light or fluorescence excitation light with a reference reflectance light;
an endoscope for directing the light from the light source into a patient to illuminate a tissue sample and to collect the reflected light or fluorescence light produced by the tissue;
a camera positioned to receive the light collected by the endoscope, the camera including;
a color image sensor;
a low light image sensor;
a beam splitter for splitting the light received from the endoscope into at least two beams and directing those beams onto the low light and color image sensors;
one or more filters positioned in front of the low light and color image sensors for selectively transmitting light of desired wavelengths; and
one or more optical imaging components that project images onto both the color image sensor and the low light image sensor;
a processor/controller for digitizing fluorescence and reference image signals received from the low light and color image sensors, the processor/controller including a memory device that stores a sequence of instructions that cause the processor/controller to adjust the intensity of the fluorescence or reference image signal on a pixel by pixel basis as a function of an analysis of the signals received from the low light and color image sensors, and then to encode the adjusted image signals received from the sensors as a video signal; and
a video monitor for displaying the images. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification