Method and apparatus for imaging tissues
First Claim
1. A method for imaging tissue under examination, comprising:
- a source of illumination disposed upstream and emitting light directed onto the tissue for passage therethrough and for exit therefrom as downstream exiting light,an image detector disposed downstream of the tissue for receiving light, and for emitting signals derived from the received light,a processing unit coupled to the image detector for receiving emitted signals, for processing received signals, and for delivering processed data, the method being comprising the steps of;
coupling the processing unit to and in command of the illumination source for triggering emission of at least one pulse of light lasting for a predetermined duration of time,operating a fast gate coupled to and under command of the processing unit and disposed upstream of the image detector, to open into a first open state and to close into a second closed state in predetermined synchronization with the at least one pulse of light for selectively permitting passage to the image detector of only ballistic photon rays pertaining to the exiting light, andoperating the processing unit to derive an image from the signals received by the image detector.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for imaging tissue by upstream illumination and downstream dual filtering of the exiting light for separation of ballistic photons rays from stray rays. Dual filtering includes spatial filtering via a pinhole and spatial filtering operated by a fast gate. A processor synchronizes flashes of illumination with the fast gate to command opening for passage of the ballistic photons rays and closure to exclude the stray rays. An image detector downstream of the fast gate collects the ballistic photons rays for processing by the processor and display on a monitor as a shadowgram. Illumination flashes have one or more wavelengths and the image detector is adapted to match the selected wavelengths of the illuminating flashes.
13 Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A method for imaging tissue under examination, comprising:
-
a source of illumination disposed upstream and emitting light directed onto the tissue for passage therethrough and for exit therefrom as downstream exiting light, an image detector disposed downstream of the tissue for receiving light, and for emitting signals derived from the received light, a processing unit coupled to the image detector for receiving emitted signals, for processing received signals, and for delivering processed data, the method being comprising the steps of; coupling the processing unit to and in command of the illumination source for triggering emission of at least one pulse of light lasting for a predetermined duration of time, operating a fast gate coupled to and under command of the processing unit and disposed upstream of the image detector, to open into a first open state and to close into a second closed state in predetermined synchronization with the at least one pulse of light for selectively permitting passage to the image detector of only ballistic photon rays pertaining to the exiting light, and operating the processing unit to derive an image from the signals received by the image detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An apparatus for imaging tissue under examination, comprising:
-
a source of illumination disposed upstream and emitting light directed onto the tissue for passage therethrough and for exit therefrom as downstream exiting light, an image detector disposed downstream of the tissue for receiving light, and for emitting signals derived from the received light, a processing unit coupled to the image detector for receiving emitted signals, for processing received signals, and for delivering processed data, the apparatus comprising; the processing unit being coupled to and in command of the illumination source for triggering emission of at least one pulse of light lasting for a predetermined duration of time, a fast gate coupled to and under command of the processing unit and disposed upstream of the image detector, to open into a first open state and to close into a second closed state in predetermined synchronization with the at least one pulse of light, for selectively permitting passage to the image detector of only ballistic photon rays pertaining to the exiting light, and the processing unit being operated to derive an image from the signals received by the image detector. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
Specification