Near infrared imaging

• US 9,877,654 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2012
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Novadaq Technologies, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Tesar, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TURCHEN, ROCHELLE DEANNA
• Application Number:
  US13/585,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20130184591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,995 Days
• Field of Search: 600473-476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0661 Endoscope light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3417 all coatings being oxide coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3452 comprising a fluoride
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2453 of the proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1013 for colour or multispectral image sensors, e.g. splitting an image into monochromatic image components on respective sensors spectral imaging systems G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/142 Coating structures, e.g. thin films multilayers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/145 having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/04 Prisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/21 from near infrared [NIR] radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

Endoscopes and wands, useful for near infrared imaging, particularly for medical purposes, have transmitting members that transmit between about 95% and 99.5% of the energy at a wavelength within the infrared spectrum. The wands and endoscopes have at least one channel for transmitting and receiving light in the visible spectrum and at least one channel for transmitting and receiving light in the infrared spectrum.

Claims

1. An elongated lens system in an endoscope or wand for fluorescence and visible light imaging, comprising:

a first lens group comprising an objective assembly;

a second lens group comprising a relay lens group; and

an ocular lens group,

wherein the relay lens group comprises a plurality of light transmitting members each comprising a transmitting glass surface facing an air space and an optical coating on the transmitting glass surface, wherein each coated light transmitting member is configured to reflect between 0.5% and 5% of first and second wavelengths of interest, wherein the first wavelength of interest is in the infrared spectrum and the second wavelength of interest is in the visible spectrum.

2. The elongated lens system of claim 1, where the relay lens group comprises at least 30 air glass surfaces.

3. The elongated lens system of claim 1, wherein the first wavelength of interest is between 825 nm and 835 nm.

4. The elongated lens system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light transmitting members comprise glasses with an index of refraction ranging from 1.5 to 1.65.

5. The elongated lens system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light transmitting members comprise glasses with an index of refraction ranging from 1.65 to 1.7.

6. The elongated lens system of claim 1, further comprising a filter configured to block light at an excitation wavelength.

7. The elongated lens system of claim 1, wherein the optical coating comprises layers of a high index coating material and a low index coating material.

8. The elongated lens system of claim 1, wherein the optical coating comprises layers of TiO₂ and MgF₂.

9. The elongated lens system of claim 1, wherein the optical coating comprises layers of TiO₂ and SiO₂.

10. The elongated lens system of claim 1, wherein the optical coating comprises layers of ZrO₂ and MgF₂.

11. The elongated lens system of claim 1, wherein the optical coating comprises layers of Ta₂O₅ and SiO₂.