METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COAXIAL IMAGING OF MULTIPLE WAVELENGTHS
First Claim
1. A hyperspectral/multispectral imaging device, comprisingA) a housing having an exterior and an interior;
- B) at least one light source disposed on the exterior of the housing;
C) at least one objective lens attached to or within the housing, the at least one objective lens disposed in an optical communication path, the optical communication path comprising an originating end and a terminating end, wherein the at least one light source is offset from the optical communication path and positioned so that light from the at least one light source is (i) first backscattered by a tissue of a subject positioned at the originating end of the optical communication path and (ii) then passed from the originating end of the optical communication path, through the at least one objective lens, and to the terminating end of the optical communication path;
D) a beam steering element within the interior of the housing, the beam steering element in optical communication with the at least one objective lens and positioned at the terminating end of the optical communication path, the beam steering element characterized by a plurality of switchable operating modes, each respective operating mode in the plurality of operating modes causing the beam steering element to be in optical communication with a different optical detector;
E) a plurality of optical detectors offset from the optical communication path, each respective optical detector in the plurality of optical detectors in optical communication with a corresponding operating mode of the beam steering element;
F) a plurality of detector filters within the housing, each respective detector filter in the plurality of detector filters covering a corresponding optical detector in the plurality of optical detectors thereby filtering light before it is received by the corresponding optical detector from the beam steering element;
G) at least one processor within the interior of the housing, wherein the at least one processor is in electrical communication with the at least one light source, the beam steering element, and the plurality of optical detectors;
H) a memory within the interior of the housing, wherein at least one program is non-transiently stored in the memory and executable by the at least one processor, the at least one program comprising instructions for;
i) operating the at least one light source,ii) switching said beam steering element between operating modes in the plurality of operating modes, andiii) controlling each optical detector in said plurality of optical detectors; and
I) a communication interface in electrical communication with the at least one processor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hyperspectral/multispectral imager comprising a housing is provided. At least one light source is attached to the housing. An objective lens, in an optical communication path comprising originating and terminating ends, is further attached to the housing and causes light to (i) be backscattered by the tissue of a subject at the originating end and then (ii) pass through the objective lens to a beam steering element at the terminating end of the communication path inside the housing. The beam steering element has a plurality of operating modes each of which causes the element to be in optical communication with a different optical detector in a plurality of optical detectors offset from the optical communication path. Each respective detector filter in a plurality of detector filters covers a corresponding optical detector in the plurality of optical detectors thereby filtering light received by the corresponding detector from the beam steering element.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hyperspectral/multispectral imaging device, comprising
A) a housing having an exterior and an interior; -
B) at least one light source disposed on the exterior of the housing; C) at least one objective lens attached to or within the housing, the at least one objective lens disposed in an optical communication path, the optical communication path comprising an originating end and a terminating end, wherein the at least one light source is offset from the optical communication path and positioned so that light from the at least one light source is (i) first backscattered by a tissue of a subject positioned at the originating end of the optical communication path and (ii) then passed from the originating end of the optical communication path, through the at least one objective lens, and to the terminating end of the optical communication path; D) a beam steering element within the interior of the housing, the beam steering element in optical communication with the at least one objective lens and positioned at the terminating end of the optical communication path, the beam steering element characterized by a plurality of switchable operating modes, each respective operating mode in the plurality of operating modes causing the beam steering element to be in optical communication with a different optical detector; E) a plurality of optical detectors offset from the optical communication path, each respective optical detector in the plurality of optical detectors in optical communication with a corresponding operating mode of the beam steering element; F) a plurality of detector filters within the housing, each respective detector filter in the plurality of detector filters covering a corresponding optical detector in the plurality of optical detectors thereby filtering light before it is received by the corresponding optical detector from the beam steering element; G) at least one processor within the interior of the housing, wherein the at least one processor is in electrical communication with the at least one light source, the beam steering element, and the plurality of optical detectors; H) a memory within the interior of the housing, wherein at least one program is non-transiently stored in the memory and executable by the at least one processor, the at least one program comprising instructions for; i) operating the at least one light source, ii) switching said beam steering element between operating modes in the plurality of operating modes, and iii) controlling each optical detector in said plurality of optical detectors; and I) a communication interface in electrical communication with the at least one processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification