Endoscopic imaging device for visible and hyperspectral imaging with sliding lens group

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025377244-A1
Application number	US-202519300103-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 14, 2025
Priority date	Dec 30, 2023
Publication date	Dec 11, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A hyperspectral imaging device includes an optical channel arranged to focus light at a first image plane. A spectrometer includes a slit formed at the first image plane to allow a slit-shaped portion of the light pass through. A dispersive element receives light from the slit and spectrally disperses it along a direction perpendicular to a width of the slit. A focusing lens focuses the spectrally dispersed light at a second image plane such that the spectral dispersion is imaged along a first axis thereof, and a spatial image of the slit width is imaged along a second axis for detection by a sensor. A sliding lens group between the optical channel and the first image plane moves to direct the incident light, scanning the entire image over the slit such that multiple frames acquired by the sensor each correspond to a horizontal line of the image.

First claim

1 . An endoscopic imaging device for visible light and hyperspectral imaging, comprising:
a first optical subsystem configured to receive and focus light received from an endoscope at a first image plane; an imaging spectrometer positioned downstream from the first optical subsystem comprising:
a slit formed in an optical stop at the first image plane to allow a slit-shaped portion of the incident light pass therethrough;
a dispersive element configured to receive incident light from the slit and spectrally disperse it along a direction perpendicular to a width of the slit;
a focusing lens arranged to focus the spectrally dispersed light at a second image plane such that the spectral dispersion is imaged along a first axis of the second image plane, and a spatial image of the slit width is imaged along a second axis of the image plane; and
a first focal plane array sensor at the second image plane configured to detect the spectrally dispersed light; and
a scanning system comprising a sliding lens group arranged in the optical channel upstream of the first image plane and configured to move linearly in a direction perpendicular to a length of the slit.

2 . The endoscopic imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising
a beam splitter positioned upstream of the scanning system, the beam splitter configured to direct a first portion of the light received from the endoscope to the imaging spectrometer and direct a second portion of light to a second focal plane array sensor at a third image plane, the second focal plane array sensor configured to capture visible light images.

Assignees

• Storz Karl Imaging Inc

Inventors

• Duckett Iii George E

Classifications

• G01J3/18

  using diffraction elements, e.g. grating (gratings per se G02B) · CPC title

• G01J3/14

  using refracting elements, e.g. prisms (G01J3/18, G01J3/26 take precedence {prisms per se G02B5/04}) · CPC title

• G01J2003/2826

  Multispectral imaging, e.g. filter imaging · CPC title

• G01J2003/064

  Use of other elements for scan, e.g. mirror, fixed grating · CPC title

• G01J3/04

  Slit arrangements {slit adjustment} · CPC title