Spectral imaging with a color wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9107567-B2
Application number	US-201213728736-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2012
Priority date	Dec 27, 2012
Publication date	Aug 18, 2015
Grant date	Aug 18, 2015

Abstract

A spectral imaging apparatus includes an image sensor positioned to capture images of a target, a rotating color wheel aligned with the image sensor, and a projector positioned to project overlay images onto the target. The color wheel can include one or more filter segments, each allowing light of a different range of wavelengths to pass. The color wheel can further include a blocking or opaque segment. A set of captured images of the different wavelengths can be processed to generate a false-color overlay image for projection onto the target. Processing of overlay images can be performed when the blocking or opaque segment is in front of the image sensor. The spectral imaging apparatus may be a multi-spectral imaging apparatus and made be used in the medical fields, such as for determining and indicating tissue oxygenation. Video rates can be achieved.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spectral video medical imaging apparatus comprising:
an illumination device arranged to illuminate a target tissue;
an image sensor arranged to capture light reflected from the target tissue along an imaging optical path;
a color wheel aligned with the image sensor on the imaging optical path, the color wheel configured to rotate at a predetermined frequency, the color wheel comprising at least one filter segment and at least one blocking segment;
a…

Assignees

• Christie Digital Systems Usa

Inventors

• Pinho George P

Classifications

• G01N21/314

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01N2021/3144

  Physics · mapped topic

• A61B5/441

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• G01N2021/178

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01N2021/3148

  Physics · mapped topic