Dual-view probe for illumination and imaging, and use thereof

An imaging method, comprising:

• supplying, using a first ring array, electromagnetic radiation in a forward illumination path for illuminating a forward field of view of space in front of an imaging probe, wherein the first ring array is guided by a cylindrical light guide supplying electromagnetic radiation in the forward illumination path to the front end of the probe, and the first ring array, the cylindrical light guide and a front lens group are contained within an optical dome;
• supplying, using a second ring array, electromagnetic radiation in a rearward illumination path for illuminating a 360° omnidirectional primarily back field of view alongside the probe, comprising from 100° to 140° backward relative to a probe axis;
• imaging, using an imaging device, along imaging paths the forward and the primarily back fields of view onto an image sensor, wherein the forward illumination path, the rearward illumination path, and the imaging paths, defined by lenses of a front and of a rear lens group and by a single reflector in each of the rearward illumination path and the imaging paths, are not blocked by any other component of the probe, wherein the forward illumination path, the rearward illumination path and the imaging paths are separated to minimize stray light, wherein a plurality of objectives comprises a first and a second group of objectives, and wherein the first group of objectives comprises the front lens group and the rear lens group, and the second group of objectives comprises the reflector in the rearward imaging path and the rear lens group, and the forward and the primarily back fields of view are imaged respectively by the first and second groups of objectives onto the image sensor;
• and optionally wherein the forward and the primarily back fields of view are discontinuous and registered in a fixed spatial relationship relative to one another on the image sensor.