# US 12,768,718 B2 · Spectral-spatial imaging device

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- Number: US 12,768,718 B2
- Document ID: US12768718B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/778,628
- Filed: 2024-07-19
- Published: 2025-03-20
- Granted: 2026-10-20
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-10
- Assignees: Regents of the University of Minnesota
- Applicants: Regents of the University of Minnesota
- Inventors: Robert Vince; Swati Sudhakar More; James Melvin Beach
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12768718B2

## CPC

- G01J 3/2803: {using photoelectric array detector}
- G01J 3/0248: {using a sighting port, e.g. camera or human eye}
- G01J 3/027: {Control of working procedures of a spectrometer; Failure detection; Bandwidth calculation}
- G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N)

## Abstract

In general, an imaging system to synchronously record a spatial image and a spectral image of a portion of the spatial image is described. In some examples, a beam splitter of the imaging system splits an optical beam, obtained from a viewing device, into a first split beam directed by the imaging system to a spatial camera and a second split beam directed by the imaging system to the entrance slit of an imaging spectrograph that is coupled to a spectral camera. An electronic apparatus synchronously triggers the spatial camera and the spectral camera to synchronously record a spatial image and a spectral image, respectively.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
generating a recorded spatial image of a fundus or a part of a fundus of an eye of a subject and a recorded spectral image of the fundus or the part of the fundus of the eye of the subject;
mapping a location of a feature of the fundus or the part of the fundus within the recorded spatial image to one or more spectra of the recorded spectral image, wherein the recorded spectral image comprises multiple optical spectra in a defined area of an image of the fundus or the part of the fundus that map to corresponding points in the recorded spatial image to enable assignment of individual optical spectra of the recorded spectral image to the feature of the fundus or the part of the fundus within the recorded spatial image; and
detecting, from the one or more spectra of the recorded spectral image, an indication of a neurological disease of the subject.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning individual optical spectra of the recorded spectral image to the feature of the fundus or the part of the fundus within the recorded spatial image.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the neurological disease comprises Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or Huntington's disease.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the neurological disease comprises an amyloid-related neurological disease.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:
processing the one or more spectra of the recorded spectral image to compute an absorption spectrum; and
detecting, based on the absorption spectrum, the indication of the neurological disease of the subject.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the neurological disease comprises one of a retinal disease, ophthalmological condition, or another disease that presents symptoms through a retina.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the recorded spectral image comprises multiple evenly-spaced optical spectra along a first image dimension and a one-dimensional image of the fundus or the part of the fundus along a second image dimension that corresponds to a center horizon of the recorded spatial image.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the feature of the fundus or the part of the fundus comprises one of an optic disc, a retinal area, or a perifovea.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the fundus or the part of the fundus has inherent motion not directly under control of a user of a retinal imaging apparatus.