Method and system for diagnosing pathology in biological samples by detection of infrared spectral markers

A system for diagnosing presence of pathology in a biological sample supported on a supporting surface generally reflecting infrared light and generally transmitting visible light, comprising:

• an infrared source for generating an input infrared beam for illuminating the biological sample;
• a focal-plane array detector having multiple detection pixels for detecting infrared images of the biological sample, the biological sample including a region containing extracellular material;
• infrared optical elements for focusing infrared light reflected by the supporting surface and through the biological sample to the focal-plane array detector;
• and
• a computer connected to the focal plane array detector for receiving infrared image data, the computer being programmed to determine from infrared image data for the region containing the extracellular material whether the extracellular material exhibits an infrared spectral marker indicative of presence of pathology in the biological sample.

A macroscopic infrared imaging system for imaging a biological sample mounted on a supporting surface generally reflecting infrared light and generally transmitting visible light, comprising:

• an infrared source;
• a focal plane array detector;
• a plurality of filters having respective pass band wavelengths and insertable in an output path of the infrared source;
• a single lens for directing infrared generated by the infrared source and through one of the plurality of filters to the biological sample for illumination thereof;
• a second single lens for focusing infrared light reflected by the support surface and through the biological sample onto the focal plane array detector for capturing an infrared image of the sample at the pass band wavelength of said one of the plurality of filters.