Characterization of a Near-Infrared Laparoscopic Hyperspectral Imaging System for Minimally Invasive Surgery

A near-infrared hyperspectral surgical laparoscope comprising:

• an near-infrared illuminated laparoscope;
• a liquid crystal tunable filter generally center-mounted on the laparoscope and positioned to collect back-reflected light from a target;
• a relay lens generally center-mounted on the laparoscope to focus light from the liquid crystal tunable filter;
• and
• a focal plane array comprising a high-sensitivity, back-illuminated, deep depleted charged coupled device generally center-mounted on the laparoscope, wherein light that is reflected from the target is imaged on the focal plane array and captured as a digital data cube.

An imaging method to identify a biliary tree structure comprising:

• imaging the biliary tree structure with a laparoscope comprising:
• a liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF) positioned to collect back-reflected light from a target;
• a relay lens center-mounted on the laparoscope to focus light from the liquid crystal tunable filter;
• and
• a focal plane array (FPA), wherein light that is reflected from the target is imaged on the focal plane array and captured as a digital data cube;
• and
• processing the digital data cube to enhance the contrast between chemically different anatomical structures due to chromophores at the target.

A system for laparoscopic cholecystectomy comprising:

• imaging laparoscopic surgery imaging the intraportal structure with a near infrared laparoscope that comprises:
• a liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF) positioned to collect back-reflected light from a target;
• a relay lens center-mounted on the laparoscope to focus light from the liquid crystal tunable filter;
• and
• a focal plane array (FPA), wherein light that is reflected from the target is imaged on the focal plane array and captured as a digital data cube;
• processing the digital data cube to enhance the contrast between chemically different anatomical structures due to chromophores at the target;
• and
• removing those tissue that are identified in need of removal.