Aotf-based imaging system and method for hyperspectral and multispectral imaging of specimens including medical tissue

An imaging system, comprising:

• a platform for placement of a sample or an animal to be imaged;
• at least one excitation light source for irradiating said sample or said animal to stimulate a response comprising emissions at a plurality of different center wavelengths;
• an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) comprising:
• a piezoelectric transducer crystal for emitting an acoustic wave having a ground electrode disposed on one side of said piezoelectric crystal;
• a patterned electrode layer disposed on a side of said piezoelectric crystal opposite said ground electrode, said patterned electrode layer including a continuous region proximate to its center and a discontinuous region, a pattern in said discontinuous region comprising a plurality of spaced apart features electrically connected to said continuous region, and
• an AO interaction crystal receiving said acoustic wave attached to said ground electrode or said patterned electrode layer, wherein feature sizes of said features in said pattern are sufficiently small to provide a fine structure far field condition for said acoustic wave in said AO interaction crystal underlying said discontinuous region beginning <10 mm measured from an interface between said piezoelectric crystal and said AO interaction crystal;
• a radio frequencies (RF) power supply providing a variable RF frequency coupled across said electrodes for tuning a transmission wavelength of said AOTF, and
• an image sensor coupled to receive said emissions transmitted by said AOTF.