Fluorescence filter spectrum compensation
AssigneeInspektor Research Systems B.V.
InventorElbert de Josselin de Jong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device provides incident light on oral structures, switchably between two states. In the first state, incident light causes autofluorescence of byproducts of decay, and an optical filter between the oral structures and either the user's eyes or a visualizing apparatus yields visually distinguishable appearances for that autofluorescence depending on whether the tissue is healthy or unhealthy. In the second state, the incident light is of a color composition that yields a substantially “white” spectrum after passing through the filter.
Claims15
An apparatus (10) for observing oral structures, comprising:
- a first light source (24) that, when energized, emits light characterized by a first spectrum adapted to induce autofluorescence by tissue;
- a first filter (22) in the path between the tissue and a user's eye, wherein, when passed through the first filter (22), light emitted by healthy tissue is visually distinguishable from light emitted by unhealthy tissue;
- and
- a second light source (28) that, when energized, emits light characterized by a second spectrum (66), where light characterized by the second spectrum (66), when passed through the first filter (22), has a substantially white spectrum.
A method for observing oral structures, comprising the steps of:
- energizing a first light source (24) that emits light characterized by a first spectrum adapted to induce autofluorescence by tissue;
- visualizing the tissue through a first filter (22) in the path between the tissue and a user's eye, wherein, when passed through the first filter (22), the induced autofluorescence by healthy tissue is visually distinguishable from induced autofluorescence by unhealthy tissue;
- and
- energizing a second light source (28) that emits light characterized by a second spectrum (66), wherein light characterized by the second spectrum (66), when passed through the first filter (22), has a substantially white spectrum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.