Light-Based Diagnostic System for Simultaneous Visible and Fluorescence Diagnostics

A diagnostic system for generating an image of a target sample, comprising:

• at least one white light source configured to generate temporally modulated white light alternating between an “on” and an “off” state;
• at least one fluorescence-inducing light source configured to generate light at a wavelength that causes the target sample to fluoresce;
• at least one optical detector configured to detect at least a portion of the white light reflected or scattered from the target sample and at least a portion of fluorescent light emanating from the target sample,
• an image processor in communication with said at least one optical detector to capture image data corresponding to said reflected or scattered white light and said fluorescent light,
• a controller in communication with said white light source, said fluorescence-inducing light and said optical detector are configured to:
• cause the white light source to be temporally modulated between the “on” state and the “off” state,
• cause the fluorescence-inducing light source to continuously illuminate the target sample during both the “on” and the “off” states of the white light source,
• cause the image processor to collect visible image data during “on” states of the white light source and to collect fluorescence image data during “off” states of the white light source.