Detection of craniosynostosis using swir imaging

Abstract

A non-invasive imaging system and method for visualizing cranial sutures through overlying tissue are disclosed. The system includes a near-infrared and/or short-wave infrared illumination source, an imaging device that detects reflected short-wave infrared radiation, a linear polarizer, and a long-pass filter arranged in an optical path between a cranial region and the imaging device. The linear polarizer reduces surface-reflected light, and the long-pass filter attenuates wavelengths below a selected cutoff wavelength while passing short-wave infrared light reflected from beneath overlying tissue. Detected short-wave infrared radiation is provided to processing circuitry that generates image data representing cranial suture morphology. The disclosed approach enables evaluation of cranial sutures in the absence of ionizing radiation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.