Multi-Spectral Imaging System Including a Multi-Illuminant Light Source and a Single Chip Camera Head and Imaging Method
AssigneeKARL STORZ Imaging, Inc.
InventorGeorge E. Duckett, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided to enable multiple imaging modalities with a single camera head. The camera head may include a single chip system capable of measuring different wavelengths of light on different regions of the same image sensor to generate different images. The light source in the system can adjust the output spectra by using a plurality of illuminants and filters, and measurements from different light channels from different regions of the image sensor can be used to generate white light images, fluorescence image, perfusion images, fluorescein images, and the like.
Claims20
An endoscopic or exoscopic imaging system, comprising:
- a light source comprising a plurality of illuminants including at least a first illuminant, a second illuminant, a third illuminant, a fourth illuminant, and a fifth illuminant, each illuminant configured to generate light at different wavelengths from each of the other illuminants;
- a plurality of filters configured to direct, combine, and/or filter light from the plurality of illuminants into a combined light output;
- a controller configured to selectively enable or disable one or more of the plurality of illuminants based on a selected imaging mode;
- and
- a camera head comprising a lens assembly and an imaging assembly, the imaging assembly comprising a single image sensor configured to receive light from a surgical scene illuminated by the combined light output, wherein the single image sensor includes a first region and a second region, each region configured to receive a spectrally distinct portion of the light received from the surgical scene.
A method for multi-spectral imaging, comprising:
- selecting an imaging mode from a plurality of imaging modes;
- generating, by a light source comprising a plurality of illuminants, an illumination light by selectively enabling a subset of the plurality of illuminants based on the selected imaging mode;
- directing, combining, and/or filtering, by a plurality of filters, light from the selectively enabled illuminants into a combined light output;
- illuminating a surgical scene with the combined light output;
- capturing, at a camera head comprising a single image sensor, light from the surgical scene, wherein the single image sensor includes a first region and a second region, each region receiving a spectrally distinct portion of the light from the surgical scene;
- and
- generating one or more images based on the selected imaging mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.