Lateral effect imaging system

An image acquisition system for acquiring a three dimensional image of an object comprising:

• optical scanner means comprising radiation source means for generating a beam of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation for tracing out a raster and projecting said raster onto an object;
• detector means comprising a pair of spaced lateral effect photodiodes for detecting radiation reflected from said object;
• and
• processor means communicating with said detector means for defining an array of pixels for determining the position of radiation impinging each photodiode and for generating stereo data indicative of reflectance intensity and the elevational coordinate for each pixel.

An endoscope adapted for operation in association with optical scanner means which generates radiation tracing out a raster comprising;

• probe means for forming a flexible tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end;
• first optical cable means received in said member comprising a bundle of coherent flexible optical fibers forming a first optical cable extending between a proximal end surface and a distal end surface;
• photodetector means comprising at least tow lateral effect photodetectors for generating an electrical signal having an instantaneous value proportional to the quantity of light impinging said photodetectors;
• processor means communicating with said photodetector means for generating a signal indicative of a multi-dimensional image of said object,
• so that a raster from said scanner applied at said proximal end of said probe means is projected through said distal end surface of said optical channel for illumination of the object to be examined and radiation reflected from the object impinges said photodetector means wherein said processor generates signals indicative of a stereo image of said object.