Infrared fundus video angiography system

An apparatus for imaging a retina, comprising:

• a narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination-producing illumination source which is matched to an excitation peak of ICG dye;
• an optical system for directing narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination, which is produced by the source and matched to the excitation peak of the ICG dye, onto the retina of an eye under examination and for directing a resulting retinal image toward an image storage device;
• and
• an optical filter positioned between the retina and the image storage device for blocking the infrared illumination from entering the image storage device.

An apparatus for imaging a retina, comprising:

• a narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination-producing illumination source which is matched to an excitation peak of an infrared fluorescent dye having separate excitation and emission peak wavelengths;
• an optical system for directing narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination, which is produced by the source and matched to the excitation peak of the infrared fluorescent dye, onto the retina of an eye under examination and for directing a resulting retinal image toward an image storage device;
• and
• an optical filter positioned between the retina and the image storage device for blocking the infrared illumination from entering the image storage device, the optical filter having a sharp cut-off response matched to the excitation and emission peaks of the infrared fluorescent dye so that the filter substantially passes emission peak wavelengths and substantially blocks excitation peak wavelengths.

An apparatus for imaging a retina, comprising:

• a narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination-producing illumination source;
• an optical system for directing narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination produced by the source onto the retina of an eye under examination and for directing a resulting retinal image toward an image storage device which includes a video camera;
• and
• an optical filter positioned between the retina and the image storage device for blocking the infrared illumination from entering the image storage device.

An apparatus for imaging a retina, comprising:

• a narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination-producing illumination source comprising an infrared laser diode coupled to a light diffuser, the source matched to an excitation peak of an infrared fluorescent dye having separate excitation and emission peak wavelengths;
• an optical system for directing narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination, which is produced by the source and matched to the excitation peak of the infrared fluorescent dye, onto the retina of an eye under examination and for directing a resulting retinal image toward an image storage device;
• and
• an optical filter positioned between the retina and the image storage device for blocking the infrared illumination from entering the image storage device, the optical filter having a sharp cut-off response matched to the excitation and emission peak wavelengths of the infrared fluorescent dye so that the filter substantially passes emission peak wavelengths and substantially blocks excitation peak wavelengths.

An apparatus for imaging a retina, comprising:

• a narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination-producing illumination source comprising an infrared laser coupled to a light diffuser which includes opal glass, the source matched to an excitation peak of an infrared fluorescent dye having separate excitation and emission peak wavelengths;
• an optical system for directing narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination which is produced by the source and matched to the excitation peak of the infrared fluorescent dye, onto the retina of an eye under examination and for directing a resulting retinal image toward an image storage device;
• and
• an optical filter positioned between the retina and the image storage device for blocking the infrared illumination from entering the image storage device, the optical filter having a sharp cut-off response matched to the excitation and emission peak wavelengths of the infrared fluorescent dye so that the filter substantially passes emission peak wavelengths and substantially blocks excitation peak wavelengths.

An apparatus for imaging a retina, comprising:

• a narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination-producing illumination source comprising an infrared laser coupled to a light diffuser which includes a fiber array, the source matched to an excitation peak of an infrared fluorescent dye having separate excitation and emission peak wavelengths;
• an optical system for directing narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination, which is produced by the source and matched to the excitation peak of the infrared fluorescent dye, onto the retina of an eye under examination and for directing a resulting retinal image toward an image storage device;
• and
• an optical filter positioned between the retina and the image storage device for blocking the infrared illumination from entering the image storage device, the optical filter having a sharp cut-off response matched to the excitation and emission peak wavelengths of the infrared fluorescent dye so that the filter substantially passes emission peak wavelengths and substantially blocks excitation peak wavelengths.

An apparatus for imaging a retina, comprising:

• a narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination-producing illumination source comprising an infrared laser coupled to a light diffuser which includes an integrating sphere, the source matched to an excitation peak of an infrared fluorescent dye having separate excitation and emission peak wavelengths;
• an optical system for directing narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination, which is produced by the source and matched to the excitation peak of the infrared fluorescent, onto the retina of an eye under examination and for directing a resulting retinal image toward an image storage device;
• and
• an optical filter positioned between the retina and the image storage device for blocking the infrared illumination from entering the image storage device, the optical filter having a sharp cut-off response matched to the excitation and emission peak wavelengths of the infrared fluorescent dye so that the filter substantially passes emission peak wavelengths and substantially blocks excitation peak wavelengths.

An apparatus for imaging a retina, comprising:

• a narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination-producing illumination source comprising an infrared laser coupled to a light diffuser, the source matched to an excitation peak of an infrared fluorescent dye having separate excitation and emission peak wavelengths;
• an optical system for directing narrow bandwidth, non-incoherent, and decollimated infrared illumination, which is produced by the source and matched to the excitation peak of the infrared fluorescent dye, onto the retina of an eye under examination and for directing a resulting retinal image toward an image storage device which includes a video camera;
• and
• an optical filter positioned between the retina and the image storage device for blocking the infrared illumination from entering the image storage device, the optical filter having a sharp cut-off response matched to the excitation and emission peak wavelengths of the infrared fluorescent dye so that the filter substantially passes emission peak wavelengths and substantially blocks excitation peak wavelengths.

An apparatus for imaging retina, comprising:

• a narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination-producing illumination source which is matched to an excitation peak of ICG dye;
• an optical system for directing narrow bandwidth, non-coherent, and decollimated infrared illumination, which is produced by the source and matched to the excitation peak of the ICG dye, onto the retina of an eye under examination and for directing a resulting retinal image toward an image storage device;
• and
• an optical filter positioned between the retina and the image storage device for blocking the infrared illumination from entering the image storage device, the optical filter having a sharp cut-off response matched to excitation and emission peaks of ICG dye so that the filter substantially passes emission peak wavelengths and substantially blocks excitation peak wavelengths.