Infra-red vascular angiography system

An infra-red vascular angiography system comprising a readily displaceable infra-red camera comprising a camera housing and including an infra-red optical assembly of high sensitivity for receiving and transmitting with minimal distortion an infra-red image of an object within an angular range of substantially .+-.45.degree. with respect to a normal to the object;

• an infra-red range detector for detecting the infra-red image transmitted from said optical assembly, in an infra-red wavelength range substantially between 8 to 12 micrometers, and converting it into successive electric output signals;
• a video imaging device coupled to said infra-red range detector for digitizing said output signals and converting them into successive digitized video image flames or successive portions thereof;
• an image processor coupled to said imaging device for receiving the successive video frames or successive portions of video frames to process them and form enhanced video images and a display device coupled to said image processor;
• the system further comprising an auxiliary portable probe for viewing and transmitting an infra-red image of a region of said object closely adjacent said probe wherein said probe comprises a housing;
• at least a further infra-red lens forming a window in said housing and adapted to be juxtaposed with respect to said region;
• an optical fiber assembly having a first end portion located within said housing remote from said window and having a second and opposite end portion juxtaposed with respect to said infra-red range detector;
• and an optical system located in said housing and adapted to project an infra-red image transmitted by said window onto said first end portion of said optical fiber assembly.

An infra-red vascular angiography system comprising a readily displaceable infra-red camera including an infra-red optical assembly of high sensitivity for receiving and transmitting with minimal distortion an infra-red image of an object within an angular range of substantially .+-.45.degree. with respect to a normal to the object;

• an infra-red range detector for detecting the infra-red image transmitted from said optical assembly, in an infra-red wavelength range substantially between 8 to 12 micrometers, and converting it into successive electric output signals;
• video imaging device coupled to said infra-red range detector for digitizing said output signals and converting them into successive digitized video image frames or successive portions thereof;
• an image processor coupled to said imaging device for receiving the successive video frames or successive portions of video frames to process them and form enhanced video images and a display device coupled to said image processor;
• the infra-red optical assembly comprising an infra-red lens which is adapted to be spaced from the object in a range of substantially 0.30 m to 1.00 m and wherein there is furthermore provided an automatic focussing assembly for enhancing the infra-red image transmitted to said infra-red range detector.

An infra-red vascular angiography system comprising a readily displaceable infra-red camera including an infra-red optical assembly of high sensitivity for receiving and transmitting with minimal distortion an infra-red image of an object within an angular range of substantially .+-.45.degree. with respect to a normal to the object;

• an infra-red range detector for detecting the infra-red image transmitted from said optical assembly, in an infra-red wavelength range substantially between 8 to 12 micrometers, and converting it into successive electric output signals;
• a video imaging device coupled to said infra-red range detector for digitizing said output signals and converting them into successive digitized video image frames or successive portions thereof;
• art image processor coupled to said imaging device adapting to receive the successive video frames or successive portions of video frames to process them and form enhanced video images and a display device coupled to said image processor;
• said image processor incorporating a defective cell compensator for assigning a compensated value to at least one picture element originating from a defective cell included in said infra-red range detector;
• said compensated value being determined on a basis of at least one picture element value originating from a non defective cell located in proximity to the defective cell.

An infra-red vascular angiography system comprising a readily displaceable infra-red camera including an infra-red optical assembly of high sensitivity for receiving and transmitting with minimal distortion an infra-red image of an object within an angular range of substantially .+-.45.degree. with respect to a normal to the object;

• an infra-red range detector for detecting the infra-red image transmitted from said optical assembly, in an infra-red wavelength range substantially between 8 to 12 micrometers, and converting it into successive electric output signals;
• a video imaging device coupled to said infra-red range detector for digitizing said output signals and converting them into successive digitized video image frames or successive portions thereof;
• an image processor coupled to said imaging device for receiving the successive video frames or successive portions of video frames to process them and form enhanced video images and a display device coupled to said image processor;
• and furthermore comprising a console member and a readily displaceable camera assembly member;
• said camera assembly member including at least said infra-red range assembly and infra-red range detector;
• and wherein said console member includes at least said image processor;
• and said video imaging device and a cooling unit, adapted to continuously maintain the infra-red range detector at an essentially fixed temperature, located in one of said members;
• the system further including a mechanical coupler for coupling said console member to said camera assembly member and an electrical and/or optical coupler for coupling together constituent components in said member.