Multispectral imaging probe

A multispectral imaging probe for directing excitation light to a target and directing expressed light from the target to a detector, comprising:

• a) a housing defining a substantially sealed volume;
• b) splitting means for directing excitation light and expressed light;
• c) mounting means for mounting the splitting means within the sealed volume so that excitation light incident thereon is directed by the splitting means to the target along a propagation axis and expressed light from the target travels to the splitting means on an expressed light path along the propagation axis;
• d) excitation means for directing excitation light along an excitation light path to the splitting means;
• and
• e) collection means for directing expressed light from the splitting means to the detector, where the mounting means comprises a carrier adapted to hold a plurality of splitting devices, said carrier moveably mounted with the housing and moveable among a plurality of positions, where each splitting device is in the excitation light path and in the expressed light path when the carrier is in one of the plurality of positions.

A multispectral imaging probe for directing excitation light to a target and directing expressed light from the target to a detector, comprising:

• a) a housing defining a substantially sealed volume;
• b) splitting means for directing excitation light and expressed light;
• c) mounting means for mounting the splitting means within the sealed volume so that excitation light incident thereon is directed by the splitting means to the target along a propagation axis and expressed light from the target travels to the splitting means on an expressed light path along the propagation axis;
• d) excitation means for directing excitation light along an excitation light path to the splitting means;
• and
• e) collection means for directing expressed light from the splitting means to the detector, where the collection means comprises a flexible image preserving light guide.

A multispectral imaging probe for directing excitation light to a target and directing expressed light from the target to a detector, comprising:

• a) a housing defining a substantially sealed volume, and comprising a handle extending along a path a first distance and having a first width measured orthogonal to the path of extension, where the first distance is at least three times the first width and where the radius of curvature of the path is at least three times the first width;
• b) splitting means for splitting a light beam,
• c) mounting means for mounting the splitting means within the sealed volume so that excitation light incident thereon is directed by the splitting means to the target along a propagation axis and expressed light from the target travels to the splitting means on an expressed light path along the propagation axis, where the mounting means comprises a carrier adapted to hold a plurality of splitting devices, said carrier moveably mounted with the housing and moveable among a plurality of positions, where each splitting device is in the excitation light path and in the expressed light path when the carrier is in one of the plurality of positions;
• d) a first flexible light guide mounted with the handle oriented so that light from the first flexible light guide is directed therefrom to the splitting means;
• and
• e) collection means for directing expressed light from the splitting means to the detector.