Spectral imaging using illumination of preselected spectral content

A method of imaging an object, comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing illumination light in a plurality of spectral bands, using, for each of said spectral bands, at least one light source specific to said each spectral band;
• (b) illuminating the object with at least a portion of said illumination light, the object producing radiated light in response to said illumination light;
• and
• (c) detecting said radiated light so as to produce at least one image of the object;
• wherein the object is illuminated successively in accordance with a plurality of preselected spectral distributions, the object being illuminated simultaneously with said illumination light of said spectral bands in accordance with each said preselected spectral distribution, said successive illuminating of the object in accordance with said plurality of preselected spectral distributions being effected at least twice.

A method of imaging eye tissue of an eye including a pupil, comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing illumination light in a plurality of spectral bands, using, for each of said spectral bands, at least one light source specific to said each spectral band;
• (b) forming an annular beam of said illumination light;
• (c) directing said annular beam at the eye tissue via the pupil to illuminate the eye tissue sequentially with said illumination light of each of said spectral bands;
• (d) collecting light reflected from the eye tissue via the pupil;
• and
• (e) detecting said reflected light so as to produce at least one image of the eye tissue, said detecting of said reflected light being coordinated with said sequential illumination to produce, for each said spectral band, a corresponding said at least one image of the eye tissue.

A method of imaging an object having at least one of a plurality of features, each of the features having a certain reflectivity spectrum, comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing illumination light in a plurality of spectral distributions, each said spectral distribution being in accordance with at least one of the reflectivity spectra;
• (b) illuminating the object with said illumination light successively at each of said plurality of spectral distributions, the object producing radiated light in response to said illumination;
• said successive illuminating of the object at each said spectral distribution being effected at least twice, and
• (c) detecting said radiated light so as to produce at least one image of the object.

A method of imaging an object having a plurality of features, each feature having a reflectivity spectrum from among a larger plurality of reflectivity spectra, comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing illumination light at each of a plurality of spectral distributions, each of said spectral distributions being in accordance with at least one of said larger plurality of reflectivity spectra, said plurality of spectral distributions being obtained by steps including decorrelation of said larger plurality of reflectivity spectra;
• (b) successively illuminating the object with said illumination light at each of said plurality of spectral distributions, the object producing radiated light in response to said illumination;
• and
• (c) detecting said radiated light so as to produce at least one image of the object.

A device for spectral imaging of an object, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of sets of light sources for producing light in a like plurality of separate spectral bands, each of said sets including at least one of said light sources for emitting light in said spectral band of said each set;
• (b) an illumination mechanism for directing an annular beam of at least a portion of said emitted light at the object, thereby illuminating the object, said illumination mechanism including a waveguide that includes a plurality of optical fibers, each of said optical fibers having an output end, said output ends of said optical fibers being disposed along a circle to form an annular output end of said waveguide for forming said annular beam, the object producing radiated light in response to said illumination;
• and
• (c) an imaging mechanism for detecting said radiated light and transforming said radiated light into at least one image of the object.

A device for spectral imaging of an object, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of sets of light sources for producing light in a like plurality of separate spectral bands, each of said sets including at least one of said light sources for emitting light in said spectral band of said each set;
• (b) an illumination mechanism for directing at least a portion of said emitted light at the object, thereby illuminating the object, the object producing radiated light in response to said illumination;
• and
• (c) an imaging mechanism for detecting said radiated light and transforming said radiated light into at least one image of the object;
• wherein the device is incorporated in a fundus camera.

A device for spectral imaging of an object, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of sets of light sources for producing light in a like plurality of separate spectral bands, each of said sets including at least one of said light sources for emitting light in said spectral band of said each set;
• (b) an illumination mechanism for directing at least a portion of said emitted light at the object, thereby illuminating the object, the object producing radiated light in response to said illumination;
• and
• (c) an imaging mechanism for detecting said radiated light and transforming said radiated light into at least one image of the object;
• wherein the device is incorporated in an endoscope.

A method of imaging an object, comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing illumination light in a plurality of spectral bands, using, for each of said spectral bands, at least one light source specific to said each spectral band;
• (b) illuminating the object with at least a portion of said illumination light, the object producing radiated light in response to said illumination light;
• and
• (c) detecting said radiated light so as to produce at least one image of the object;
• wherein the object is illuminated simultaneously with said illumination light of said spectral bands in accordance with a spectral distribution that is preselected by steps including decorrelation of a plurality of reflectivity spectra.

A method of imaging eye tissue of an eye including a pupil, comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing illumination light in a plurality of spectral bands, using, for each of said spectral bands, at least one light source specific to said each spectral band;
• (b) forming an annular beam of said illumination light;
• (c) directing said annular beam at the eye tissue via the pupil to illuminate the eye tissue;
• (d) collecting light reflected from the eye tissue via the pupil;
• and
• (e) detecting said reflected light so as to produce at least one image of the eye tissue;
• wherein the eye tissue is illuminated successively in accordance with a plurality of preselected spectral distributions, the eye tissue being illuminated simultaneously with said illumination light of said spectral bands in accordance with each said preselected spectral distribution, said successive illuminating of the object in accordance with said plurality of preselected spectral distributions being effected at least twice.

A method of imaging eye tissue of an eye including a pupil, comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing illumination light in a plurality of spectral bands, using, for each of said spectral bands, at least one light source specific to said each spectral band;
• (b) forming an annular beam of said illumination light;
• (c) directing said annular beam at the eye tissue via the pupil to illuminate the eye tissue;
• (d) collecting light reflected from the eye tissue via the pupil;
• and
• (e) detecting said reflected light so as to produce at least one image of the eye tissue;
• wherein the eye tissue is illuminated simultaneously with said illumination light of said spectral bands in accordance with a spectral distribution that is preselected by steps including decorrelation of a plurality of reflectivity spectra.

A method of imaging an object having at least one of a plurality of features, each of the features having a certain reflectivity spectrum, comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing illumination light having a spectral distribution in accordance with at least one of the reflectivity spectra, said spectral distribution being obtained by steps including decorrelation of said at least one reflectivity spectrum;
• (b) illuminating the object with said illumination light, the object producing radiated light in response to said illumination;
• and
• (c) detecting said radiated light so as to produce at least one image of the object.

A method of imaging an object having a plurality of features, each feature having a reflectivity spectrum from among a larger plurality of reflectivity spectra, comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing illumination light at each of a plurality of spectral distributions, each of said spectral distributions being in accordance with at least one of said larger plurality of reflectivity spectra;
• (b) successively illuminating the object with said illumination light at each of said plurality of spectral distributions, the object producing radiated light in response to said illumination, said successive illuminating of the object at each said spectral distribution being effected at least twice;
• and
• (c) detecting said radiated light so as to produce at least one image of the object.