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US 6,640,124 B2Granted
Imaging apparatus and methods for near simultaneous observation of directly scattered light and multiply scattered light
AssigneeThe Schepens Eye Research Institute, Inc.
InventorsAnn E. Elsner, Stephen A. Burns, Andreas W. Dreher, Robert H. Webb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and a method are disclosed for separating light remitted by a target into a directly scattered light component and at least one multiply scattered light component, detecting the components at least substantially simultaneously, and forming independent sets of image information from each component. The apparatus and the method can be employed in conjunction with techniques such as scanning and tomography to attain precise imaging of biological tissue, including the retina of the eye.
Claims61
An optical imaging apparatus comprising
- a lighting system to illuminate a point of a target and generate at least one multiply scattered light component and a directly scattered light component in response to the illumination,
- a positioning element for varying the point of the target illuminated by the lighting device among a plurality of points of the target,
- a separation device to isolate the directly scattered light component and different ones of said multiply scattered light components from each other,
- a detection system to detect at least substantially simultaneously the directly scattered light component and the at least one multiply scattered light component, and
- a processor for generating a first set of image information from the directly scattered light component and a second set of image information from the at least one multiply scattered light component.
2 more elements
A method for optical imaging, comprising
- directing incident light successively to a first series of points of a target, whereby each point of the series of points remits light,
- separating the light remitted by each point of the first series of points into a directly scattered light component and at least one multiply scattered light component,
- detecting the directly scattered light component and the at least one multiply scattered light component of the light remitted by each point of the first series of points, and
- generating a first set of image information from the directly scattered light component and a second set of image information from the at least one multiply scattered light component.
1 more element
A method for tomographically imaging a target comprising
- directing incident light to a target, thereby generating at least one multiply scattered light component and a directly scattered light component,
- separating the directly scattered light component from the at least one multiply scattered light component with a separation structure having a first focal plane,
- detecting the directly scattered light component and the at least one multiply scattered light component, and
- generating a first image from the directly scattered light component and a second image from the at least one multiply scattered light component,
- changing the focal plane of the separation structure to a different second focal plane, and
- repeating said directing, separating, detecting, and generating for said second focal plane.
3 more elements
An imaging device comprising
- a light source to emit light to illuminate a point of a target and generate a multiply scattered light component and a directly scattered light component in response to said illumination,
- a scanning element to direct the light emitted by the light source to a series of points of the target in succession,
- a reflective filter having an aperture, and being in optical communication with the light source,
- an optical system for focusing light directly scattered by the point of the target on the aperture,
- a first detector positioned to receive light transmitted through the aperture and generate a first image therefrom, and
- a second detector positioned to receive light reflected by the filter and generate a second image therefrom,
- whereby the at least one multiply scattered light component and the directly scattered light component are detected substantially simultaneously.
4 more elements
An imaging device for separating light received from a target into a multiply scattered light component and a directly scattered light component, the device comprising
- a lighting system, comprising a first light source and a second light source displaced from the first light source, to illuminate a point of the target and generate a multiply scattered light component and a directly scattered light component,
- a scanning element to vary the point of the target illuminated by the lighting system,
- a filter having an aperture to separate the directly scattered light component from the at least one multiply scattered light component,
- an optical system for focusing light remitted by the point of the target on the aperture,
- a detector positioned to receive light passing through the aperture and generate a first image from the directly scattered light component and generate a second image from the at least one multiply scattered light component,
- whereby the directly scattered light generated by the first light source is received by the detector, and the directly scattered light generated by the second light source is blocked by the filter.
3 more elements
An imaging apparatus for separating light received from a target into at least one multiply scattered light component and a directly scattered light component, the apparatus comprising
- illumination means for directing incident light to a point of the target, thereby generating a multiply scattered light component and a directly scattered light component,
- separation means for separating the directly scattered light component from the at least one multiply scattered light component,
- detecting means in optical communication with the separating means for detecting the directly scattered light component and the at least one multiply scattered light component,
- positioning means for varying the point of the target illuminated by the illumination means among a plurality of points of the target, and
- data processing means for generating a first set of image information from the directly scattered light component and a second set of image information from the at least one multiply scattered light component.
2 more elements
A method for separating light received from a target into at least one multiply scattered light component and a directly scattered light component, the method comprising
- directing light from a first light source onto a point of a target and thereby generating at least one multiply scattered light component and a directly scattered light component,
- separating the directly scattered light component from the at least one multiply scattered light component with a filter having an aperture,
- detecting the directly scattered light component and the at least one multiply scattered light component with a light detection system,
- varying the point of the target receiving light among a plurality of points of the target, and
- generating a first set of image information from the directly scattered light and a second set of image information from the at least one multiply scattered light.
2 more elements
An optical imaging apparatus comprising
- a lighting system to illuminate a point on a target and to generate therefrom various scattered light components,
- a positioning element for varying the point of illumination on the target
- a separation device to isolate a directly scattered light component and at least one multiply scattered light component from each other, and
- processor for generating a first set of data from the directly scattered light component and a second set of data from the at least one multiply scattered light component.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.