Patent ID: 7460248
Filing Date: 2008-12-02
Classification: A61B,G01N

Abstract:
1. A tissue imaging system for imaging optically examining the medical condition of tissue comprising: a) an illumination optical system, comprising a light source, having one or more light emitters, beam shaping optics, and polarizing optics, which together provide illumination light; b) an optical beamsplitter which accepts illumination light from said illumination system and directs it to an imaging sub-system; c) a spatial light modulator array within said imaging sub-system; d) an objective lens with a focus control means for imaging illumination light from said spatial light modulator array to said tissue and for collecting image light from said tissue and imaging said image light to said spatial light modulator array; e) an optical detection system, comprising focusing optics and polarizing optics which image said spatial light modulator to an optical detector array; f) a controller which drives said spatial light modulator to provide time variable arrangements of on-state pixels, wherein each of said on-state pixels transmits beams of said illumination light; wherein said objective lens operates in a nominally telecentric manner relative to both said spatial light modulator and to said tissue; wherein said polarizing optics, provided in said illumination optical system and said optical detection system, are independently and iteratively rotated so as to define variable polarization states relative to said tissue; and wherein said spatial light modulator array is operated such that the modulator pixels optically function like pinholes relative to said illumination light and said image light.