Patent ID: 6379006
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus for producing an image of a surface, including:a laser source for producing a beam of light, beam modifying means for modifying the properties of said beam, beam splitting means for splitting said beam, focussing means for focussing said beam, first and second scanning means for scanning said beam in first and second different directions, stereo base producing means for obtaining astereoscopic information concerning said surface by impinging said beam onto said surface from two different positions, and reflecting means, wherein a beam from said laser source may be directed along an input path including being modified with said modifying means and split by said beam splitting means, directed onto said first scanning means to scan said beam in said first direction, directed through said second scanning means to scan said beam in said second direction, directed through said stereo base producing means, and then directed off said reflecting means and onto said surface, whereby reflected light from said surface traverses an output path identical to the input path, towards said beam splitting means, and whereby some of the reflected light is directed towards said photodetecting means coupled to said signal processing means and display means to produce an image for viewing with visualizing means in real time.