Patent ID: 6821245
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: A61B,G01N,G16Z

Abstract:
A fluorescence endoscopy video system including:a multimode light source for producing white light for use in a white light imaging mode, and fluorescence excitation light or fluorescence excitation light with a reference reflectance light for use in a fluorescence imaging mode; an endoscope for directing the light from the light source into a patient to illuminate a tissue sample and to collect the reflected light or fluorescence light produced by the tissue; a camera positioned to receive the light collected by the endoscope, the camera including: a color image sensor; a low light image sensor; and a beam splitter for splitting the light received from the endoscope into at least two beams with the same spectrum and directing those beams onto the low light and color image sensors; one or more filters positioned in front of the low light image sensor for passing light in an autofluorescence spectral band; one or more filters that are positionable in front of the color image sensor and pass light within a desired wavelength band when the camera operates in the fluorescence imaging mode and are removable from the front of the color image sensor when the camera operates in the white light imaging mode; one or more optical imaging components that project images onto both the color image sensor and the low light image sensor; an image processor/controller for digitizing, processing and encoding the image signals received from the sensor(s) as a video signal, wherein the image processor/controller simultaneously displays or combines the image signals from the low light image sensor and the color image sensor when the camera operates in the fluorescence imaging mode; and a video monitor for displaying the video signals.