Patent ID: 9173554
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: A61B,G02B,G06T,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for acquisition of NIR and full-color images, comprising the steps of: illuminating a sample area with blue light and green light continuously, and, at the same time, illuminating the sample area with red light and NIR light according to a predetermined timing scheme in which at least one of the red light and the NIR light is switched on and off periodically; directing blue reflectance light to a blue light detector, directing green reflectance light to a green light detector, and directing red reflectance light and NIR fluorescence light to a red/NIR light detector, wherein the red reflectance light and/or NIR fluorescence is detected by the red/NIR light detector in synchronism with the predetermined timing scheme; simultaneously acquiring first image signals from the blue light detector, second image signals from the green light detector, and third image signals from the red/NIR light detector, the third image signals being multiplexed red light and NIR fluorescence image signals; determining from the third image signals and the predetermined timing scheme red reflectance light image signals and NIR fluorescence image signals separate from one another; generating a full-color image of the sample area from the first image signals and the second image signals and the separately determined red reflectance light signals; generating an NIR image from the separately determined NIR fluorescence image signals; and simultaneously displaying the full-color image and the NIR image.