Patent ID: 8289378

Claim:
A device for enhancing visualization of tissue in a field of view comprising: a first set of LEDs to emit light onto said field of view, whereby when said first set of LEDs is turned on, said first set of LEDs emits light onto said field of view through a first illumination polarizer placed between said first set of LEDs and said field of view, to create polarized light in said field of view having a first polarization orientation, and wherein said polarized light having said first polarization orientation is reflected by said tissue as first total reflected light; a second set of LEDs to emit light onto said field of view, whereby when said second set of LEDs is turned on, said second set of LEDs emits light onto said field of view through a second illumination polarizer placed between said second set of LEDs and said field of view, to create polarized light in said field of view having a second polarization orientation, and wherein said polarized light having said second polarization orientation is reflected by said tissue as second total reflected light; wherein said first set of LEDs and said second set of LEDs all emit visible light of the same color; wherein said second polarization orientation is substantially perpendicular to said first polarization orientation; a polarizing element to receive said first total reflected light and said second total reflected light and split said total reflected light into a first parallel-polarized output and a first cross-polarized output when said first set of LEDs is illuminated, and a second parallel-polarized output and a second cross-polarized output when said second set of LEDs is illuminated; a first camera to receive said first parallel-polarized output to create a first parallel-polarized image when said first set of LEDs is illuminated, and to receive said second cross-polarized output to create a second cross-polarized image when said second set of LEDs is illuminated; a second camera to receive said first cross-polarized output to create a first cross-polarized image when said first set of LEDs is illuminated, and to receive said second parallel-polarized output to create a second parallel-polarized image when said second set of LEDs is illuminated; electronic switching means to rapidly switch between illuminating said first set of LEDs and illuminating said second set of LEDs to reduce influence from patient movement between successive images, allowing for better registration between said successive images; and whereby said parallel-polarized images and said cross-polarized images enhance visualization of said tissue.