APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMAGING VASCULATURE AND SUB-DERMAL STRUCTURES BY TRANS-ILLUMINATING NIR LIGHT

摘要

A system for real-time visualization of sub-dermal structures of a mammal, using near-infrared (nIR) illumination source, a support structure with independently articulating arms for attaching a camera and a visual display screen, a controller for the camera and nIR illumination source. The camera includes a zoom lens that provides a detection field of view at a long working distance to avoid the camera obstructing the view of the medical personnel when performing a medical procedure on the mammalian body part. A targeting system indicates a focus location of the zoom lens and a center of detection field of view. An nIR bandpass filter and image processor convert the captured and filtered trans-illuminating nIR light to an image signal. An interfaced computer can operate on a commercial or proprietary operating systems and operates image enhancement software and image archival, distribution and display.