REAL-TIME CONTEMPORANEOUS MULTIMODAL IMAGING AND SPECTROSCOPY USES THEREOF

摘要

The present invention comprises an optical apparatus, methods and uses for real-time (video-rate) multimodal imaging, for example, contemporaneous measurement of white light reflectance, native tissue autofluorescence and near infrared images with an endoscope. These principles may be applied to various optical apparati such as microscopes, endoscopes, telescopes, cameras etc. to view or analyze the interaction of light with objects such as planets, plants, rocks, animals, cells, tissue, proteins, DNA, semiconductors, etc. Multi-band spectral images may provide morphological data such as surface structure of lung tissue whereas chemical make-up, sub-structure and other object characteristics may be deduced from spectral signals related to reflectance or light radiated (emitted) from the object such as luminescence or fluorescence, indicating endogenous chemicals or exogenous substances such as dyes employed to enhance visualization, drugs, therapeutics or other agents. Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention discusses simultaneous white light reflectance and fluorescence imaging. Another embodiment describes the addition of another reflectance imaging modality (in the near-IR spectrum). Input (illumination) spectrum, optical modulation, optical processing, object interaction, output spectrum, detector configurations, synchronization, image processing and display are discussed for various applications.