SPECTRAL IMAGING USING ILLUMINATION OF PRESELECTED SPECTRAL CONTENT

摘要

This invention is a device, and method for spectral imaging of an object. A plurality of sets of narrow-band light sources (12) such as LEDs are provided. Each set emits illumination radiation in a different narrow spectral band. Each set is activated sequentially to illuminate the object (16). Light reflected from the object or transmitted by the object is focused (26) on a detector array (20) to image the object. Narrower illumination bands are provided by dispersing the emitted light using a dispersive optical element such as a diffraction grating. Alternatively, selected sets or subsets are activated simultaneously with duty cycles that emulate a preselected spectral distribution. For imaging ocular fundus tissue, the illumination light is shaped into an annular beam by an appropriately shaped wave-guide.