ENDOSCOPIC DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS EMPLOYING INFRARED RADIATION

摘要

Endodiagnostic apparatus and methods by which infrared emissions within the range including 2 to 14 micrometers may be visualized in the form of encoded images to permit differential analysis. The endoseopic apparatus comprises a refractive objective lens for forming a real image of interior structure of interest, a relay system consisting solely of refracting elements for transferring the real image to an intermediate image plane conjugate to the objective image plane, and a refracting coupling lens for forming a final image of the intermediate image in a detector plane in which an IR detector sensitive in the range including 2 to 14 micrometers may be placed near the proximal end of the apparatus.