Precision illumination methods and systems

1. A system for illuminating a body part, comprising:

a LED system adapted to generate a variable color radiation, the LED system comprising a plurality of LEDs of different colors, of which at least one first color LED radiates in a first wavelength band different from a second wavelength band in which at least one second color LED radiates;

a medical instrument adapted for positioning the LED system in proximity to the body part whereby the LED system illuminates the body part with the variable color radiation; and

a microprocessor operable to control at least one electrical current supplied to the LED system to vary a color of the variable color radiation, wherein at least some of the variable color radiation includes a combination of the different colors of the at least one first color LED and the at least one second color LED to create a third color that is not in the first or second wavelength bands.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is responsive to a signal relating to a feature of the body part.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the feature of the body part is a structural condition.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the feature of the body part is determined by a characteristic of a reflected light from the body part.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a sensor system to detect the reflected light.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the body part is illuminated in vivo.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the body part comprises a lumen.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the medical instrument is adapted for insertion within a body cavity.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is selectively operable to drive at least one of the LEDs to radiate at each of a plurality of different nonzero levels.

10. A medical system for illuminating a body part, comprising:

an LED system comprising a plurality of LEDs of different colors of which at least one first color LED radiates in a first wavelength band different from a second wavelength band in which at least one second color LED radiates;

a mechanical positioning system capable of positioning the LED system in a spatial relationship with the body part whereby the LED system illuminates the body part; and

a microprocessor for driving the first and second color LEDs to generate at least one third color that is not in the first or second wavelength bands; wherein the mechanical positioning system comprises a medical insturment.

11. The medical system of claim 10 , wherein the microprocessor is responsive to a signal relating to a feature of the body part.

12. The medical system of claim 11 , further comprising a sensor for detecting a reflected light from the body part, wherein the feature of the body part is determined using a characteristic of the reflected light.

13. The medical system of claim 12 , wherein the feature of the body part is identified based on a comparison between the characteristic of the reflected light and a characteristic of a known light parameter relating to the feature of the body part.

14. The medical system of claim 13 , wherein the known light parameter relates to an abnormal feature of the body part.

15. The medical system of claim 10 , wherein the medical instrument comprises a diagnostic medical instrument.

16. The medical system of claim 10 , wherein the medical instrument comprises a surgical medical instrument.

17. The medical system of claim 10 , wherein the medical instrument comprises a therapeutic medical instrument.

18. The medical system of claim 10 , wherein the medical instrument comprises a forensic medical instrument.

19. The medical system of claim 10 , wherein the microprocessor is selectively operable to drive at least one of the LEDs to radiate at each of a plurality of different non-zero levels.

20. A method of illuminating a body part, the method comprising steps of:

A) positioning a LED system in proximity to the body part with a medical instrument, the LED system comprising a plurality of LEDs of different colors of which at least one first color LED radiates in a first wavelength band different from a second wavelength band in which at least one second color LED radiates;

B) illuminating the body part with a variable color radiation generated by the LED system, wherein at least some of the variable color radiation includes a combination of the different colors of the at least one first color LED and the at least one second color LED to create a third color that is not in the first or second wavelength bands; and

C) controlling an electrical current supplied to the LED system to vary a color of the variable color radiation.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the step C) includes a step of controlling the electrical current in response to a signal relating to a feature of the body part.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises steps of:

detecting a reflected light from the body part; and

determining the feature of the body part by comparing a characteristic of the reflected light

and a characteristic of a known light parameter relating to the feature of the body part.

23. The method of claim 20 , further comprising a step of selecting the color of the variable color radiation so as to have a therapeutic effect on the body part.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprises selectively so driving at least one of the LEDs to radiate at each of a plurality of different non-zero levels.