Imaging system using diffuse infrared light

1. An apparatus to enhance the visibility of a buried structure beneath the surface of an object, the apparatus comprising:

an illumination source for illuminating the buried structure wherein said illumination source emits diffuse infrared light;

an imaging device for receiving diffuse light reflected from the object and for producing an image; and

a video projector for projecting a visible light image of the buried structure onto the surface of the object, wherein the received diffuse light reflected from the object is coaxial with the projected visible light image.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a diffusing structure having more than one diffusing stage providing levels of diffusion to light emitted by the illumination source.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the diffusing structure has a first diffusing layer disposed adjacent the illumination source.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first diffusing layer further comprises a holographic diffuser.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the diffusing structure further has a second diffusing layer providing a second level of diffusion to the light emitted by the illumination source.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second diffusing layer has a holographic diffuser.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second diffusing layer is spaced apart from the first diffusing layer.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first diffusing layer has a first planar surface and the second diffusing layer has a second planar surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first and second planar surfaces of the first and second diffusing layers are substantially parallel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 Thither comprising:

an illumination source, said source for emitting light toward the buried structure; and

a polarizer for polarizing the light emitted by the illumination source.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the polarizer further comprises first and second regions wherein the first region provides a first polarization rotation and the second region provides a second polarization rotation that is different from the first polarization rotation.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first and second polarization rotations differ by about ninety degrees.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an array illuminating the buried structure from a range of different illumination directions.

14. An apparatus for imaging a body tissue to enhance visibility of subcutaneous blood beneath a surface of the body tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a light source for providing diffuse infrared light to the body tissue;

an imaging device for receiving light reflected from the body tissue, the imaging device being operable to provide an image of subcutaneous blood based on the reflected light; and

a video projector for projecting a visible light image of subcutaneous blood, onto the surface of the body tissue, wherein the received diffuse light reflected from the object is coaxial with the projected visible light image.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

a first diffusing layer positioned to intercept light from the light source, the first diffusing layer providing a first amount of diffusion to light emitted by the light source, the first diffusing layer having a first diffusing plane;

a second diffusing layer spaced apart from the first diffusing layer, the second diffusing layer providing a second amount of diffusion to the light diffused by the first diffusing layer, the second diffusing layer having a second diffusing plane.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first and second diffusing layers comprise holographic diffusers.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first and second diffusing planes are substantially parallel.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a polarizer for polarizing the light emitted by the light source.

19. The apparatus of claim. 15 wherein the light source further comprises groups of light emitting diodes arranged in a select pattern.

20. An apparatus to enhance visibility of a buried structure beneath a surface of an object, the apparatus comprising:

groups of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), arranged in a select pattern which define an LED plane, illuminating the buried structure with diffuse infrared light;

an imaging device for receiving diffuse light reflected from the object and for producing an image; and

a video projector for projecting a visible light image of the buried structure onto the surface of the object, wherein the received diffuse light reflected from the object is coaxial with the projected visible light image.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the groups of LEDs are symmetrically arranged about the LED plane, and a first group of LEDs are adjacently located to plane corners of the LED plane and a second group of LEDs are located between adjacent plane corners of the LED plane.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 comprising a diffusing structure positioned to intercept and diffuse the light emitted from one or more of the LEDs.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a diffusing layer having a diffusion plane, the diffusing layer located adjacent to the emitting surfaces of the LEDs, wherein the diffusion plane and the LED plane are substantially parallel.

24. An imaging system for viewing an object under illumination to enhance the visibility of a buried structure beneath the surface of the object, the imaging system comprising;

an illumination source, said illumination source for emitting infrared light from a range of different illumination directions, to provide diffuse infrared light to the object;

an imaging device for receiving the diffuse infrared light reflected from the object, and for generating an image of the buried structure; and

a video projector for projecting a visible light image of the buried structure, onto the surface of the object, wherein the received diffuse light reflected from the object is coaxial with the projected visible light image.

25. A method for imaging a body tissue with light to enhance visibility of subcutaneous blood beneath the surface of the body tissue comprising the steps of:

illuminating the body tissue with infrared light from a range of different illumination directions to provide diffuse infrared light to subcutaneous blood, wherein said diffuse infrared light has a wavelength that is absorbed by subcutaneous blood;

generating an image of said subcutaneous blood beneath surface of the body tissue based on the diffuse infrared light reflected from the body tissue; and

projecting said image onto the surface of the body tissue to enhance visibility of subcutaneous blood, wherein the projection of said image is properly aligned such that said reflected diffuse light is coaxial with the projected image, resulting in die projected image accurately overlaying the corresponding subcutaneous blood.

26. A method to enhance the visibility of a buried structure beneath the surface of an object, comprising the steps of:

illuminating an object with diffuse infrared light;

producing a visible light image of said buried structure beneath the surface of said object with said diffuse light reflected from said buried structure; and

projecting said a visible light image of said buried structure onto the surface of the object to enhance the visibility of the buried structure beneath the surface of the object, wherein the projection of said visible light image is properly aligned such that said reflected diffuse light is coaxial with the projected visible light image, resulting in the projected visible light image accurately overlaying the corresponding buried structure.