NEAR INFRARED IMAGING
An endoscope or wand device comprising transmitting members, in which the transmitting members comprise a coating that transmits between about 95% and about 99.5% of energy at a wavelength within the infra red spectrum.
1 . An endoscope or wand device comprising light transmitting members, said light transmitting members comprising an optical coating that transmits between about 95% and about 99.5% of light energy at a wavelength within the infra red spectrum.
2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a deviating prism assembly having at least one surface coated with gold, silver or aluminum.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the coating on the transmitting members comprises alternating layers of dissimilar optically transparent dielectric materials.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the dielectric materials are selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ), magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) and tantulum pentoxide (Ta 2 O 5 ).
5 . (canceled)
6 . (canceled)
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the coating on the transmitting members comprises between about 2 and about 40 pairs of alternating layers of dissimilar optically transparent dielectric materials.
8 - 10 . (canceled)
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the wavelength within the infra red spectrum is a wavelength at which an excited fluorescent dye emits energy.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the fluorescent dye is ICG.
13 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the wavelength within the infra red spectrum is between about 825 nm and about 835 nm.
14 - 21 . (canceled)
22 . A near infra-red light source comprising:
a light emitter that emits light in the infra red spectrum;
a reflector comprising a first coating that routes light in the infra red spectrum toward a beam splitter that transmits light in the infra red spectrum;
said beam splitter comprising a second coating for routing light in the infra red spectrum toward a light guide having a numerical aperture between about 0.4 and about 0.66.
23 . (Canceled)
24 . The light source of claim 22 , wherein the reflector is elliptical.
25 . The light source of claim 22 , wherein the reflector is parabolic.
26 . The light source of claim 22 , further comprising a collimating lens assembly positioned between the beam splitter and the reflector.
27 . The light source of claim 22 , wherein the first coating comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver and aluminum.
28 . (canceled)
29 . (canceled)
30 . The light source of claim 22 , wherein the beam splitter routes light having a wavelength between about 750-800 nm to the light guide.
31 . The light source of claim 22 , wherein the beam splitter further routes light in the visible spectrum to a second light guide.
32 . The light source of claim 22 , wherein the second coating includes alternating pairs of high and low index materials.