Snapshot spectral imaging of the eye
View Patent ↗Obtaining spectral images of an eye includes taking an optical system that images eye tissue onto a digital sensor array and optically fitting a multi-spectral filter array and the digital sensor array, wherein the multi-spectral filter array is disposed between the digital sensor array and an optics portion of the optical system. The resulting system facilitates acquisition of a snap-shot image of the eye tissue with the digital sensor array. The snap shot images support estimation of blood oxygen saturation in a retinal tissue. The resulting system can be based on a non-mydriatic fundus camera designed to obtain the retinal images without administration of pupil dilation drops.
1. A method for obtaining spectral images of an eye, comprising:
taking an optical system that images eye tissue onto a digital sensor array;
providing a multi-spectral filter array;
optically fitting the multi-spectral filter array and the digital sensor array, wherein the multi-spectral filter array is disposed between the digital sensor array and an optics portion of the optical system and comprises a plurality of filter elements each of which is optically associated with an integer number of detectors of the digital sensor array; and
facilitating acquisition of a snap-shot image of the eye tissue with the digital sensor array.
2. A method of facilitating obtaining spectral images of an eye, comprising:
taking an optical system that images eye tissue onto a digital sensor array; and
optically fitting a multi-spectral filter array with the digital sensor array so that light for imaging the eye tissue that reaches the digital sensor array is filtered by the multi-spectral filter array,
wherein the multi-spectral filter array comprises a plurality of filter elements each of which is optically associated with an integer number of detectors of the digital sensor array.
3. A system of eye spectral imaging comprising:
an optical system that images eye tissue onto a digital sensor array; and
a multi-spectral filter array that is optically fitted with the digital sensor array, wherein the multi-spectral filter array is disposed in close proximity to the digital sensor array in the optical path of the optical system and comprises a plurality of filter elements each of which is optically associated with an integer number of detectors of the digital sensor array.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the multi-spectral filter array comprises at least nine different spectral bands.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the spectral bands are designed to support estimation of blood oxygen saturation in a retinal tissue.
6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the optical system is a fundus camera.
7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the optical system is a non-mydriatic fundus camera designed to obtain the retinal images without administration of pupil dilation drops.
8. The system of claim 3 , wherein optically fitted includes deposited on a light sensing surface of the sensor array.
9. The system of claim 3 , wherein optically fitted includes deposited on a cover glass attached to a light sensing surface of the sensor array.
10. The system of claim 3 , wherein optically fitted includes deposited on a thin film attached to a light sensing surface of the sensor array.
11. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a micro-lenses array attached to the multi-spectral filter array for limiting an angle of light that is transmitted through the multi-spectral filter array.
12. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a micro-pinhole array attached to the multi-spectral filter array for limiting an angle of light that is transmitted through the multi-spectral filter array.
13. The system of claim 3 , wherein the multi-spectral filter array is divided into unit cells each comprising multi-spectral filters.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein each unit cell comprises at least nine filters of nine different spectral bands.
15. The system of claim 3 , wherein the sensor array lies inside a detachable camera back of the optical system.
16. The system of claim 3 , wherein the sensor array is a grey level sensor array.
17. The system of claim 3 , wherein the sensor array is a color-coated sensor array.
18. The system of claim 3 , wherein the long axis of the image of the eye tissue falls on at least 2592 pixels of the sensor array.
19. The system of claim 3 , further including a computer capable of reconstructing the spectral images.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein reconstructing the spectral images includes de-mosaicking of spectral data from readings of the digital sensor array.
21. The system of claim 19 , further including a program capable of analyzing the spectral images.