HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGER

1 . A system for augmenting a surgeon's view of a surgical field, said system comprising:

a hyperspectral imager configured to provide a hyperspectral image of a surgical field; and

a display for displaying the image provided by the hyperspectral imager, wherein the hyperspectral image is displayed on the display, and

wherein the hyperspectral image is superimposed with and registered with an actual view of the surgical field as seen by the surgeon to form an augmented view of the surgical field.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hyperspectral imager is coupled to the display and the display is a see through display.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the display is a heads up display.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hyperspectral imager is a head mounted device.

5 . A method for augmenting a surgeon's view of a surgical field, said method comprising:

hyperspectrally imaging the surgical field with a hyperspectral imager;

displaying the hyperspectral image on a display;

registering the hyperspectral image with an actual view of the surgical field as seen by the surgeon;

overlaying the hyperspectral image on top of the actual view thereby forming an augmented view; and

enhancing identification of tissue or anatomical structures in the augmented view.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the hyperspectral imager is a head mounted device.

7 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising viewing the surgical field through the display.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the display is a heads up display.

9 . A system for augmenting a surgeon's view of a surgical field and providing a virtual view of the surgical field, said system comprising:

a hyperspectral imager configured to provide a hyperspectral image of a surgical field;

a camera for imaging the surgical field; and

a display for displaying both the image provided by the hyperspectral imager and the image provided by the camera, wherein the hyperspectral image is registered with and integrated with the image provided by the camera to produce the augmented virtual view of the surgical field.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the display is an opaque display.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the hyperspectral imager is a head mounted device.

12 . A method for providing an augmented virtual view of a surgical field, said method comprising:

hyperspectrally imaging the surgical field with a hyperspectral imager;

displaying the hyperspectral image on a display;

capturing an image of the surgical field with a camera;

displaying the captured image on the display, wherein the hyperspectral image is registered with and integrated with the camera image to produce the augmented virtual view; and

enhancing identification of tissue or anatomical structures in the augmented virtual view.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the hyperspectral imager is a head mounted device.

14 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the display is an opaque display.

15 . A system for augmenting a surgeon's view of a surgical field, said system comprising:

a hyperspectral imager configured to provide a hyperspectral image of a surgical field; and

a projector for projecting the hyperspectral image onto the surgical field, wherein the hyperspectral image is projected directly onto the surgical field thereby enhancing identification of tissue or anatomical structures in the surgical field.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the hyperspectral imager is a head mounted device.

17 . A method for augmenting a surgeon's view of a surgical field, said method comprising:

hyperspectrally imaging the surgical field with a hyperspectral imager;

projecting the hyperspectral image from a projector directly onto the surgical field; and

enhancing identification of tissue or anatomical structures in the surgical field.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the hyperspectral imager is a head mounted device.