FLUORESCENCE IMAGING IN A LIGHT DEFICIENT ENVIRONMENT
An endoscopic imaging system for use in a light deficient environment includes an imaging device having a tube, one or more image sensors, and a lens assembly including at least one optical elements that corresponds to the one or more image sensors. The endoscopic system includes a display for a user to visualize a scene and an image signal processing controller. The endoscopic system includes a light engine having an illumination source generating one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation and a lumen transmitting one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation to a distal tip of an endoscope.
1 . An endoscopic system for use in a light deficient environment comprising:
an imaging device comprising:
a tube;
one or more image sensors; and
a lens assembly comprising at least one optical element corresponding to said image sensor;
a display for a user to visualize a scene;
an image signal processing controller; and
a light engine, wherein the light engine comprises:
an illumination source generating one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation; and
a lumen transmitting one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation to a distal tip of an endoscope, wherein at least a portion of the one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation includes an excitation wavelength of electromagnetic radiation between 795 nm and 815 nm that causes a reagent to fluoresce at a wavelength that is different from the excitation wavelength of the portion of the one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation.
2 . The endoscopic system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a filter that blocks the excitation wavelength of electromagnetic radiation between 795 nm and 815 nm.
3 . The endoscopic system of claim 2 , wherein the filter is located on the at least one optical element of the lens assembly, such that the filter blocks the excitation wavelength and allows a wavelength of the fluorescing reagent through the filter.
4 . The endoscopic system of claim 2 , wherein each pulse of electromagnetic radiation results in an exposure frame created by the image sensor; wherein one or more exposure frames are displayed to a user as a single image on the display.
5 . The endoscopic system of claim 4 , wherein the single image is assigned a visible color for use on the display; wherein the visible color is 8-bit or 16-bit or n-bit.
6 . The endoscopic system of claim 2 , wherein each pulse of electromagnetic radiation results in an exposure frame created by the image sensor; wherein one or more exposure frames are displayed to a user as an overlay image on the display.
7 . The endoscopic system of claim 6 , wherein the overlay image is assigned a visible color for use on the display; wherein the visible color is 8-bit or 16-bit or n-bit.
8 . The endoscopic system of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor detects a wavelength of the fluorescing reagent to provide an image of one or more critical structures in a human body.
9 . The endoscopic system of claim 8 , wherein the critical structures in a human body include one of a nerve, a ureter, a blood vessel, an artery, a blood flow, and a tumor.
10 . The endoscopic system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more critical structures are cancer cells, and wherein the system receives fluoresced electromagnetic radiation from a molecule that attaches a fluorophore that fluoresces when exposed to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength between 795 nm and 815 nm to one or more of the cancer cells.
11 . The endoscopic system of claim 1 , wherein each pulse of electromagnetic radiation results in an exposure frame created by the image sensor; wherein one or more exposure frames are displayed to a user as a single image on the display.
12 . The endoscopic system of claim 11 , wherein the single image is assigned a visible color for use on the display; wherein the visible color is 8-bit or 16-bit or n-bit.
13 . The endoscopic system of claim 1 , wherein each pulse of electromagnetic radiation results in an exposure frame created by the image sensor; wherein one or more exposure frames are displayed to a user as an overlay image on the display.
14 . The endoscopic system of claim 13 , wherein the overlay image is assigned a visible color for use on the display; wherein the visible color is 8-bit or 16-bit or n-bit.
15 . The endoscopic system of claim 1 , wherein the illumination source generates one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength of 370 nm to 420 nm.
16 . The endoscopic system of claim 15 , wherein each pulse of electromagnetic radiation results in an exposure frame created by the image sensor; wherein one or more exposure frames are displayed to a user as a single image on the display.
17 . The endoscopic system of claim 16 , wherein the single image is assigned a visible color for use on the display; wherein the visible color is 8-bit or 16-bit or n-bit.
18 . The endoscopic system of claim 15 , wherein each pulse of electromagnetic radiation results in an exposure frame created by the image sensor; wherein one or more exposure frames are displayed to a user as an overlay image on the display.
19 . The endoscopic system of claim 18 , wherein the overlay image is assigned a visible color for use on the display; wherein the visible color is 8-bit or 16-bit or n-bit.
20 . The endoscopic system of claim 1 , wherein the illumination source generates one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength of 600 nm to 670 nm.
21 . The endoscopic system of claim 20 , wherein each pulse of electromagnetic radiation results in an exposure frame created by the image sensor; wherein one or more exposure frames are displayed to a user as a single image on the display.
22 . The endoscopic system of claim 21 , wherein the single image is assigned a visible color for use on the display; wherein the visible color is 8-bit or 16-bit or n-bit.
23 . The endoscopic system of claim 22 , wherein each pulse of electromagnetic radiation results in an exposure frame created by the image sensor; wherein one or more exposure frames are displayed to a user as an overlay image on the display.
24 . The endoscopic system of claim 23 , wherein the overlay image is assigned a visible color for use on the display; wherein the visible color is 8-bit or 16-bit or n-bit.
25 . The endoscopic system of claim 1 , wherein the light engine comprises a polarization filter.
26 . The endoscopic system of claim 25 , wherein the polarization filter is located in a path of the electromagnetic radiation.
27 . The endoscopic system of claim 26 , wherein the polarization filter is located at a proximal end of the lumen.
28 . The endoscopic system of claim 26 , wherein the polarization filter is located at a distal end of the lumen.
29 . The endoscopic system of claim 1 , wherein the lens assembly comprises an electromagnetic radiation filter.
30 . The endoscopic system of claim 1 , wherein the lens assembly comprises a polarization filter.
31 . The endoscopic system of claim 1 , wherein each pulse of electromagnetic radiation results in an exposure frame created by the image sensor; wherein one or more exposure frames is fed to a corresponding system that will provide location of critical tissue structures.
32 . The endoscopic system of claim 31 , wherein the location of critical structures is received by the endoscopic system and overlaid on a display, wherein the critical structures are encoded to any color selected by either an algorithm or a user.