Multiple imaging modality light source
A method for generating light from a medical light source includes emitting light in a visible wavelength spectrum from a first light of the medical light source, emitting light in a first infrared spectrum from a first light emitter of a second light, redirecting light emitted from the first light emitter by at least one optical element of the second light, emitting light in a second infrared spectrum from a second light emitter of the second light, and redirecting the light emitted from the second light emitter by the at least one optical element of the second light.
1. A medical light source comprising:
a first light comprising an LED that emits light in a visible wavelength spectrum; and
a second light comprising a first light emitter that emits light having a first infrared spectrum and a second light emitter that emits light having a second infrared spectrum that is different than the first infrared spectrum, the second light comprising at least one optical element that redirects light emitted from both the first light emitter and the second light emitter.
2. The medical light source of claim 1 , further comprising at least one heat sink, the at least one heat sink engaging the second light and configured to remove heat from both the first light emitter and the second light emitter.
3. The medical light source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises a prism.
4. The medical light source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical element redirects the light emitted from both the first and second light emitters toward downstream optical element.
5. The medical light source of claim 1 , further comprising at least one dichroic filter for combining light from the first light and light from the second light.
6. The medical light source of claim 1 , wherein the first light emitter emits light in a first direction and the second light emitter emits light in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.
7. The medical light source of claim 1 , wherein the second light comprises more than two light emitters.
8. The medical light source of claim 7 , wherein the more than two light emitters are arranged in a stack.
9. The medical light source of claim 1 , wherein the first infrared spectrum comprises 808 nm light.
10. The medical light source of claim 9 , wherein the second infrared spectrum comprises 780 nm light.
11. The medical light source of claim 1 , further comprising a third light comprising an LED capable of emitting light in an ultraviolet wavelength spectrum.
12. The medical light source of claim 1 , wherein the first and second light emitters comprise laser diodes.
13. A method for generating light from a medical light source, the method comprising:
emitting light in a visible wavelength spectrum from a first light of the medical light source;
emitting light having a first infrared spectrum from a first light emitter of a second light;
redirecting light emitted from the first light emitter by at least one optical element of the second light;
emitting light having a second infrared spectrum that is different than the first infrared spectrum from a second light emitter of the second light; and
redirecting the light emitted from the second light emitter by the at least one optical element of the second light.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the light in the first infrared spectrum is emitted at a separate time than the light in the second infrared spectrum.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising removing heat from both the first light emitter and the second light emitter by at least one heat sink that engages the second light.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises a prism.
17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising redirecting the light emitted from the first and second light emitters toward a downstream optical element.
18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising combining light from the first light and light from the second light via at least one dichroic filter of the medical light source.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first light emitter emits light in a first direction and the second light emitter emits light in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second light comprises more than two light emitters.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the more than two light emitters are arranged in a stack.
22. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first infrared spectrum comprises 808 nm light.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the second infrared spectrum comprises 780 nm light.
24. The method of claim 13 , further comprising emitting light in an ultraviolet wavelength spectrum from a third light of the medical light source.
25. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first and second light emitters comprise laser diodes.