Depth and contour detection for targets

1. An image enhancement system to enhance a two-dimensional display image, the image enhancement system comprising:

a first illumination source configured to project a single beam of light;

a first optical path including a beam splitter, the beam splitter configured to form at least two distinct beams from the single beam of light, the first optical path configured to cause interference between the at least two distinct beams to form a first pattern of light, the first optical path further configured to project the first pattern of light resulting from the interference of the at least two distinct beams at a surface of an anatomical target;

a camera configured to form a two-dimensional camera image of the anatomical target while the first pattern of light is projected on the anatomical target and generate an image signal based on the two-dimensional camera image;

a display; and

image processing circuitry configured to:

receive the image signal;

detect a second pattern of light reflected from the surface;

determine contour information of the surface of the anatomical target based on the second pattern of light;

visually distinguish the contour information via the display; and

project an enhanced two-dimensional representation of the image on the display, the enhanced two-dimensional representation including the image with adjusted shading based on the contour information.

2. The image enhancement system of claim 1 , wherein the first illumination source is configured to generate coherent light.

3. The image enhancement system of claim 1 , wherein the first illumination source is configured to generate polarized light.

4. The image enhancement system of claim 1 , wherein the first optical path is configured to extend through an endoscope or laparoscope to the anatomical target.

5. The image enhancement system of claim 1 , including a second illumination light source configured to illuminate the anatomical target with second light via a second optical path.

6. A method of detecting three-dimensional cues from an anatomical target, the method comprising:

generating a laser beam to form a single beam of light;

projecting the single beam of light from a first illumination source;

passing the single beam of light through a beam splitter located within a channel of an endoscope or laparoscope to form at least two distinct beams;

projecting the two beams at the anatomical target from ends of two optical media at a distal end of the endoscope or laparoscope,

forming a first pattern of light from interference of the at least two distinct beams;

projecting the first pattern of light resulting from the interference of the at least two distinct beams from ends of two optical media at a distal end of the endoscope or laparoscope on the anatomical target, the first pattern of light configured to display specified characteristics in response to application upon a reference target;

detecting, at a camera a two-dimensional camera image of the anatomical target while the first pattern of light is projected on the anatomical target;

generating, with the camera, an image signal based on the two-dimensional camera image;

detecting a second pattern of light from the image signal; and

analyzing characteristics of the second pattern with the specified characteristics to provide contour information of the anatomical target.

7. The method of claim 6 , including displaying an enhanced two-dimensional image of the anatomical target based using 3D cues based on the contour information.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the enhanced two-dimensional image does not include the second pattern.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the two distinct beams include polarized light.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the polarized light is coherent light.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the detecting the second pattern includes detecting the second pattern at an optical sensor positioned at a distal end of an endoscope or laparoscope.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the projecting a first pattern of light on the anatomical target include projecting a first pattern of light from a first illumination source on the anatomical target; and

wherein the method includes illuminating the target using a second illumination source, wherein the second illumination source is part of an endoscopic or laparoscopic system.

13. The image enhancement system of claim 1 , wherein the camera is located directly adjacent to the surface of the anatomical target with no intervening optical elements between the camera and the surface of the anatomical target.

14. The method of claim 6 , wherein the camera is located directly adjacent to the anatomical target with no intervening optical elements between the camera and the anatomical target.