Multiple imaging modality light source
Inventors
Otterstrom, Gregory G • RAMESH, Ajay • LAWRENCE, Hannah • Pack, Candice • Palmisano, Richard I.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12461357-B2
Publication Date
2025-11-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
A light source includes a first LED to provide light of a first light wavelength spectrum along a first light path; a second LED to provide light of a second light wavelength spectrum along a second light path; a dichroic filter for passing light emitted from at least one of the first LED and the second LED and reflecting light emitted from at least one of the first LED and the second LED; an optical filter movable between a first position in which the optical filter receives light from the first light path and a second position of which the optical filter does not receive light from the first light path; a light output; a controller which is capable of switching the light source between a first mode for providing a first light to the light output and a second mode for providing a second light to the light output.
Core Innovation
The invention is a multiple-imaging-modality external medical light source for endoscopy having selectable illumination modes. The system generates illumination using multiple LEDs with a visible wavelength spectrum and spectral components intended for different imaging modalities, including ultraviolet and multiple visible spectral bands. A controller provides switching logic to select among illumination modes and to coordinate emission components.
The invention further includes movable optical filters and dichroic filters configured to pass and/or reflect different spectral bands to realize the selectable illumination modes. The movable optical filters switch the spectral output, and dichroic filters combine light from different sources by selectively passing and reflecting spectral components. The optical arrangement supports switching and combining of visible and infrared portions of illumination.
In some embodiments, the invention adds first and second infrared spectra using a first light emitter and a second light emitter having different infrared spectra, including infrared laser diodes at different infrared wavelengths. The system can include an infrared sensor that provides feedback to a control circuit to adjust intensity. Additional embodiments include notch filtering or blocking of specific infrared wavelengths to manage fluorescence excitation and emission separation, and optional endoscope defogging.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims covering a medical light source with visible and two different infrared spectra, and a method that generates these spectra at different times. The independent claims each center on selecting distinct infrared spectra using separate emitters and coordinating temporal emission for the different infrared spectra.
Visible light with first and second infrared spectra from different infrared emitters
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.
Different-time emission of first and second infrared spectra
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 of the medical light source; and emitting light having a second infrared spectrum that is different than the first infrared spectrum from a second light emitter of the second light, wherein the light having the second infrared spectrum is emitted at a different time than the light having the first infrared spectrum.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage is the combination of visible illumination with a second portion that includes two different infrared spectra generated by separate emitters, and, for the method, the temporal separation of emission of the two infrared spectra.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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