Other

Christie Medical Holdings, Inc.

The University of Tennessee Research Foundation

Luminetx Technologies Corp.

Luminetx Corporation

Herbert D Zeman

James Andrew DeLong

Gunnar Lovhoiden

Carlos Vrancken

John Snodgrass

James Delong

An imaging system illuminates an object with infrared light to enhance visibility of buried structure beneath the surface of the object, and projects a visible light image of the buried structure onto the surface of the object. The system may include an illumination source for generating the infrared light. The system further includes a video imaging device for receiving the infrared light reflected from the object and for generating a video image of the buried structure based on the reflected infrared light. The buried structure may be a subcutaneous blood vessel.

Method and apparatus for projection of subsurface structure onto an object's surface

An imaging system illuminates an object with infrared light to enhance visibility of buried structure beneath the surface of the object, and projects a visible light image of the buried structure onto the surface of the object. The system may include an infrared light source for generating the infrared light and a structure for diffusing the infrared light. The diffusing structure may include one or more layers of diffusing material for diffusing the light. The system further includes a video imaging device for receiving the infrared light reflected from the object and for generating a video image of the buried structure based on the reflected infrared light. The buried structure may be a subcutaneous blood vessel. A calibration procedure is described as well as embodiments for ensuring that the object is maintained in focus at the correct distance.

Projection of subsurface structure onto an object's surface

An imaging system illuminates body tissue with infrared light to enhance visibility of subcutaneous blood vessels, and generates a video image of the body tissue and the subcutaneous blood vessels based on reflected infrared light. The system includes an infrared light source for generating the infrared light and a structure for diffusing the infrared light. The diffusing structure includes one or more layers of diffusing material for diffusing the light. The system further includes a video imaging device for receiving the infrared light reflected from the body tissue and for generating a video image of the body tissue based on the reflected infrared light.

Imaging system using diffuse infrared light

A radiation imaging apparatus includes a photostimulable phosphor plate, an x-ray source, a red or infrared laser, and an array of photomultiplier tubes. The x-ray source propagates x-rays toward the plate, which is incident on the plate at a first incidence angle. The x-rays interact with the plate to form a latent image therein. The laser propagates laser radiation toward the plate which is incident on the plate at a second incidence angle. According to the invention, the second incidence angle is equivalent to the first incidence angle at substantially all points on the plate. Based on the interaction of the laser radiation with the latent image in the plate, the plate emits visible image radiation. Thus, the x-ray radiation, which forms the image in the plate, follows the same path within the plate as does the laser radiation. By ensuring that the laser radiation follows the same path through the plate as the x-ray radiation, the invention achieves high spatial resolution in the image detected by the laser. The array of photomultiplier tubes receives the image radiation emitted by the plate and generates an electrical image signal based thereon. Based on this electrical image signal, the image formed in the plate may be displayed on a display device or printed on a printer. The device may also include an aspheric lens attached to the plate that refracts the laser radiation so that it enters the plate at the same incidence angle as the x-ray radiation. Using this lens, the x-ray and laser radiation may enter the plate from opposite sides of the plate and still follow the same path through the plate. Preferably, the photostimulable phosphor plate is formed of barium fluoroiodide&#x2014;BaFI(Eu).

Thick clear crystal photostimulable phosphor plate for X-ray imaging

An imaging system illuminates body tissue with infrared light to enhance visibility of subcutaneous blood vessels, and generates a video image of the body tissue and the subcutaneous blood vessels based on reflected infrared light. The system includes an infrared light source for generating the infrared light and a structure for diffusing the infrared light. The diffusing structure has an input aperture for receiving the infrared light from the infrared light source, and multiple interior reflecting surfaces. The reflecting surfaces reflect the infrared light multiple times and in multiple directions, thereby producing diffuse infrared light. The diffusing structure also has an output aperture for receiving the diffuse infrared light reflected from the plurality of reflecting surfaces and for emitting the diffuse infrared light toward the body tissue. The system further includes a video imaging device for receiving the infrared light reflected from the body tissue and for generating a video image of the body tissue based on the reflected infrared light.

Diffuse infrared light imaging system

An apparatus which enhances the visual contrast between bright and dark features of an object by projecting an image of the object onto the object. The features of the projected object image overlay the features of the object such that an observer of the enhanced object senses that the bright features are brighter and the dark features remain the same. A light source illuminates the object, a video imaging means, such as a video camera, creates a video signal representative of the object image, and a video projector receives the video signal from the video camera and projects a visual image of the object. A filter prevents video projector light from reaching the video imaging means, thereby eliminating positive feedback. A preferred apparatus includes a beam separator which causes the image projected from the video projector to illuminate the object from the same perspective that the video imaging means views the object. Preferably, the light source is an infrared light source, the filter transmits infrared light but not visible light, and the beam separator reflects visible light and transmits infrared light. Alternately, the invention visually enhances the edges of features of an object with an unsharp masking edge enhancement technique, thereby making the features of the object easier to distinguish.

Contrast enhancing illuminator

A scintillator screen for an X-ray system includes a substrate of low-Z material and bodies of a high-Z material embedded within the substrate. By preselecting the size of the bodies embedded within the substrate, the spacial separation of the bodies and the thickness of the screen, the sensitivity of the screen to X-rays within a predetermined energy range can be predicted.

Growing community of inventors

Memphis, TN, United States of America

Herbert D Zeman