Xillix Technologies Corporation

Novadaq Technologies, Inc.

Novadaq Technologies Ulc

Richard W Cline

John J P Fengler

Joachim W Boehm

Bruno W Jaggi

Haishan Zeng

Calum E MacAulay

Curtis Barry Figley

Remy Dawson

Pierre Leduc

A fluorescence endoscopy video system includes a multimode light source for producing white light, fluorescence excitation light, or fluorescence excitation light with a reference reflectance light. An endoscope directs light to illuminate a tissue sample and collects reflected light or fluorescence light produced by the tissue. A camera includes a high sensitivity color image sensor having a plurality of pixel elements. Each of the pixel elements has an integrated filter configured to block reflected excitation light from reaching the pixel elements and allow fluorescence and reflectance light to reach the pixel elements. A processor receives image signals from the image sensor, combines image signals from a first group of pixel elements to form a first image formed by fluorescence light, and combines image signals from a second group of pixel elements to form a second image formed by reflectance light. A video monitor simultaneously superimposes the first and second images.

Compact fluorescence endoscopy video system

A fluorescence endoscopy video system includes a multimode light source that produces light for color and fluorescence imaging modes. Light from the light source is transmitted through an endoscope to the tissue under observation. The system also includes a compact camera for color and fluorescence imaging. Images obtained through the endoscope are optically divided and projected onto one or more image sensors by a fixed beam splitter in the camera. The fixed beam splitter eliminates the need for inserting a movable mirror into the light path between the endoscope and the image sensors. Image signals from the camera are processed in the system processor/controller where a contrast enhancement function can be applied. The contrast enhancement function increases the color contrast between normal tissue and tissue suspicious for early cancer. Finally, the system also includes a calibration feature whereby the system performance can be maintained when used with different endoscopes.

A fluorescence endoscopy video system includes a multi-mode light source that produces light for white light and fluorescence imaging modes. Light from the light source is transmitted through an endoscope to the tissue under observation. The system also includes a compact camera for white light and fluorescence imaging, which may be located in the insertion portion of the endoscope, or attached to the portion of the endoscope outside the body. The camera can be utilized for both white light imaging and fluorescence imaging, and in its most compact form, contains no moving parts.

Fluorescence endoscopy video systems with no moving parts in the camera

A lightweight hand-held skin abnormality detection system includes a source of excitation light that causes tissue under examination to produce fluorescence light. The fluorescence light produced along with the beam of reference light is provided to a beam splitter which divides the fluorescence light and the reference light into separate optical channels. Each optical channel produces an image of the tissue under examination. A passive optical combiner superimposes the image produced by each optical channel for viewing by a user.

Portable system for detecting skin abnormalities based on characteristic autofluorescence

An imaging system for white light and fluorescence endoscopy that includes an automatic gain control circuit that adjusts the brightness of an image produced based on distribution of pixel intensities in one or more video frames. The magnitude of the image signals produced by a pair of high sensitivity imaging devices such as intensified CCD transducers are compared to a number of reference thresholds. A time-over-threshold counter ( ) determines the number of pixels in the image signals having magnitudes greater than or less than the reference thresholds. The distribution of pixel intensities is supplied to a decision tree algorithm ( ) that determines whether the gain of the-intensified CCD transducers ( ) used to produced the autofluorescence images or the intensity of the excitation light produced by a light source ( ) should be increased or decreased. In addition, a mode switch mechanism is provided to change rapidly from the fluorescence imaging mode to the white light imaging mode or vice versa. This mechanism includes provisions to prevent the accidental application of reflected white illumination light to the image-intensified CCD transducers. Proximity switches ( ) monitor the position of a light directing mechanism such as a mirror ( ) to allow light to pass to fluorescence camera head ( ) or to a color video camera head ( ). The light source is not switched to produce white light until it is known that the mirror is in position to direct the reflected light to the color video camera head. Finally, the present invention produces a quantitative display of the relative intensities of the autofluorescence light produced in a pair of spectral bands.

Imaging system with automatic gain control for reflectance and fluorescence endoscopy

A system for detecting cancerous or precancerous lesions directs light produced from a mercury arc lamp into an illumination guide of an endoscope. Autofluorescence light produced by the tissue under examination is divided into red and green spectral bands by a dichroic mirror. Light in the red and green spectral band is applied to a pair of image intensified CCD cameras. The output of the camera that receives light in the red spectral band is coupled to a red video input of a color video monitor. Light produced by the camera that receives light in the green spectral band is coupled to the blue and green video inputs of the video monitor. The system produces a false color display, whereby healthy tissue appears cyan in color and cancerous or precancerous lesions appear reddish in color. The image displayed allows the operator to see the lesions within the context of the underlying tissue structures. The color contrast is adjustable to account for the autofluorescence property changes from patient to patient and from location to location.

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Vancouver, Canada

Richard W Cline