Abstract: A black body assembly is provided for use in the calibration of infrared cameras. The assembly includes, among other things, a housing within which calibration components may be situated, and a lens guide for accurately positioning the assembly over a lens of the infrared camera. A heat emitter may be positioned within the housing for emitting a necessary amount of heat for calibration purposes. A heating element may also be provided within the housing for controlling the heating and cooling of the heat emitter. The assembly may also include a heat sink to remove excessive heat generated from the thermoelectric cooler during temperature cycling. An arm may be employed to hingedly connect the assembly to the camera to provide reliable and repeatable way to position the black body assembly at the front of the infrared lens. A method for calibrating an infrared camera is also provided.

Abstract: A system is provided utilizing dynamic imaging protocol to localize vascular architecture, and to evaluate and monitor functional behavior of the vascular architecture for pre-operative, post-operative and diagnostic purposes. The system includes, among other things, a scanner having within its objective portion an assembly for capturing a photon beam emitted from an object being monitored. The system is also provided with a detection network designed to convert, into electronic signals, data correlated from the beam. A processor can be provided for generating discrete image data from the electronic signals for subsequent display as an image. The system can also include a display for viewing the image data. The system can further include a ruler for positioning on the object being monitored to permit subsequent translation of the image viewed in the display onto the object. Methods for evaluating, monitoring, and localizing the vascular architecture are also provided.

Abstract: A black body assembly is provided for use in the calibration of infrared cameras. The assembly includes, among other things, a housing within which calibration components may be situated, and a lens guide for accurately positioning the assembly over a lens of the infrared camera. A heat emitter may be positioned within the housing for emitting a necessary amount of heat for calibration purposes. A heating element may also be provided within the housing for controlling the heating and cooling of the heat emitter. The assembly may also include a heat sink to remove excessive heat generated from the thermoelectric cooler during temperature cycling. An arm may be employed to hingedly connected to the assembly the camera to provide reliable and repeatable way to position the black body assembly at the front of the infrared lens. A method for calibrating an infrared camera is also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring tissue oxygenation using oxygen dependent quenching phosphorescence. The apparatus comprises a phosphorescent probe applied to the surface of the skin; an oxygen impermeable film placed over the probe and the apparatus; a light excitation means for exciting the probe; a heating element for heating the probe; and an analyzer circuit for analyzing the output.

Abstract: An system for imaging an oxygen-containing animal includes an illuminating light source 10, optical filters 12, a microscope and an associated epifluorescence attachment 16, a long pass cutoff filter 8, a camera 20, a frame grabber 22, a counter timer board 24, a computer 26 and an analog monitor 28. The light from the flash lamp 10 is passed through the optical filters to remove an unwanted portion of the spectrum, and focused on a sample object 14 through the epifluorescence attachment and phosphorescence is observed through the long pass cutoff filter. The images are collected with the camera and the frame grabber is used to digitize and average frames while the timing of the flash and gating of the camera intensifier is controlled by the counter timer board. The frames are displayed on the analog monitor.