Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining area images and optical coherence tomography (OCT) image of a tissue comprises an image sensor, a first illumination means providing broadband polarized polychromatic light, a second illumination means providing narrow-band ultraviolet light, a third illumination means providing Near-Infrared light, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging apparatus, one or more polarization elements, and an optical filter. An image processor identifies a region of interest according to area image, which can be a polarized reflectance image, a fluorescence light image, or both for the OCT imaging apparatus to obtain an OCT image over the region of interest.

Abstract: An apparatus for suitable for obtaining an image of a dental structure has an illuminator member placed proximate the area to be imaged. The illuminator member has a support structure (30) for retaining the illuminator member in position proximate the area to be imaged. A reference (22) is coupled to the support structure (30) of the illuminator member and disposed within the area to be imaged. At least one light source (24) is coupled to the support structure (30) of the illuminator member for directing imaging illumination toward the area to be imaged. A camera (12) records an image from within the area to be imaged using the imaging illumination from the illuminator member, wherein the image comprises the reference (22).

Abstract: A reading apparatus obtains a line of image data stored on a surface, the reading apparatus having a radiation source (12) for directing a line of stimulating radiation onto a stimulable image carrier on the surface, generating a line of image-bearing radiation. A sensing head (22) having a plurality of channels (66) obtains image data from the line of image-bearing radiation, each channel (66) sensing a segment (32) of the line of image-bearing radiation. Each channel (66) has inverting optics for inverting the segment (32) of the line of image-bearing radiation to form an inverted line segment image (44) and a sensor (29) for providing image data for the inverted line segment image (44). An image processor (30) accepts image data from sensing head channels (66) and forms a line of image data according to the line of image-bearing radiation.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining a retinal image of an eye has a control logic processor (214) for executing a sequence of operations for obtaining the image. A visual target (162) orients the eye of a patient when viewed. An indicator element (410) provides a signal that indicates that the patient is in position. A cornea focus detection section (450) indicates cornea focus, in cooperation with the control logic processor (214). An alignment actuator aligns the optical path according to a signal obtained from the cornea focus detection section (450). A retina focus detection section (452) detects retina focus in cooperation with the control logic processor (214). A focusing actuator (406) is controlled by instructions from the control logic processor (214) according to a signal obtained from the retina focus detection section (452). An image capture light source is energized by the control logic processor (214) for illuminating the retina.

Abstract: A camera apparatus (10) has a zoom lens (12) having a zoom focus setting that is adjustable over a range of focus values and control circuitry for generating a variable voltage potential according to the zoom focus setting. A flash illumination apparatus (20) has a light source (32) and a variable focus liquid crystal lens (24), the variable focus liquid crystal lens (24) having a first and a second solid optical element (40, 50), chamber (44), the two electrodes (42, 48) and liquid crystal material (46). A variable voltage is applied to the liquid crystal material (46) for the lens power according to the zoom focus setting.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for processing of images to detect dental caries, that includes the following steps. Directing incident light (16) toward a tooth (20), where this light excites a fluorescent emission from the tooth. Obtaining a fluorescence image (35) from the fluorescent light component (19), and obtaining a reflectance image (34) from the back-scattered light (18) from the tooth. Applying a color balance operation to the reflectance image. Removing the specular reflectance components from the color balanced reflectance image (82) to give a back-scattered reflectance image (50). Registering the fluorescent image with the back-scattered reflectance image. Combining the registered fluorescent image (115) with the back-scattered reflectance image to provide a diagnostic image (52).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for obtaining an image of a tooth (20) includes an image sensor and a white light source (12) providing broadband polychromatic light and an ultraviolet light source providing narrow-band light. A combiner (15) directs broadband polychromatic light and narrow band light along a common illumination path to illuminate the tooth. A polarization beamsplitter (18) directs polarized light from the illumination path along an optical axis (216). An optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging apparatus (70) splits the low coherence light into a sample path and a reference path and a dichroic element (78) directs the polarized illumination and the sample path low coherence light along the optical axis. An image processor (100) identifies a region of interest according to either a white light image (124), a fluorescent light image (120), or both and the OCT imaging apparatus obtains an OCT image over the region of interest.

Abstract: A fundus camera (10) obtains a retinal image using a light source (62), a ring aperture (58) conjugate to the cornea, and a first aperture (54) conjugate to the iris. An apertured mirror (52) redirects the ring illumination toward the eye. An objective lens (50) between the apertured mirror (52) and the eye has an entrance pupil between the iris and the cornea of the eye. The objective lens (50) directs the ring illumination into the pupil of the eye and directs a reflected image-bearing light from the retina through the apertured mirror (52). A second aperture (64), conjugate to a plane between the cornea and the iris of the eye, forms an aperture stop for the reflected image-bearing light. A third aperture (68) is conjugate to the cornea for blocking light reflected. A sensor (70) provides an image of the retina.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging a tooth having a light source with a first spectral range and a second spectral range. A polarizing beamsplitter (18) light having a first polarization state toward the tooth and directs light from the tooth having a second polarization state along a return path toward a sensor (68), wherein the first and second polarization states are orthogonal. A first lens (22) in the return path directs image-bearing light from the tooth, through the polarizing beamsplitter (18), toward the sensor (68), and obtains image data from the redirected portion of the light having the second polarization state. A long-pass filter (15) in the return path attenuates light in the second spectral range. Control logic enables the sensor to obtain either the reflectance image or the fluorescence image.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining an image of a tooth having at least one light source providing incident light having a first spectral range for obtaining a reflectance image (122) from the tooth and a second spectral range for exciting a fluorescence image (120) from the tooth. A polarizing beamsplitter (18) in the path of the incident light from both sources directs light having a first polarization state toward the tooth and directs light from the tooth having a second polarization state along a return path toward a sensor (68), wherein the second polarization state is orthogonal to the first polarization state. A first lens (22) in the return path directs image-bearing light from the tooth toward the sensor (68), and obtains image data from the portion of the light having the second polarization state. A long-pass filter (15) in the return path attenuates light in the second spectral range.

Abstract: A method for obtaining an image of a tooth obtains an area image of the tooth (20) surface and identifies a region of interest from the area image by positioning a marker (146) on the area image. The marker (146) corresponds to at least a portion of the region of interest and identifies a scanning area. An optical coherence tomography (OCT) image is then obtained over the scanning area.

Abstract: A method for forming an enhanced image of tooth tissue for caries detection obtains fluorescence (50) and reflectance (52) image data from a tooth (20). Each pixel in the fluorescence image data is combined with its corresponding pixel in the reflectance image data by subtracting an offset to the reflectance image data value to generate an offset reflectance image data value, and then computing an enhanced image data value according to the difference between the fluorescence image data value and the offset reflectance image data value, whereby the enhanced image (64) is formed from the resulting pixel array of enhanced image data values.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining a retinal image of an eye has a control logic processor for executing a sequence of operations for obtaining the image. A visual target orients the eye of a patient when viewed. An indicator element provides a signal that indicates that the patient is in position. A cornea focus detection section indicates cornea focus, in cooperation with the control logic processor. An alignment actuator aligns the optical path according to a signal obtained from the cornea focus detection section. A retina focus detection section detects retina focus in cooperation with the control logic processor. A focusing actuator is controlled by instructions from the control logic processor according to a signal obtained from the retina focus detection section. An image capture light source is energized by the control logic processor for illuminating the retina.

Abstract: A camera apparatus (10) has a zoom lens (12) having a zoom focus setting that is adjustable over a range of focus values and control circuitry for generating a variable voltage potential according to the zoom focus setting. A flash illumination apparatus (20) has a light source (26) and a variable focus lens (24, 40), the variable focus lens (24, 40) having a first and a second fluid (42, 44) in a chamber (36, 46), the fluids (42, 44) having different indices of refraction and being non-miscible and in contact over an interface surface (54) with variable shape. An electrode (50) applies a variable voltage potential within the chamber (36, 46) for shaping the interface surface (54) according to the zoom focus setting.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for obtaining an image of the eye, has an alignment section (160) for aligning the pupil of the eye along an optical axis and a pupil sensor (170) for identifying pupil location and dimensions. An illumination section (112) has a light source (114) for providing an illumination beam and a spatial light modulator (125) for positioning and shaping the illumination beam according to the sensed location and dimensions of the pupil. An illumination beam partitioning mechanism (50) segments the illumination beam directed toward the pupil of the eye into at least one light-bearing segment (150) and at least one blocked segment. An actuator (132) coupled to the illumination beam partitioning mechanism (50) scans the at least one light-bearing segment (150) of the illumination beam across the pupil of the eye. An image sensor (146), aligned along the optical axis, obtains reflected light from the eye.

Abstract: A method for caries detection uses an image capture device (30, 32) to obtain fluorescence image data from the tooth (20) by illuminating the tooth to excite fluorescent emission. A first enhanced image of the tooth is then obtained by illuminating the tooth at a first incident angle, obtaining a back-scattered reflectance image data from the tooth tissue, and combining the back-scattered reflectance image data with the fluorescence image data. A second enhanced image of the tooth is then obtained by illuminating the tooth at a second incident angle, obtaining a back-scattered reflectance image data from the tooth tissue, and combining the back-scattered reflectance image data with the fluorescence image data. The first and second enhanced images are then analyzed to select and display the best-contrast image. This method provides high contrast images for carious regions (58) on all tooth surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus (50) for obtaining an image of the eye, has a light source (114) for providing an incident illumination and an apertured mirror (104) for directing at least a portion of the incident illumination along an optical axis. A curved objective mirror (102) directs the incident illumination received along the optical axis toward the retina of the eye and directs image-bearing light reflected from the retina back along the optical axis. The apertured mirror (104) transmits the image-bearing light reflected from the retina toward a sensor (108) for obtaining an image of the retina thereby.

Abstract: An apparatus (220) for obtaining a scanned image of an eye has a reference locator for pupil alignment apparatus along an optical axis. A pupil profiling apparatus for obtaining an outline of the pupil has a pupil profiling light source (176), a sensor (170) for detecting reflected light, and a control logic processor (104) for computing an outline of the pupil according to detected light. An illumination apparatus (112) for directing visible illumination into the eye has a spatial light modulator (125) for shaping an illumination beam according to the detected outline, a scanning element (229), and a camera (146) for obtaining the scanned image by sensing a portion of the reflected illumination.

Abstract: A radiation readout apparatus includes: a concave mirror defining a central optical axis; a refractive lens assembly spaced from the concave mirror and symmetrical with the optical axis; an optical assembly which is optically coupled to the refractive lens assembly; a color filter for filtering out leaked stimulating radiation; and a dichroic prism optically coupled to the optical assembly for directing a linear stimulating radiation beam of a first wavelength, which is projected into the dichroic prism from the system, to a stimulable phosphor at the stimulable phosphor location, wherein stimulated radiation of a second wavelength emitted by the stimulable phosphor is passed back through the dichroic prism through the optical assembly, through the refractive lens assembly, reflected from the concave mirror, passed back through the refractive lens assembly, through the optical assembly, through the color filter, and to a linear sensor located at the sensor location.

Abstract: An x-ray imaging source comprises a radiation source (12) providing x-ray radiation. A substrate comprised of a scintillating material (16) responsive to a level of incident radiation provides output light according to the level of incident radiation. A Fresnel lens (40) is disposed proximate to the substrate for directing the output light toward a second lens. The second lens directs the output light to an image sensor for converting light levels to the digital data, forming an image thereby.