Abstract: Near infrared imaging is highly complementary to colour imaging having a wide range of applications. For example, in health applications, the near infrared can provide biomolecular information on tissue that is not apparent under visual examination nor from the inspection of colour images of tissue. Thus, there is utility in viewing both visible color and near infrared images in combination. Described herein are methods to perform visible and near infrared imaging as well as hybrid visible color and near infrared imaging with a single conventional color filter array RGB sensor. The methods automatically provide spatially co-registered color and near infrared images and the methods can be used as the basis for a multispectral or hyperspectral imaging system.

Abstract: Melanin is an effective absorber of light and is able to dissipate the majority of light absorbed by the pigment. This can mask the absorbance of biomolecules of interest such as hemoglobin when imaging skin tissue. Melanin is the primary determinant of skin color which can vary between individuals as well as within individuals (due to the presence of portions of skin with more or less pigment as well as features such as freckles and moles). Described herein are methods for compensating for melanin absorption at the pixel level of an image, thereby allowing for more accurate imaging of concentration and distribution of biomolecules of interest in a tissue portion.

Abstract: Melanin is an effective absorber of light and is able to dissipate the majority of light absorbed by the pigment. This can mask the absorbance of biomolecules of interest such as hemoglobin when imaging skin tissue. Melanin is the primary determinant of skin color which can vary between individuals as well as within individuals (due to the presence of portions of skin with more or less pigment as well as features such as freckles and moles). Described herein are methods for compensating for melanin absorption at the pixel level of an image, thereby allowing for more accurate imaging of concentration and distribution of biomolecules of interest in a tissue portion.