Near infrared imaging

Abstract

An endoscope or wand device comprising transmitting members, in which the transmitting members comprise a coating that transmits between about 95% and about 99.5% of energy at a wavelength within the infra red spectrum.

1 . An endoscope or wand device comprising light transmitting members, said light transmitting members comprising an optical coating that transmits between about 95% and about 99.5% of light energy at a wavelength within the infra red spectrum. 
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a deviating prism assembly having at least one surface coated with gold, silver or aluminum. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the coating on the transmitting members comprises alternating layers of dissimilar optically transparent dielectric materials. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the dielectric materials are selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ), magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) and tantulum pentoxide (Ta 2 O 5 ). 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the coating on the transmitting members comprises between about 2 and about 40 pairs of alternating layers of dissimilar optically transparent dielectric materials. 
   
   
       8 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the wavelength within the infra red spectrum is a wavelength at which an excited fluorescent dye emits energy. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the fluorescent dye is ICG. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the wavelength within the infra red spectrum is between about 825 nm and about 835 nm. 
   
   
       14 - 21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . A near infra-red light source comprising:
 a light emitter that emits light in the infra red spectrum;   a reflector comprising a first coating that routes light in the infra red spectrum toward a beam splitter that transmits light in the infra red spectrum;   said beam splitter comprising a second coating for routing light in the infra red spectrum toward a light guide having a numerical aperture between about 0.4 and about 0.66.   
   
   
       23 . (Canceled) 
   
   
       24 . The light source of  claim 22 , wherein the reflector is elliptical. 
   
   
       25 . The light source of  claim 22 , wherein the reflector is parabolic. 
   
   
       26 . The light source of  claim 22 , further comprising a collimating lens assembly positioned between the beam splitter and the reflector. 
   
   
       27 . The light source of  claim 22 , wherein the first coating comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver and aluminum. 
   
   
       28 . (canceled) 
   
   
       29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . The light source of  claim 22 , wherein the beam splitter routes light having a wavelength between about 750-800 nm to the light guide. 
   
   
       31 . The light source of  claim 22 , wherein the beam splitter further routes light in the visible spectrum to a second light guide. 
   
   
       32 . The light source of  claim 22 , wherein the second coating includes alternating pairs of high and low index materials.