Methods and apparatus for measuring blood oxygenation of tissue

Abstract

An apparatus and method of measuring oxygenation of tissue in a non-invasive manner are provided. The apparatus comprises a light source configured to emit a light pattern to be projected onto the tissue, in which the light pattern comprises superimposed patterns having different patterns. A detector captures an image of a reflected light pattern which is reflected from the tissue as a result of the projected light pattern. A processor coupled to the detector can be configured to perform a transform on the image of the reflected light pattern and determine oxygenation of each of a plurality of layers of the tissue in response to the transform of the image. Polarimetry can be used in determining a change in polarization angle of light beam. Tissue oxygenation can be determined at a plurality of layers from one snapshot, for example oxygenation of retinal layers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of measuring oxygenation of tissue, the method comprising:
 projecting a light pattern onto the tissue;   imaging a reflected light pattern which is reflected from the tissue; and   determining oxygenation of the tissue in response to the reflected light pattern.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus to measure oxygenation of tissue, the apparatus comprising:
 a light source configured to emit a light pattern to be projected onto the tissue;   a detector for capturing an image of a reflected light which is reflected from the tissue; and   one or more processors coupled to the detector, the one or more processors being configured to determine oxygenation of the tissue in response to the reflected light.   
     
     
         3 . An apparatus to measure oxygenation of tissue, comprising:
 a light source configured to project a pattern onto the tissue;   a detector to receive an image of the pattern projected onto the tissue; and   a processor coupled to the detector, the processor configured with instructions to determine oxygenation of the tissue in response to the image.