Multispectral confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope for retinal vessel oximetry

Scanning laser microscopy is a widely used technique in ophthalmoscopy for providing high-resolution real time images of the retina. We describe a scanning laser ophthalmoscope that acquires retinal images at four wavelengths for the purpose of measuring the oxygen saturation of blood in retinal arteries and veins. Images at all four wavelengths are obtained across a single video frame using a temporal interlacing technique. An extraction procedure then permits analysis of four monochromatic images. A technique for calculating oxygen saturation from a multi-spectral image set is presented, along with preliminary measurements. The choice of wavelengths dramatically affects the oxygen saturation calculation accuracy and we present an optimized wavelength set and the calculated oxygen saturation results. The potential applications for this technology range from the diagnosis of various ophthalmic diseases to the detection of blood loss in trauma victims.