APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMAGING BLOOD IN A TARGET REGION OF TISSUE

In some embodiments, an apparatus for imaging blood within a target region of tissue includes an imaging device configured to output image data associated with light received by the imaging device having a first and second spectral ranges, wherein the absorptivity by blood of light having the first spectral range is less than the absorptivity by blood of light having the second spectral range, and a controlling element configured to capture the image data associated with light received by the imaging device and to process the captured image data associated with light having the first spectral range and the captured image data associated with light having the second spectral range to generate compound image data associated with an amount of blood within the target region of tissue.