Optical coherence tomography system
Inventors
AHMED, Yosuf Syed • CHUNG, Juhyun • Han, Jong Woo • Kim, Hyung Il
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11540719-B2
Publication Date
2023-01-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed is an optical probe of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The optical probe of the OCT system includes: an optical fiber receiving light generated from a light source and transferring the received light to a plurality of lenses and receiving light reflected from tissue from the plurality of lenses and transferring the received light to an optical coherence system; a plurality of lenses including a first lens positioned at a distal end of the optical fiber and a second lens positioned at a predetermined point in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber; and a sheath capable of accommodating the optical fiber therein.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an optical probe of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system that uses an optical fiber to receive light generated from a light source and transfer the received light to a plurality of lenses, while also receiving light reflected from tissue from the plurality of lenses and transferring the received light to an optical coherence system. The probe includes a sheath capable of accommodating the optical fiber, and the probe architecture places a first lens at a distal end of the optical fiber and a second lens at a predetermined point in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber.
The second lens includes a second curve unit having a curve shape in order to converge the light emitted from the tissue, and a second light guide unit guiding some of the light to the second curve unit. The lens structures include ball lenses with curve units for converging light and corresponding light guide units.
The light guide units direct only some of the light to downstream curve units using angle, material, and refractive-index differences to manage transmission versus reflection behavior, enabling multi-channel parallel data collection. In system-level description, an OCT controller and mechanics using an air-bearing and pull-back arrangement are provided to reduce scan distortion and Saw artifact.
Claims Coverage
The relevant independent claim defines an optical probe for an OCT system with a multi-lens optical fiber delivery/collection scheme in a sheath, and with a second lens architecture that includes a converging curve unit and a light guide unit guiding only some of the light. One independent claim is explicitly provided in the supplied claim list.
Multi-lens OCT optical probe with distal first lens and longitudinally spaced second lens
An optical probe of an OCT system having an optical fiber transferring received light to a plurality of lenses and receiving tissue-reflected light from the plurality of lenses for transfer to an optical coherence system; the plurality of lenses including a first lens at a distal end of the optical fiber and a second lens at a predetermined point in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber; and a sheath accommodating the optical fiber.
Second lens with second curve unit and second light guide unit
The second lens includes a second curve unit having a curve shape to converge the light emitted from the tissue and a second light guide unit guiding some of the light to the second curve unit.
The independent claim coverage centers on a multi-lens OCT probe delivered and collected via an optical fiber within a sheath, where the second lens is configured with a second curve unit for converging tissue-emitted light and a second light guide unit that guides some of that light to the second curve unit.
Stated Advantages
Avoids red blood cell flushing.
Increases OCT imaging resolution.
Reduces scan distortion and Saw artifact.
Documented Applications
OCT imaging using an OCT catheter/optical probe within a sheath, with multi-channel parallel data collection described in the probe architecture.
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