Parallel optical coherence tomography apparatuses, systems, and related methods
Inventors
Abramoff, Michael D. • DeHoog, Edward
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12527473-B2
Publication Date
2026-01-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
Provided is a snapshot spectral domain optical coherence tomographer comprising a light source providing a plurality of beamlets; a beam splitter, splitting the plurality of beamlets into a reference arm and a sample arm; a first optical system that projects the sample arm onto multiple locations of a sample; a second optical system for collection of a plurality of reflected sample beamlets; a third optical system projecting the reference arm to a reflecting surface and receiving a plurality of reflected reference beamlets; a parallel interferometer that provides a plurality of interferograms from each of the plurality of sample beamlets with each of the plurality of reference beamlets; an optical image mapper configured to spatially separate the plurality of interferograms; a spectrometer configured to disperse each of the interferograms into its respective spectral components and project each interferogram in parallel; and a photodetector providing photon quantification.
Core Innovation
The patent describes a snapshot spectral-domain optical coherence tomographer and methods for imaging an eye. The apparatus provides beamlets to a sample and a reflecting surface, recombines the reflected beamlets to generate interferograms, and detects spectral components of the interferograms in parallel. The interferograms are spatially mapped into a linear array, and depth-resolved processing can provide aggregate responses of the sample.
The described design addresses the use of XY scanning and its associated moving parts, complexity, and cost. It acquires sparse sample locations in parallel rather than using XY scanning. The aggregate response can quantify retinal nerve-fiber thinning and retinal thickening. The described optical arrangements include image mappers comprising optical fibers or faceted prism arrays.
Claims Coverage
The two independent claims are claim 1, directed to a tomographer, and claim 9, directed to a method for imaging an eye. Their main inventive features concern directing beamlets to a sample and reflecting surface, generating interferograms from the reflected beamlets, and providing photon quantification in parallel.
Tomographer with parallel photon quantification
Claim 1 recites a light source configured to provide beamlets; sample and reference objective lenses that project beamlets onto a sample and reflecting surface; recombination of the reflected beamlets to generate interferograms; and a photodetector that receives spectral components of each interferogram and provides photon quantification in parallel. Dependent claims further describe inverse-transform processing to quantify intensities at each depth and provide an aggregate sample response, including quantification of nerve fiber thinning and retinal thickening.
Method for imaging an eye
Claim 9 recites providing beamlets from a light source, projecting sets of beamlets onto a sample and reflecting surface, recombining the reflected beamlets, generating interferograms, and receiving spectral components of each interferogram to provide photon quantification in parallel. Dependent claims further describe processing the photon quantifications into depth intensities and an aggregate sample response, including quantification of nerve fiber thinning and retinal thickening.
The independent claims cover an apparatus and an eye-imaging method that generate interferograms from beamlets reflected by a sample and a reflecting surface and quantify their spectral components in parallel. Dependent claims add depth-based processing, specified light sources, and optical arrangements for converting beamlets.
Stated Advantages
The parallel snapshot design avoids XY scanning and its associated moving parts, complexity, and cost.
Documented Applications
Imaging an eye and providing an aggregate response that can quantify retinal nerve-fiber thinning and retinal thickening.
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