Real-time imaging system and method

• US 20030103212A1
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andrew M. Rollins, Joseph A. Izatt, Rujchai Ung-Arunyawee, Volker Westphal
• Original Assignee: Andrew M. Rollins, Joseph A. Izatt, Rujchai Ung-Arunyawee, Volker Westphal
• Inventors: Ung-Arunyawee, Rujchai, Izatt, Joseph A., Rollins, Andrew M., Westphal, Volker
• Application Number:
  US10/212,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20030103212A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/479
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1005 for measuring distances inside the eye, e.g. thickness of the cornea A61B3/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/102 for optical coherence tomography [OCT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/107 for determining the shape or measuring the curvature of the cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/12 for looking at the eye fundus, e.g. ophthalmoscopes A61B3/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0064 Body surface scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/726 using Wavelet transforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2290/65 Spatial scanning object beam
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02002 using two or more frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02045 using the Doppler effect
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02069 Synchronization of light source or manipulator and detector
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02083 characterised by particular signal processing and presentation
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02087 Combining two or more images of the same region
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02091 Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4795 spatially resolved investigating of object in scattering medium in vivo A61B

Abstract

Software techniques that are used for real-time imaging in OCT (Optical coherence tomography), particularly for correcting geometric and angular image distortions. In addition, a methodology for quantitative image correction in OCT images includes procedures for correction of non-telocentric scan patterns, as well as a novel approach for refraction correction in layered media based on Fermat'"'"'s principle.

Claims

1. A method for determining a condition of a tissue sample, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one light beam;

splitting the light beam into at least one measuring light beam and at least one reference light beam;

directing the measuring light beam into a tissue sample;

adjusting a relative optical path between the reference light beam and the measuring light beam;

bringing the measuring light beam scattered back by the tissue sample into an interference relationship with the reference light beam; and

processing the interferometric signal to determine a condition of the tissue sample.

2. A system for determining a condition of a tissue sample, comprising:

light generating means for generating at least one light beam;

beam splitter means for splitting up said light beam into at least one measuring light beam and at least one reference light beam;

adjusting means for adjusting a relative optical path between the measuring light beam and the reference light beam;

directing means for directing the measuring light beam into the tissue sample;

detection means for receiving light scattered back from the measuring light beam by the tissue sample;

means for interferometrically superimposing the back-scattered measuring light beam and the reference light beam; and

processing means for processing the interferometrically superimposed signal.

3. Correction of multiple image distortions in real-time in OCT based on Fermat'"'"'s principle and mapping arrays.