Systems for Comprehensive Fourier Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (FDOCT) and Related Methods

• US 20110102802A1
• Filed: 10/22/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leica Microsystems NC, Inc. (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bioptigen, Inc. (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Izatt, Joseph A., Buckland, Eric L., Hart, Robert H., Bower, Bradley A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,625,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/479
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/102 for optical coherence tomography [OCT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/117 for examining the anterior chamber or the anterior chamber angle, e.g. gonioscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1225 using coherent radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/0201 using temporal phase variation
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02078 Caused by ambiguity
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02091 Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography systems for imaging a whole eye are provided including a sample arm including focal optics that are configured to rapidly switch between at least two scanning modes in less than about 1.0 second.

Claims

1. An optical coherence tomography system for imaging a whole eye, the system comprising a sample arm including focal optics that are configured to rapidly switch between at least two scanning modes in less than about 1.0 second.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the focal optics are configured to be switched between the at least two modes without use of an external adapter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least two modes comprise an anterior segment scanning mode and a retinal scanning mode, the system further comprising:

a mechanical means configured to rapidly insert at least one additional lens into and/or remove the at least one additional lens from an optical path of the sample arm to switch the system between the anterior segment scanning mode and the retinal scanning mode.

4. The system of claim 3:

wherein the sample arm of the system in retinal scanning mode comprises a collimator, a two-dimensional galvanometer scanner, and a single scan lens in a telecentric configuration; and

wherein the mechanical means is configured to rapidly insert a single additional lens into the optical path immediately proximal or immediately distal to the collimating lens to change the system from the retinal scanning mode to anterior segment scanning mode.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the additional lens in the optical path is configured to change a sample arm beam from collimated to focusing on the two-dimensional galvanometer scanner.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the mechanical means comprises at least one lens mounted to a mechanical plate that is configured to be rotated into and out of the optical path.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a controller configured to cause the mechanical means to rapidly rotate the plate.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the mechanical means comprises a rotary solenoid attached to an arm including the additional lens, the rotary solenoid being configured to rapidly rotate the additional lens into and out of the optical path.

9. The system of claim 1:

wherein the at least two modes comprise an anterior segment scanning mode and a retinal scanning mode;

wherein the sample arm of the system in the retinal scanning mode comprises a collimating lens, a two-dimensional galvanometer scanner pair, a scan lens and an objective lens; and

wherein the sample arm of the system in the anterior segment scanning mode includes a collimating lens, two two-dimensional galvanometer scanner pairs, a scan lens, an objective lens and a curved mirror placed a focal length f away from a first of the two two-dimensional galvanometer scanner pairs, wherein the a second of the two two-dimensional galvanometer scanner pairs directs re-directed collimated light in a triangular pattern towards the curved mirror causing an optical path length of the system to be longer in the anterior segment scanning mode as compared to the retinal scanning mode.

10. The system of claim 1:

wherein the at least two modes comprise an anterior segment scanning mode and a retinal scanning mode;

wherein the sample arm of the system in the retinal scanning mode comprises a collimating lens, a two-dimensional galvanometer scanner pair, a scan lens and an objective lens; and

wherein the sample arm of the system in the anterior segment scanning mode includes a collimating lens, a two-dimensional galvanometer scanner pair, a scan lens, an objective lens, a flat mirror and a concave mirror placed a focal length f away from the two-dimensional galvanometer scanner pairs, wherein light incident on the two-dimensional scanner pair is deviated such that the an incident collimated beam is directed into a separate path consisting of the flat mirror and the concave mirror.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reference arm including a means for rapidly switching a reference delay when the focal optics of the sample arm are switched between the at least two scanning modes.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the reference arm further comprises a coupler configured to split light from the reference arm of the interferometer into at least two separate paths.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least two separate paths are preset to an optical delay each corresponding to one of the at least two scanning modes.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for rapidly switching a reference delay comprises a rapid mechanical switch configured to block all but a desired reference delay associated with a corresponding one of the at least two scanning modes.

15. The system of claim 1:

wherein the at least two scanning modes comprise and iris pivot scanning mode and a telecentric scanning mode; and

wherein the sample arm comprises a telecentric scanning lens and first and second objective lenses, wherein the first and second objective lenses are a first distance apart in a first position when the system is operating in telecentric scanning mode and a second distance apart in a second position when the system is operating in the iris pivot scanning mode.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first and second objective lenses are configured to slide between the first and second positions to switch between scanning modes.

17. The system of claim 1:

wherein the at least two scanning modes comprise a telecentric scanning mode and a collimated scanning mode;

wherein the sample arm comprises a fiber input, a collimating lens, a scanning mirror, a telecentric scanning lens, and a telecentric scanning beam;

wherein the collimating lens is in a first position in telecentric scanning mode and a second position in collimated scanning mode; and

wherein the collimating lens is translated by a distance equal to a focal length of the collimating lens in the second position to provide the collimated scanning mode.

18. The system of claim 1:

wherein the at least two scanning modes comprise a telecentric scanning mode and a collimated scanning mode;

wherein the sample arm comprises a fiber input, a collimating lens, a scanning mirror, a telecentric scanning lens, and a telecentric scanning beam in the telecentric scanning mode; and

wherein the sample arm further comprises a secondary lens behind the collimating lens in collimated scanning mode.

19. An optical coherence tomography system for imaging a whole eye, the system comprising a reference arm configured to adapt to focal optics of at least two scanning modes of the system.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the reference arm comprise a mechanical means configured to discretely switch reference arms such that the reference arm is matched a corresponding one of the at least two scanning modes.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the reference arm is configured to rapidly switch between reference delays, each of the reference delays corresponding to one of the at least two scanning modes.

22. A method for imaging a whole eye in an optical coherence tomography system, the method comprising rapidly switching focal optics of a sample arm between at least two scanning modes in less than about 1.0 second.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein switching the focal optics of the sample arm comprises switching the focal optics of the sample arm between the at least two scanning modes without use of an external adapter.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least two modes comprise an anterior segment scanning mode and a retinal scanning mode.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising rapidly switching a reference delay when the focal optics of the sample arm are switched between the at least two scanning modes.