COMBINATION OPTICAL AND ULTRASONIC IMAGING OF AN EYE

• US 20140009741A1
• Filed: 07/09/2013
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArcScan, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ArcScan, Inc.
• Inventors: Levien, Andrew K., Watson, John D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,320,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0025 characterised by electronic signal processing, e.g. eye models
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0083 provided with means for patient positioning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0091 Fixation targets for viewing direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/102 for optical coherence tomography [OCT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/145 by video means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/10 Eye inspection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/42 Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4245 involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4416 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5207 involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image reconstruction G06T11/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for integrating optical coherence tomography (OCT) and very high frequency ultrasound (VHFU) imaging systems. An OCT probe and reference arm are mounted along with an ultrasound probe on a carriage capable of rotational, linear, and/or arcuate motion. The probe carriage may be immersed in water or other suitable medium. The OCT and VHFU probes move about the cornea surface such that the probe axes are substantially perpendicular relative to the cornea surface throughout a scan. The probes are able to be scanned in an arcuate path across the entire cornea surface. The method and apparatus disclosed are also directed towards providing a positioning mechanism and scan head comprising an arcuate guide track wherein only an OCT probe is mounted on the probe carriage. This embodiment allows the OCT probe beam to remain substantially perpendicular to the cornea and lens surfaces.

Claims

1. A scanning device, comprising:

an instrument body configured to position an eye of a patient, the instrument body comprising a chamber;

a positioning assembly connected to the instrument body;

a scan head connected to the positioning assembly, the scan head comprising at least one guide track and at least one probe carriage;

at least one optical imaging probe attached to the probe carriage;

wherein the at least one probe carriage moves along the at least one guide track;

wherein one of the at least one guide tracks is an arcuate guide track; and

wherein the at least one probe emits and receives a pulse reflected from one or more components of the patient'"'"'s eye.

2. The scanning device of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical imaging probe is an optical coherence tomography probe.

3. The scanning device of claim 1, wherein the probe carriage further comprises at least one ultrasound imaging probe.

4. The scanning device of claim 1, wherein the instrument body further comprises an eyepiece, wherein:

an interior of the chamber and an interior of the eyepiece are filed with a fluid medium suitable for transmitting acoustic and optical energy; and

the interior of the chamber is separated from the interior of the eyepiece by an acoustically and optically transparent fluid barrier.

5. The scanning device of claim 4, wherein the medium comprises at least one of air, water, distilled water, a saline solution and a sterile saline solution.

6. The scanning device of claim 4, further comprising one or more fixation lights positioned within the interior of the chamber.

7. The scanning device of claim 4, wherein the eyepiece is removably attached to the chamber.

8. The scanning device of claim 1, further comprising at least one optical video camera connected to the positioning assembly, wherein the positioning assembly positions the scan head and the optical video camera with respect to a selected component of the patient'"'"'s eye.

9. The scanning device of claim 1, further comprising one or more eye position tracking sensors operable to continuously measure a position of the patient'"'"'s eye.

10. The scanning device of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical imaging probe is an optical coherence tomography probe comprising at least one of a reference arm, a sample arm, a fiber optic coupler, a focusing lens and one or more collimators.

11. The scanning device of claim 1, wherein the scanning device is controlled by a controller.

12. A method of forming an image of a patient'"'"'s eye, comprising:

(a) positioning a patient to engage a scanning system, the scanning system comprising;

an instrument body configured to engage the patient and position an eye of the patient;

a positioning assembly connected to the instrument body, the positioning assembly comprising a scan head, the scan head comprising at least one guide track, at least one probe carriage, and at least one optical imaging probe;

wherein the scan head is connected to the positioning assembly, wherein one of the at least one guide tracks is an arcuate guide track, and wherein the at least one probe carriage moves along the at least one guide track;

(b) moving, by the microprocessor, the at least one optical imaging probe along the at least one guide track while emitting and receiving optical pulses reflected from one or more components of the patient'"'"'s eye;

(c) recording, by the microprocessor, the received optical pulses on a tangible and non-transitory computer readable medium; and

(d) providing, by the microprocessor, an optical image of a patient'"'"'s eye.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one probe carriage is comprised of at least one optical imaging probe and at least one ultrasound imaging probe, the method further comprising;

(a) moving, by the microprocessor, the at least one ultrasound imaging probe and the at least one optical imaging probe along the at least one guide track while emitting and receiving ultrasound pulses reflected from one or more components of the patient'"'"'s eye and, while at substantially the same time, the at least one optical imaging probe emits and receives an optical pulse reflected from one or more components of the patient'"'"'s eye;

(b) recording, by the microprocessor, the received ultrasound pulses and received optical pulses on a tangible and non-transitory computer readable medium; and

c) providing, by the microprocessor, an ultrasound image and an optical image of a patient'"'"'s eye.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the optical images are produced by an optical coherence tomography probe.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the scanning device is controlled by a controller, and wherein the microprocessor is part of the controller.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the optical coherence tomography probe comprises at least one of a reference arm, a sample arm, a fiber optic coupler, a focusing lens and one or more collimators

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the moving steps are performed sequentially.

18. An imaging device, comprising:

an instrument body configured to position an eye of a patient, the instrument body comprising a chamber;

a linear carriage operable to move along a linear guide track to displace linearly an arcuate guide track;

at least one probe carrier comprising at least one of an ultrasound imaging probe and an optical imaging probe, the at least one probe carrier operable to move along the arcuate guide track to displace arcuately the at least one ultrasound imaging probe and at least one optical imaging probe wherein,

the linear carriage is attached to a positioning assembly, the linear carriage supports the arcuate guide track; and

the arcuate guide track supports the at least one probe carrier;

the ultrasound imaging probe is operable to generate an ultrasound scan image of an ocular feature; and

the optical imaging probe is operable to generate an optical image of the ocular feature.

19. The imaging device of claim 18, wherein the positioning assembly is attached to the chamber and is operable to (a) rotate the at least one probe carrier about a longitudinal axis passing substantially through the center of the positioning assembly, (b) move the at least one probe carrier axially back and forth along the longitudinal axis and (c) move the at least one probe carrier laterally in two orthogonal directions with respect to the longitudinal axis to displace rotationally, axially and laterally the ultrasound imaging probe and the optical imaging probe.

20. The imaging device of claim 18, further comprising:

an eyepiece for receiving the patient'"'"'s eye, wherein the eyepiece is engaged with the chamber, and wherein the chamber and the eyepiece are filled with a medium suitable for transmitting acoustic and optical energy.

21. The imaging device of claim 18, wherein the at least one optical imaging probe is an optical coherence tomography probe comprising at least one of a reference arm, a sample arm, a fiber optic coupler, a focusing lens and one or more collimators.