Optical coherence tomography with new interferometer
First Claim
1. An optical coherence tomography apparatus ("OCT") which examines an object, which OCT apparatus comprises:
- a source of short coherence radiation;
a coupler which;
(a) couples a first portion of the radiation to a reference arm;
(b) couples a second portion of the radiation to a sample arm;
(c) combines radiation transmitted thereto from the reference arm and the sample arm; and
(d) couples the combined radiation to an analyzer;
wherein;
the reference arm transmits the first portion of the radiation to a measurement range variation apparatus and transmits radiation output from the measurement range variation apparatus back to the coupler;
the sample arm transmits the second portion of the radiation to the object and transmits radiation scattered by the object back to the coupler; and
the measurement range variation apparatus comprises;
a transmitter which transmits a portion of the radiation incident thereupon;
a reflector which reflects radiation transmitted by the transmitter, which transmitter reflects a portion of the reflected radiation; and
a scanner coupled to scan the reflector.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention are method and apparatus for simply and economically providing efficient scanning in an optical coherence tomography ("OCT") apparatus. In particular, an embodiment of the present invention is an OCT apparatus which examines an object, which OCT apparatus comprises: (a) a source of short coherence radiation; (b) a coupler which (i) couples a first portion of the radiation to a reference arm; (ii) couples a second portion of the radiation to a sample arm; (iii) combines radiation transmitted thereto from the reference path and the sample path; and (iv) couples the combined radiation to an analyzer; wherein (c) the reference arm transmits the first portion of the radiation to a measurement range variation apparatus and transmits radiation output from the measurement range variation apparatus back to the coupler; (d) the sample path transmits the second portion of the radiation to the object and transmits radiation scattered by the object back to the coupler; and (e) the measurement range variation apparatus comprises: (i) a transmitter which transmits a portion of the radiation incident thereupon; (ii) a reflector which reflects radiation transmitted by the transmitter; and (iii) a scanner coupled to scan the reflector.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An optical coherence tomography apparatus ("OCT") which examines an object, which OCT apparatus comprises:
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a source of short coherence radiation; a coupler which;
(a) couples a first portion of the radiation to a reference arm;
(b) couples a second portion of the radiation to a sample arm;
(c) combines radiation transmitted thereto from the reference arm and the sample arm; and
(d) couples the combined radiation to an analyzer;wherein; the reference arm transmits the first portion of the radiation to a measurement range variation apparatus and transmits radiation output from the measurement range variation apparatus back to the coupler; the sample arm transmits the second portion of the radiation to the object and transmits radiation scattered by the object back to the coupler; and the measurement range variation apparatus comprises; a transmitter which transmits a portion of the radiation incident thereupon; a reflector which reflects radiation transmitted by the transmitter, which transmitter reflects a portion of the reflected radiation; and a scanner coupled to scan the reflector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An optical coherence tomography apparatus ("OCT") which examines an object, which OCT apparatus comprises:
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a source of short coherence radiation; a coupler which;
(a) couples a first portion of the radiation to a reference arm;
(b) couples a second portion of the radiation to a sample arm;
(c) combines radiation transmitted thereto from the reference arm and the sample arm; and
(d) couples the combined radiation to an analyzer;wherein; the reference arm transmits the first portion of the radiation to a measurement range variation apparatus and transmits radiation output from the measurement range variation apparatus back to the coupler; the sample arm transmits the second portion of the radiation to the object and transmits radiation scattered by the object back to the coupler; and the measurement range variation apparatus comprises; a beamsplitter which transmits a portion of the radiation incident thereupon in a direction from the reference arm to a first reflector; second and third reflectors disposed to reflect radiation incident thereupon along a second direction; and a scanner coupled to scan the first reflector. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A measurement range variation apparatus for use in a reference arm of an optical coherence tomography apparatus comprises:
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a transmitter which transmits a portion of radiation incident thereupon; a translator coupled to translate the transmitter; a reflector which reflects radiation transmitted by the transmitter, which transmitter reflects a portion of the reflected radiation; a scanner coupled to scan the reflector; and an encoder which measures the position of the transmitter.
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21. A measurement range variation apparatus for use in a reference arm of an optical coherence tomography apparatus comprises:
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a beamsplitter which transmits a portion of radiation incident thereupon in a direction to a first reflector; second and third reflectors disposed to reflect radiation incident thereupon along a second direction; a scanner coupled to scan the first reflector; a translator coupled to translate the third reflector; and an encoder which measures the position of the third reflector.
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22. A method for examining an object which comprises the steps of:
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generating short coherence radiation; coupling a first portion of the radiation into a reference arm and a second portion of the radiation into a sample arm; in the reference arm, transmitting the first portion of the radiation to a measurement range variation apparatus which comprises a transmitter which transmits a portion of the radiation incident thereupon;
a reflector which reflects radiation transmitted by the transmitter, which transmitter reflects a portion of the reflected radiation; and
a scanner coupled to scan the reflector;in the sample arm, transmitting the second portion of the radiation to the object; combining radiation scattered by the object with radiation obtained from the measurement range variation apparatus; and analyzing the combined radiation. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method for examining an object which comprises the steps of:
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generating short coherence radiation; coupling a first portion of the radiation into a reference arm and a second portion of the radiation into a sample arm; in the reference arm, transmitting the first portion of the radiation to a measurement range variation apparatus which comprises a beamsplitter which transmits a portion of the radiation incident thereupon in a direction from the reference arm to a first reflector;
second and third reflectors disposed to reflect radiation incident thereupon along a second direction; and
a scanner coupled to scan the first reflector;in the sample arm, transmitting the second portion of the radiation to the object; combining radiation scattered by the object with radiation obtained from the measurement range variation apparatus; and analyzing the combined radiation. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification