Optical mapping apparatus with adjustable depth resolution and multiple functionality

• US 6,769,769 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optos Plc (Nikon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: OTI Ophthalmic Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Jackson, David A., Rogers, John A., Podoleanu, Adrian Gh., Cucu, Radu G., Dobre, George M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manuel, George
• Application Number:
  US10/259,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 351/205, 351/216, 351/221, 600/478, 356/477, 356/479, 356/455, 356/456, 356/497, 356/474, 356/932, 356/450, 356/453, 356/491, 356/301, 356/300, 356/72
• US Class Current: 351/221
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/102 for optical coherence tomography [OCT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1025 for confocal scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4795 spatially resolved investigating of object in scattering medium in vivo A61B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multiple channel optical mapping apparatus which can deliver one or simultaneously at least two images of different depth resolutions or sequentially, images with different depth resolutions, or a combination of these images, or a single image with adjustable depth resolution. The multiple channels could be either multiple confocal channel and one or two optical coherence tomography channel, or two optical coherence tomography channels, or two confocal channels. The channels, either OCT or confocal can operate on the same wavelength or on different wavelengths. The apparatus can display both transversal as well as longitudinal images in an object, particularly the eye.

Claims

1. An optical mapping apparatus which comprises:

an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system built around an in-fiber or a bulk interferometer excited by an optical radiation source;

a confocal optical receiver with or without adjustable depth resolution;

an optical splitter, shared by both the interferometer of the OCT and the confocal optical receiver, to direct some of the light returned from an object situated at all object location adjacent to the optical mapping apparatus, wherein, the OCT channel uses the optical-splitter in reflection and the confocal channel in transmission (R-OCT/T-C), or wherein the OCT channel uses the optical-splitter in transmission and the confocal channel uses the optical splitter in reflection (R-OCT/R-C);

transverse scanning means to effect transverse scanning of the object using an optical output from the optical splitter (as an imaging beam), over a line or a predetermined area in the object;

interface optics for transferring an optical beam from the transverse scanning means to the object, and for transferring an optical output beam reflected and scattered from the object back to the optical-splitter through the transverse scanning means, and, from the optical-splitter to the interferometer of the OCT channel and/or the optical confocal optical receiver of the confocal channel in a ratio determined by the optical splitter used and wavelength of the radiation backscattered or emitted by the object;

optionally a fixation lamp for sending light from an external source towards the object;

optionally, an interface optics-splitter shared by the optional fixation lamp beam and the imaging beam, wherein the interface optics-splitter can be used either in reflection or transmission by the imaging beam, while the fixation lamp beam is transmitted or reflected, respectively;

focusing adjustment means placed between the optical-splitter and the transverse scanning means, to simultaneously maintain the input aperture of the interferometer and the aperture of the confocal optical receiver in focus, while focusing the scanned beam on the object;

optionally means to introduce intensity or phase modulation or intensity modulation and phase modulation in the OCT interferometer;

analysing means for demodulating the photodetected signals of the photodetectors in the interferometer and confocal optical receiver;

optionally depth adjustment means for altering the optical path difference in sand OCT interferometer over a predetermined amount for at least one point in the transverse scanning means in either steps or continuously at a pace synchronised with the focusing adjustment means, according to a synchronising procedure;

displaying means for processing and generating an image created by the interferometer and an image created by the confocal optical receiver for the simultaneous display of the said respective images created by the interferometer and the confocal optical receiver; and

optionally timing means which control two main operation regimes, namely (i) en-face imaging when the mapping apparatus acquires transverse images at constant depth in a perpendicular plane to the optic axis and (ii) longitudinal imaging when the mapping apparatus acquires longitudinal images in a parallel plane to the optic axis, where the optic axis is all imaginary axis from the scanning means through the interface optics to the object.

2. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said confocal optical receiver is part of a block CE, which consists of at least one confocal optical receiver with or without adjustable depth resolution and optionally, at least one excitation source to excite fluorescence or Raman radiation from the object, where the aperture of the block CE is optically conjugate to the apertures of the confocal optical receiver(s) and of the excitation source(s);

and wherein;

said optical splitter, shared by both the interferometer of the OCT and the block CE, directs some of the light returned from an object situated at an object location adjacent to the optical mapping apparatus, wherein, the OCT channel uses the optical-splitter in reflection and the block CE in transmission (R-OCT/T-CE), or wherein the OCT channel uses the optical-splitter in transmission and the CE block uses the optical splitter in reflection (R-OCT/R-CE);

said optical-splitter transfers an optical output beam reflected and scattered from the object to the interferometer of the OCT channel and to the block CE in a selected ratio, which ratio is determined by the optical splitter used and the wavelength of the radiation backscattered or emitted by the object; and

said focusing adjustment means is placed between the optical-splitter and the transverse scanning means, to simultaneously maintain the input aperture of the interferometer and the aperture of the CE block in focus, while focusing the scanned beam on the object.

5. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said transverse scanning means comprises a line scanner and a frame scanner.

6. An optical mapping, apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein a line in object corresponds to the line scanner movement and the advance of the line to the completion of the area scanned corresponds to the movement of the frame scanner.

7. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said analysing means is coupled to the transverse scanning means.

8. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the said optical radiation source is a low coherence source, or a source with adjustable coherence length.

9. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the said depth adjustment means and the focusing adjustment means use synchronised PC controlling means, with independent initial position, velocity and acceleration and deceleration, which can be controlled continuously or in a stepwise manner.

10. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claims 1 or claim 2, wherein the focusing, adjustment means transforms a divergent beam from the optical splitter into a collimated beam or a beam with an adjustable curvature to be sent to the transverse scanning means in order to project a sharp spot on the object, and maintains both the OCT and the confocal channel in focus for all adjusting conditions.

11. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claims 1 or claim 2, wherein the focusing, adjustment means transforms a collimated beam from the optical splitter into another collimated beam or a beam with an adjustable curvature to be sent to the transverse scanning means in order to project a sharp spot on the object and maintain in focus both the OCT and the confocal channel, for all adjusting conditions.

12. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the said focusing adjustment means transforms a collimated beam from the said optical splitter into a convergent beam or a beam with an adjustable curvature to be sent to the transverse scanning means in order to project a sharp spot on the object, and maintains in focus both the OCT and the confocal channel, for all adjusting conditions.

13. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the OCT interferometer sends light to the said optical-splitter via a bulk spatial filter or a fibre end.

14. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the interface optics is equipped with at least one lens or mirror and, when the object is the eye, transforms the fan of rays from the said transverse scanning means into a convergent fan of rays on the eye pupil, with the beam entering the eye collimated for a normal eye, or with an adjustable convergence to accommodate different eye focusing power.

15. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the interface optics is equipped with at least one lens or mirror and transforms the fan of rays from the said transverse scanning means into a parallel fan of rays converging on the object, with the beam entering the last lens or mirror before the object, collimated or with an adjustable convergence to accommodate different distances between the last lens or last mirror up to the object.

16. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said interface optics splitter is a hot mirror, or a cold mirror, or a pass-band filter or a notch filter to allow a beam of a fixation lamp to be directed to a desired part of the object with minimum reduction of the intensity of the imaging beam and of the intensity of the radiation backscattered or emitted by the object.

17. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the line scanner and the frame scanner comprise at least two different or similar principle scanners selected from polygon mirrors, galvanometer scanners, acousto-optic modulators, piezo-vibrators, which are placed closed together or spaced apart and interleaved by mirrors or/and lenses, or wherein the line scanner and frame scanner may be one component performing scanning of the object beam in orthogonal directions, and which deliver triggering control signals to control the displaying means.

18. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, where the displaying mean generates two lines in two images, one image for each successive facet when the line scanner is a polygon mirror, or when rising a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line for each sign of variation of the driving waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid or a triangle, or when using a resonant scanner, one line for each sign of variation of the sinusoid waveform applied;

and wherein a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the driving waveform, at every change in the variation of the signal applied to the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and wherein the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the driving waveform applied to the frame scanner where the frame scanner is a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, wherein said image can comprise as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging means to be simultaneously displayed.

19. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, where the displaying mean uses position sensing signals delivered by the said transverse scanning means, wherein, two lines in two side by side images are generated, such that when using a polygon mirror, one line is generated for each successive facet, whilst when using a galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line is generated for each sign of variation of the waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid, a triangle, or a nonlinear symmetric periodic signal, and a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the position sensing signal at every change in the direction of movement of the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and where the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the position sensing signal of the frame scanner, a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator and where the two side by side images can consists of as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging mean to be simultaneously displayed.

20. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, where the displaying mean uses position sensing signals delivered by said transverse scanning means, wherein, the lateral pixel position in the line in the image generated is determined by the amplitude of the position of the line scanner and wherein the vertical position of the line in the image generated is determined by the amplitude of the position sensing signal of the frame scanner, which image can consists of as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging mean to be simultaneously displayed.

21. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claim 1, 2 or 4, which operates in the longitudinal imaging regime, and wherein the focusing adjustment means operates synchronously and at a rate determined by the alteration of the optical path in the OCT interferometer.

22. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the optical splitter consists of a beam-splitter with a gradual or step deposition which results in a reflectivity variation along a variation axis which could be oriented vertically, horizontally or diagonally, and which is mounted on a translatable mount which can be manually or automatically shifted along the variation axis of the reflectivity to adjust the amount of light diverted to the confocal optical receiver.

23. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the optical-splitter is an electro-optic device or a magneto-optic device or a liquid crystal device with reflectivity and transmission under the control of an electric driver or magnetic driver or both.

24. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the optical splitter consists of a beam-splitter with a gradual or step deposition which results in a reflectivity and transmission variation along a variation axis which could be oriented vertically, horizontally or diagonally, and which is mounted on a translatable mount which can be manually or automatically shifted continuously or in steps along the variation axis of the reflectivity to adjust the amount of light diverted to the confocal optical receiver or said block CE and wherein the optical power of the said optical source and of the said excitation sources in the block CE are adjusted synchronously with the reflectivity-transmission change of the optical-splitter in such a way to maintain the same optical power sent to the object.

25. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the optical splitter is an electro-optic device or a magneto-optic device or a liquid crystal device with reflectivity and transmission under the control of an electric driver or magnetic driver, or both, and wherein the optical power of the said optical source or of the said excitation sources in the block CE are adjusted synchronously with the reflectivity-transmission change of the optical-splitter in such a way to maintain the same optical power sent to the object.

26. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical radiation source is made up of two optical sources of different wavelengths having at least one source of low coherence, and wherein the reflectivity and transmission of the optical-splitter is similar for both wavelengths, but wherein the photodetector in the confocal channel is disproportionately more sensitive to the other wavelength than to the wavelength of the low coherence source used in the OCT channel.

27. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical radiation source is made up of two optical sources of different wavelengths, having at least one source of low coherence, and wherein the optical-splitter consists of a beam-splitter with a gradual or step deposition which results in a reflectivity variation along a variation axis which could be oriented vertically, horizontally or diagonally, and which is attached to a translatable mount which can be manually or automatically shifted continuously, or in steps, along the variation axis of the reflectivity to adjust the amount of light diverted to the confocal optical receiver, where in any position of the optical splitter, its reflectivity and transmission are similar for both wavelengths, and wherein the photodetector in the confocal channel is disproportionately more sensitive to the other wavelength than that of the lower coherence source used in the OCT channel.

28. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical radiation source is made up of two optical sources of different wavelengths, at least one source having a lower coherence, and wherein the optical splitter consists of an electro-optic device or a magneto-optic device or a liquid crystal device with reflectivity and transmission under the control of an electric driver or magnetic driver or both, and wherein reflectivity and transmission, which are similar for both wavelengths, is used to adjust the amount of light diverted to the confocal optical receiver, and wherein the photodetector in the confocal channel is disproportionately more sensitive to the other wavelength than to that of the lower coherence source used in the OCT channel.

29. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical radiation source is made up of two optical sources of different wavelengths, at least one source of low coherence, wherein the optical splitter consists of a beam-splitter with a gradual or step deposition which results in reflectivity and transmission similar for both wavelengths but with variation along a variation axis of the reflectivity and transmission which could be oriented vertically, horizontally or diagonally and which optical splitter is mounted on a translatable mount which can be manually or automatically shifted continuously or in steps along the variation axis to adjust the amount of light diverted to the confocal optical receiver, and wherein the photodetector in the confocal channel is disproportionately more sensitive to the other wavelength than that of the low coherence source used in the OCT channel, and wherein the optical power of the said optical sources is adjusted synchronously with the reflectivity-transmission change of the optical-splitter in such a way to maintain the same optical power sent to the object.

30. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical radiation source is made up of two optical sources of different wavelengths, at least one source of a lower coherence, wherein the optical splitter consists of an electro-optic device or a magneto-optic device or a liquid crystal device, with reflectivity and transmission under the control of an electric driver or magnetic driver or both, and wherein reflectivity and transmission are similar for both wavelengths and are used to adjust the amount of light diverted to the confocal optical receiver, and wherein the photodetector in the confocal channel is disproportionately more sensitive to the other wavelength than that of the lower coherence source used in the OCT channel, and wherein the optical power of the said optical source is adjusted synchronously with the reflectivity-transmission change of the optical-splitter in such a way to maintain the same optical power sent to the object.

31. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said optical source is made up of two optical sources of different wavelengths, a first source of lower coherence destined for the OCT channel and a second source destined to the confocal channel, and when the configuration R-OCT/T-C is used, the optical splitter is a pass-band filter centered on the wavelength of the second source and which splitter has a relatively large reflectivity for the wavelength of the first source and when the configuration T-OCT/R-C is used, the optical-splitter is a notch filter centred on the wavelength of the second source with a large transmission for the wavelength of the first source.

32. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said optical radiation source is made up of two optical sources of different wavelengths, a first source of lower coherence destined for the OCT channel and a second source capable of generating fluorescence or Raman emission in the object under investigation, and wherein when the configuration R-OCT/T-C is used, the optical splitter is a pass-band filter centered on the wavelength of the fluorescence or Raman emission and which has a relatively large reflectivity for the wavelength of the first source, and when the configuration T-OCT/R-C is used, the optical-splitter is a notch filter centred on the wavelength of the fluorescence or Raman emission with a large transmission for the wavelength of the first source.

33. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said optical radiation source is made up of two optical sources of different wavelengths, a first source of lower coherence destined for the OCT channel and a second source destined to the confocal channel, wherein the optical splitter consists of a spectral selective beam-splitter selected from a hot mirror, a cold mirror or an edge filter, with the wavelengths of the two sources being on either side of the cut-off wavelength of the spectral reflectivity of the spectral beam-splitter.

34. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said optical radiation source is made up of two optical sources of different wavelengths, a first source of lower coherence destined for the OCT channel and a second source capable of generating fluorescence or Raman emission in the object under investigation and wherein the optical splitter consists of a spectral selective beam-splitter selected from a hot mirror, a cold mirror or an edge filter, with the spectral edge being between the wavelength of the first source and the wavelength of the fluorescence or Raman emission.

35. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said optical radiation source is made up of two optical sources of different wavelengths, a first source of lower coherence and a second source capable of generating fluorescence or Raman emission in the object under investigation and wherein the optical-splitter comprises two parts, namely:

(i) a conventional large band beam-splitter with a reflectivity and transmission similar for both wavelengths used and (ii) a second part which for the configuration R-OCT/T-C is a narrow band spectrally selective element, tuned on the auto-fluorescence or Raman emission of the object, resulting from exposure to the second source, having a relatively high reflectivity for both wavelengths of the first and the second source and which for the configuration T-OCT/R-C is a notch filter centred on the wavelength of the second source with a large transmission for the wavelength of the first source, with the optical-splitter being mounted on a translatable mount which can be manually or automatically shifted along the direction of the variable reflectivity and transmission to position one of the two parts of the optical-splitter into the imaging beam, and wherein the optical power of the said optical sources may be adjusted synchronously with the position of the optical-splitter in such a way to maintain the same optical power sent to the object, or to avoid directing power towards the object which exceeds a pre-set safety limit, and when the optical splitter is positioned on the large band beam-splitter, the second source may be switched off to allow (i) operation of the mapping apparatus with OCT and confocal channel on the wavelength of the first source and (ii) when switched on, the mapping apparatus operates with OCT and confocal channel on different wavelengths, with the OCT channel on the wavelength of the first source and the confocal channel on the wavelength of the second source and when the optical splitter is positioned on the said second part;

(iii) the OCT channel operates on the wavelength of the first source and the confocal channel on the wavelength of the second source or (iv) the OCT channel operates on the wavelength of the first source and the confocal channel operates on the fluorescence or Raman radiation which emanates from the object.

36. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said optical radiation source is made up of two optical sources of different wavelengths, a first source of lower coherence and a second source capable of generating fluorescence or Raman emission in the object under investigation and wherein the optical-splitter is made out of two parts, (i) one part a conventional large band beam-splitter with a reflectivity and transmission similar for both of the wavelengths used and (ii) a second part which is a hot mirror, or cold mirror, or edge filter with the edge between the wavelength of the first source and of the fluorescence or Raman band emitted from the object under the excitation of the second source, and which is mounted on a translatable mount which can be manually or automatically shifted along the direction of the variable reflectivity and transmission in order to position one of the two parts of the optical-splitter into the imaging beam, and wherein the optical power of the said optical sources may be adjusted synchronously with the position of the optical-splitter in such a way to maintain the same optical power sent to the object, or to avoid directing power towards the object in an amount which exceeds a pre-set safety limit, and when the optical splitter is positioned on the large band beam-splitter, the second source may be switched off to allow (i) operation of the mapping apparatus with OCT and confocal channel on the wavelength of the first source and (ii) when switched on, the mapping apparatus operates with OCT and confocal channel on different wavelengths, with the OCT channel on the wavelength of the first source and the confocal channel on the wavelength of the second source, and when the optical splitter is positioned on the said second part:

(iii) the OCT channel operates on the wavelength of the first source and the confocal channel on the wavelength of the second source, or (iv) the OCT channel operates on the wavelength of the first source and the confocal channel operates on the wavelength of the fluorescence or Raman radiation which emanates from the object.

37. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical radiation source is a low coherence source and is capable of generating fluorescence or Raman emission in the object under investigation, and wherein when the configuration R-OCT/T-C is used, the optical-splitter is a narrow band spectrally selective element, tuned on the auto-fluorescence or Raman radiation generated and which exhibits a relatively large reflectivity for the wavelength of the optical source used, and wherein when the configuration T-OCT/R-C is used, the optical-splitter is a notch filter tuned on the auto-fluorescence or Raman radiation generated and which exhibits a relatively large, such as greater than 80%, transmission for the wavelength of the optical source used.

38. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said optical radiation source is of low coherence and capable of generating fluorescence or Raman emission in the object under investigation and wherein the optical-splitter is a spectrally selective element selected from a cold mirror, a hot mirror or an edge filter having a cut-off wavelength between the central wavelength of the auto-fluorescence or Raman radiation emitted and the wavelength of the low coherence source.

39. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said optical radiation source is of low coherence at wavelength λ

_OCT and when an external excitation source of central wavelength λ

_exc is applied via the interface optics splitter onto the object to excite fluorescence or Raman radiation of wavelength λ

_C, and when λ

_exc>

λ

_C>

λ

_OCT and wherein when the configuration R-OCT/T-C is used, the optical-splitter is a band-pass filter tuned on λ

_C and at the same time, the band-pass filter exhibits a relatively large reflectivity for the wavelength λ

_OCT, and wherein when the configuration T-OCT/R-C is used, the optical-splitter is a notch filter tuned on the wavelength of the auto-fluorescence or Raman radiation generated and which exhibits a relatively large transmission for the wavelength of the optical source used, and the interface optics splitter is a hot mirror or edge filter of the hot mirror type with the cut-off between λ

_exc and λ

_C when employed in reflection by the imaging beam, and the interface optics splitter is a cold mirror or edge filter of the cold mirror type with the cut-off between λ

_exc and λ

_C when employed in transmission by the imaging beam.

40. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said optical radiation source is of low coherence at wavelength λ

_OCT and when an external excitation source of central wavelength λ

_exc is applied via the interface optics splitter onto the object to excite fluorescence or Raman radiation of wavelength λ

_C, and when λ

_exc>

λ

_C>

λ

_OCT and when the configuration R-OCT/T-C is used, the optical-splitter is a hot mirror or edge filter of the hot mirror type, and when the configuration T-OCT/R-C is used, the optical-splitter is a cold mirror or edge filter of the cold mirror type with a cut-off wavelength of between λ

_C and λ

_OCT and the interface optics splitter is a hot mirror or edge filter of the hot mirror type with a cut-off wavelength between λ

_exc and λ

_C when employed in reflection by the imaging beam, and the interface optics splitter is a cold mirror or edge filter of the cold mirror type with a cut-off wavelength between λ

_exc and λ

_C when employed in transmission by the imaging beam.

41. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said optical radiation source is of low coherence at wavelength λ

_OCT and when an external excitation source of central wavelength λ

_exc is applied via the interface optics splitter onto the object to excite fluorescence or Raman radiation of wavelength λ

_C, and when λ

_OCT>

λ

_exc>

λ

_C, and the configuration R-OCT/T-C is used, the optical-splitter is a cold mirror or edge filter of the cold mirror type with a cut-off wavelength between λ

_OCT and λ

_exc, and when the configuration T-OCT/R-C is used, the optical-splitter is a hot mirror or an edge filter of the hot mirror type, and the interface optics splitter, when employed by the imaging beam in reflection, is a band-pass filter tuned on the excitation wavelength, λ

_exc which at the same time, exhibits a relatively large reflectivity for the wavelengths λ

_OCT and λ

_C and when employed in transmission by the imaging beam, is a notch filter on the excitation wavelength, λ

_exc which at the same time, exhibits a relatively large transmission for the wavelengths λ

_OCT and λ

_C.

42. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said optical radiation source is of low coherence at wavelength λ

_OCT and when an external excitation source of central wavelength λ

_exc is applied via the interface optics splitter onto the object to excite fluorescence or Raman radiation of wavelength λ

_C, and when λ

_C>

λ

_exc>

λ

_OCT and the configuration R-OCT/T-C is used, the optical-splitter is a hot mirror or edge filter of the hot mirror type with a cut-off wavelength between λ

_C and λ

_exc, and when the configuration T-OCT/R-C is used, the optical-splitter is a cold mirror or all edge filter of the cold mirror type, and wherein the interface optics splitter, when employed by the imaging beam in reflection, is a narrow band filter tuned on the excitation wavelengths λ

_exc which at the same time, exhibits a relatively large reflectivity for the wavelengths λ

_OCT and λ

_C, and when employed in transmission by the imaging beam, is a notch filter on the excitation wavelength, λ

_exc which at the same time, exhibits a relatively large transmission for the wavelengths λ

_OCT and λ

_C.

43. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said optical radiation source is a low coherence optical source at wavelength λ

_OCT and when an external excitation source of central wavelength λ

_exc is applied via the interface optics splitter onto the object to excite fluorescence or Raman radiation of wavelength λ

_C, and when λ

_C>

λ

_exc>

λ

_OCT and the configuration R-OCT/T-C is used, the optical-splitter is a spectrally selective element such as a band-pass filter tuned on λ

_C and at the same time, the pass-band filter exhibits a relatively large reflectivity for the wavelength λ

_OCT, and when the configuration T-OCT/R-C is used, the optical-splitter is a notch filter on the auto-fluorescence or Raman radiation generated by the object and which filter exhibits a relatively large transmission for the wavelength of the optical source used and wherein the interface optics splitter, when employed by the imaging beam in reflection, is a narrow band filter tuned on the excitation wavelength, λ

_exc which at the same time, exhibits a relatively large reflectivity for the wavelengths λ

_OCT and λ

_C, and when employed in transmission by the imaging beam, is a notch filter on the excitation wavelength, λ

_exc which at the same time, exhibits a relatively large transmission for the wavelengths λ

_OCT and λ

_C.

44. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optical radiation source is of low coherence at wavelength λ

_OCT and when an external excitation source of central wavelength λ

_exc is applied via the interface optics splitter onto the object to excite fluorescence or Raman radiation of wavelength λ

_C, and when λ

_OCT>

λ

_C>

λ

_exc and the configuration R-OCT/T-C is used, the optical-splitter is a cold mirror or edge filter of the cold mirror type, and when the configuration T-OCT/R-C is used, the optical-splitter is a hot mirror or an edge filter of the hot mirror type with a cut-off wavelength between λ

_OCT and λ

_C, and wherein the interface optics splitter, when employed by the imaging beam in reflection, is a cold mirror or edge filter of the cold mirror type with a cut-off wavelength between λ

_exc and λ

_C, and when employed in transmission by the imaging beam, is a hot mirror or edge filter of the hot mirror type with a cut-off wavelength between λ

_exc and λ

_C.

45. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the optical radiation source is a low coherence source which is capable of generating fluorescence or Raman emission in the object under investigation, and wherein when the configuration R-OCT/T-CE is used, the optical-splitter is a narrow band spectrally selective element, tuned on the auto-fluorescence or Raman radiation generated and which exhibits a relatively large reflectivity for the wavelength of the optical source used, and wherein when the configuration T-OCT/R-CE is used, the optical-splitter is a notch filter tuned on the auto-fluorescence or Raman radiation generated and which exhibits a relatively large transmission for the wavelength of the optical radiation source used.

46. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said optical radiation source is of low coherence and capable of generating fluorescence or Raman emission in the object under investigation and wherein the optical-splitter may be a large band beam-splitter or a spectrally selective element selected from a cold mirror, a hot mirror or an edge filter having a cut-off wavelength between the central wavelength of the auto-fluorescence or Raman radiation emitted and the wavelength of the low coherence source.

47. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said optical radiation source is of low coherence at wavelength λ

_OCT and wherein when an external excitation source of central wavelength λ

_exc is applied via the interface optics splitter onto the object to excite fluorescence or Raman radiation of wavelength λ

_C, and when λ

_exc>

λ

_C>

λ

_OCT and wherein when the configuration R-OCT/T-CE is used, the optical-splitter is a band-pass filter tuned on λ

_C and at the same time, the band-pass filter exhibits a relatively large reflectivity for the wavelength λ

_OCT, and wherein when the configuration T-OCT/R-CE is used, the optical-splitter is a notch filter tuned on the wavelength of the auto-fluorescence or Raman radiation generated and which exhibits a relatively large transmission for the wavelength of the optical source used, and the interface optics splitter is a hot mirror or edge filter of the hot mirror type with the cut-off between λ

_exc and λ

_C when employed in reflection by the imaging beam, and the interface optics splitter is a cold mirror or edge filter of the cold mirror type with the cut-off between λ

_exc and λ

_C when employed in transmission by the imaging beam.

48. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said optical radiation source is a low coherence optical source at wavelength λ

_OCT and wherein when an external excitation source of central wavelength λ

_exc is applied via the interface optics splitter onto the object to excite fluorescence or Raman radiation of wavelength λ

_C, and when λ

_C>

λ

_exc>

λ

_OCT and the configuration R-OCT/T-CE is used, the optical-splitter is a spectrally selective element such as a band-pass filter tuned on λ

_C and at the same time, the pass-band filter exhibits a relatively large reflectivity for the wavelength λ

_OCT, and when the configuration T-OCT/R-CE is used, the optical-splitter is a notch filter on the auto-fluorescence or Raman radiation generated by the object and which filter exhibits a relatively large transmission for the wavelength of the optical source used and wherein the interface optics splitter, when employed by the imaging beam in reflection, is a narrow band filter tuned on the excitation wavelength λ

_exc which at the same time, exhibits a relatively large reflectivity for the wavelengths λ

_OCT and λ

_C, and when employed in transmission by the imaging beam, is a notch filter on the excitation wavelength, λ

_exc which at the same time, exhibits a relatively large transmission for the wavelengths λ

_OCT and λ

_C.

49. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said optical radiation source is of low coherence at wavelength λ

_OCT and wherein when an external excitation source of central wavelength λ

_exc is applied via the interface optics splitter onto the object to excite fluorescence or Raman radiation of wavelength λ

_C, and when λ

_exc>

λ

_C>

λ

_OCT and when the configuration R-OCT/T-CE is used, the optical-splitter is a hot mirror or edge filter of the hot mirror type, and when the configuration T-OCT/R-CE is used, the optical-splitter is a cold mirror or edge filter of the cold mirror type with a cut-off wavelength of between λ

_C and λ

_OCT and the interface optics splitter is a hot mirror or edge filter of the hot mirror type with a cut-off wavelength between λ

_exc and λ

_C when employed in reflection by the imaging beam, and the interface optics splitter is a cold mirror or edge filter of the cold mirror type with a cut-off wavelength between λ

_exc and λ

_C when employed in transmission by the imaging beam.

50. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said optical radiation source is of low coherence at wavelength λ

_OCT and wherein when an external excitation source of central wavelength λ

_exc is applied via the interface optics splitter onto the object to excite fluorescence or Raman radiation of wavelength λ

_C, and when λ

_OCT>

λ

_exc>

λ

_C, and the configuration R-OCT/T-CE is used, the optical-splitter is a cold mirror or edge filter of the cold mirror type with a cut-off wavelength between λ

_OCT and λ

_exc, and when the configuration T-OCT/R-CE is used, the optical-splitter is a hot mirror or an edge filter of the hot mirror type, and the interface optics splitter, when employed by the imaging beam in reflection, is a band-pass filter tuned on the excitation wavelength, λ

_exc which at the same time, exhibits a relatively large reflectivity for the wavelengths λ

_OCT and λ

_C and when employed in transmission by the imaging beam, is a notch filter on the excitation wavelength, λ

_exc which at the same time, exhibits a relatively large transmission for the wavelengths λ

_OCT and λ

_C.

51. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said optical radiation source is of low coherence at wavelength λ

_OCT and wherein when an external excitation source of central wavelength λ

_exc is applied via the interface optics splitter onto the object to excite fluorescence or Raman radiation of wavelength λ

_C, and when λ

_C>

λ

_excλ

_OCT and the configuration R-OCT/F-CE is used, the optical-splitter is a hot mirror or edge filter of the hot mirror type with a cut-off wavelength between λ

_C and λ

_exc, and when the configuration T-OCT/R-CE is used, the optical-splitter is a cold minor or an edge filter of the cold mirror type, and wherein the interface optics splitter, when employed by the imaging beam in reflection, is a narrow band filter tuned on the excitation wavelength, λ

_exc which at the same time, exhibits a relatively large reflectivity for the wavelengths λ

_OCT and λ

_C, and when employed in transmission by the imaging beam, is a notch filter on the excitation wavelength, λ

_exc which at the same time, exhibits a relatively large transmission for the wavelengths λ

_OCT and λ

_C.

52. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said optical radiation source is of low coherence at wavelength λ

_OCT and wherein when an external excitation source of central wavelength λ

_exc is applied via the interface optics splitter onto the object to excite fluorescence or Raman radiation of wavelength λ

_C, and when λ

_OCT>

λ

_C>

λ

_exc and the configuration R-OCT/T-CE is used, the optical-splitter is a cold mirror or edge filter of the cold mirror type, and when the configuration T-OCT/R-CE is used, the optical-splitter is a hot mirror or an edge filter of the hot mirror type with a cut-off wavelength between λ

_OCT and λ

_C, and wherein the interface optics splitter, when employed by the imaging beam in reflection, is a cold mirror or edge filter of the cold mirror type with a cut-off wavelength between λ

_exc and λ

_C, and when employed in transmission by the imaging beam, is a hot mirror or edge filter of the hot mirror type with a cut-off wavelength between λ

_exc and λ

_C.

53. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said optical radiation source may consist of two optical sources of either (i) essentially the same wavelength but of different coherence length or (ii) of different wavelength with at least one source of low coherence which are sequentially switched off and on, with one source on and the other off, wherein the displaying mean generates two lines in two images, one image for each successive facet when the line scanner is a polygon mirror, or when using a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line for each sign of variation of the driving waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid or a triangle, or when using a resonant scanner, one line for each sign of variation of the sinusoid waveform applied;

and wherein a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the driving waveform, at every change in the variation of the signal applied to the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and wherein the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the driving waveform applied to the frame scanner where the frame scanner is a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, wherein said image can comprise as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging means to be simultaneously displayed;

or wherein the displaying mean uses position sensing signals delivered by the said transverse scanning means, wherein, two lines in two side by side images are generated, such that when using a polygon mirror, one line is generated for each successive facet, whilst when using a galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line is generated for each sign of variation of the waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid, a triangle, or a nonlinear symmetric periodic signal, and a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the position sensing signal at every change in the direction of movement of the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and where the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the position sensing signal of the frame scanner, a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator and where the two side by side images can consists of as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging mean to be simultaneously displayed, in order to display side by side pairs of OCT and confocal images, with a pair of such images corresponding to each of the two optical sources.

54. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said optical radiation source may consist of two optical sources of either (i) essentially the same wavelength but of different coherence length or (ii) of different wavelength with at least one source of low coherence which are sequentially switched off and on, with one source on and the other off, wherein the displaying mean generates two lines in two images, one image for each successive facet when the line scanner is a polygon mirror, or when using a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line for each sign of variation of the driving waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid or a triangle, or when using a resonant scanner, one line for each sign of variation of the sinusoid waveform applied;

and wherein a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the driving waveform, at every change in the variation of the signal applied to the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and wherein the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the driving waveform applied to the frame scanner where the frame scanner is a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, wherein said image can comprise as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging means to be simultaneously displayed;

or wherein the displaying mean uses position sensing signals delivered by the said transverse scanning means, wherein, two lines in two side by side images are generated, such that when using a polygon mirror, one line is generated for each successive facet, whilst when using a galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line is generated for each sign of variation of the waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid, a triangle, or a nonlinear symmetric periodic signal, and a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the position sensing signal at every change in the direction of movement of the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and where the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the position sensing signal of the frame scanner, a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator and where the two side by side images can consists of as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging mean to be simultaneously displayed, in order to display side by side pairs of OCT and confocal images, with a pair of such images corresponding to each of the two optical sources and additionally, other images may be simultaneously displayed, delivered by one of the confocal optical receiver in the CE block tuned on the fluorescence or Raman radiation emitted from the object due to the corresponding internal excitation source in the CE block or/and tuned on the fluorescence or Raman radiation emitted from the object due to one or both of the sources which make the radiation source.

55. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 39 to 44, wherein the said optical radiation source may be switched off and on, and wherein the displaying mean generates two lines in two images, one image for each successive facet when the line scanner is a polygon mirror, or when using a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line for each sign of variation of the driving waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid or a triangle, or when using a resonant scanner, one line for each sign of variation of the sinusoid waveform applied;

and wherein a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the driving waveform, at every change in the variation of the signal applied to the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and wherein the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the driving waveform applied to the frame scanner where the frame scanner is a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, wherein said image can comprise as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging means to be simultaneously displayed;

or wherein the displaying mean uses position sensing signals delivered by the said transverse scanning means, wherein, two lines in two side by side images are generated, such that when using a polygon mirror, one line is generated for each successive facet, whilst when using a galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line is generated for each sign of variation of the waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid, a triangle, or a nonlinear symmetric periodic signal, and a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the position sensing signal at every change in the direction of movement of the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and where the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the position sensing signal of the flame scanner, a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator and where the two side by side images can consists of as many flames as input signals are applied to the display imaging mean to be simultaneously displayed, in order to display side by side pairs of OCT and confocal images delivered by the confocal optical receiver tuned on the fluorescence or Raman emanated from the object due to the external source excitation, with a pair of such images corresponding to the time interval when the optical radiation source is off, and the other pair corresponding, to the time interval when the optical radiation source is on.

56. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 47 to 52;

wherein the said radiation source may be switched off and on, and wherein the displaying mean generates two lines in two images, one image for each successive facet when the line scanner is a polygon mirror, or when using a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line for each sign of variation of the driving waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid or a triangle, or when using a resonant scanner, one line for each sign of variation of the sinusoid waveform applied; and

wherein a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the driving waveform, at every change in the variation of the signal applied to the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and wherein the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the driving waveform applied to the frame scanner where the frame scanner is a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, wherein said image can comprise as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging means to be simultaneously displayed;

or wherein the displaying mean uses position sensing signals delivered by the said transverse scanning means, wherein, two lines in two side by side images are generated, such that when using a polygon mirror, one line is generated for each successive facet, whilst when using a galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line is generated for each sign of variation of the waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid, a triangle, or a nonlinear symmetric periodic signal, and a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the position sensing signal at every change in the direction of movement of the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and where the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the position sensing signal of the frame scanner, a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator and where the two side by side images can consists of as many frames is input signals are applied to the display imaging mean to be simultaneously displayed, in order to display side by side pairs of OCT and confocal images delivered by the confocal optical receiver tuned on the fluorescence or Raman emanated from the object due to the external excitation source, with a pair of such images corresponding to the time interval when the source is off, and the other pair corresponding to the time interval when the source is on, each such pair which may be simultaneously displayed with an additional confocal image generated by the confocal optical receiver in the CE block tuned on the wavelength of the low coherence source.

57. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 47 to 52, wherein the said radiation source may be switched off, and wherein the displaying mean generates two lines in two images, one image for each successive facet when the line scanner is a polygon mirror, or when using a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line for each sign of variation of the driving waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid or a triangle, or when using a resonant scanner, one line for each sign of variation of the sinusoid waveform applied;

and wherein a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the driving waveform, at every change in the variation of the signal applied to the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet wherein using a polygon mirror, and wherein the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the driving waveform applied to the frame scanner where the frame scanner is a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, wherein said image can comprise as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging means to be simultaneously displayed;

or wherein the displaying mean uses position sensing signals delivered by the said transverse scanning means, wherein, two lines in two side by side images are generated, such that when using a polygon mirror, one line is generated for each successive facet, whilst when using a galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line is generated for each sign of variation of the waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid, a triangle, or a nonlinear symmetric periodic signal, and a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the position sensing signal at every change in the direction of movement of the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and where the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the position sensing signal of the frame scanner, a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator and where the two side by side images can consists of as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging mean to be simultaneously displayed, in order to display side by side pairs of OCT and confocal images delivered by the confocal optical receiver tuned on the fluorescence or Raman emanated from the object due to the external excitation source, with a pair of such images corresponding to the time interval when the source is off, and the other pair corresponding to the time interval when the source is on, each such pair which may be simultaneously displayed with an additional confocal image or images generated by the confocal optical receiver(s) in the CE block tuned on the band of the (i) low coherence source or/and on the fluorescence or Raman radiation due to respective internal excitation source(s) in the CE block.

58. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 39 to 42, wherein the said optical radiation source is switched off and on sequentially with the said external excitation source, with one source on and the other off, and wherein the displaying mean generates two lines in two images, one image for each successive facet when the line scanner is a polygon mirror, or when using a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line for each sign of variation of the driving waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid or a triangle, or when using a resonant scanner, one line for each sign of variation of the sinusoid waveform applied;

and wherein a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the driving waveform, at every change in the variation of the signal applied to the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and wherein the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the driving waveform applied to the frame scanner where the frame scanner is a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, wherein said image can comprise as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging means to be simultaneously displayed;

or wherein the displaying mean uses position sensing signals delivered by the said transverse scanning means, wherein, two lines in two side by side images are generated, such that when using a polygon mirror, one line is generated for each successive facet, whilst when using a galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line is generated for each sign of variation of the waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid, a triangle, or a nonlinear symmetric periodic signal, and a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the position sensing signal at every change in the direction of movement of the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and where the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the position sensing signal of the frame scanner, a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator and where the two side by side images can consists of as many flames as input signals are applied to the display imaging mean to be simultaneously displayed, in order to display side by side pairs of OCT and confocal images delivered by the confocal optical receiver tuned on the fluorescence or Raman emanated from the object due to the external source excitation, with a pair of such images corresponding to the time interval when the optical radiation source is off, and the other pair corresponding to the time interval when the optical radiation source is on.

59. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 47 to 52, wherein the said and optical radiation source is switched off and on sequentially with the said external excitation source, with one source on and the other off, and wherein the displaying mean generates two lines in two images, one image for each successive facet when the line scanner is a polygon mirror, or when using a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line for each sign of variation of the driving waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid or a triangle, or when using a resonant scanner, one line for each sign of variation of the sinusoid waveform applied;

and wherein a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the driving waveform, at every change in the variation of the signal applied to the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and wherein the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the driving waveform applied to the frame scanner where the frame scanner is a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, wherein said image can comprise as many flames as input signals are applied to the display imaging means to be simultaneously displayed;

or wherein the displaying mean uses position sensing signals delivered by the said transverse scanning means, wherein, two lines in two side by side images are generated, such that when using a polygon mirror, one line is generated for each successive facet, whilst when using a galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line is generated for each sign of variation of the waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid, a triangle, or a nonlinear symmetric periodic signal, and a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the position sensing signal at every change in the direction of movement of the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and where the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the position sensing signal of the frame scanner, a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator and where the two side by side images can consists of as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging mean to be simultaneously displayed, in order to display side by side pairs of OCT and confocal images delivered by the confocal optical receiver tuned on the fluorescence or Raman emanated from the object due to the external excitation source, with a pair of such images corresponding to the time interval when the optical radiation source is off, and the other pair corresponding to the time interval when the optical radiation source is on, each such pair which may be simultaneously displayed with an additional confocal image generated by the confocal optical receiver in the CE block tuned on the wavelength of the low coherence source.

60. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 47 to 52, wherein the said optical radiation source is switched off and on sequentially with the said external excitation source, with one source on and the other off, and wherein the displaying mean generates two lines in two images, one image for each successive facet when the line scanner is a polygon mirror, or when using a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line for each sign of variation of the driving waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid or a triangle, or when using a resonant scanner, one line for each sign of variation of the sinusoid waveform applied;

and wherein a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the driving waveform, at every change in the variation of the signal applied to the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and wherein the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the driving waveform-applied to the frame scanner where the frame scanner is a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, wherein said image can comprise as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging means to be simultaneously displayed;

or wherein the displaying mean uses position sensing signals delivered by the said transverse scanning means, wherein, two lines in two side by side images are generated, such that when using a polygon mirror, one line is generated for each successive facet, whilst when using a galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line is generated for each sign of variation of the waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid, a triangle, or a nonlinear symmetric periodic signal, and a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the position sensing signal at every change in the direction of movement of the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and where the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the position sensing signal of the frame scanner, a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator and where the two side by side images can consists of as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging mean to be simultaneously displayed, in order to display side by side pairs of OCT and confocal images delivered by the confocal optical receiver tuned on the fluorescence or Raman emanated from the object due to the external excitation source, with a pair of such images corresponding to the time interval when the optical radiation source is off, and the other pair corresponding to the time interval when the optical radiation source is on, each such pair which may be simultaneously displayed with an additional confocal image or images generated by the confocal optical receiver(s) in the CE block tuned on the band of the (i) low coherence source or/and on the fluorescence or Raman radiation due to respective internal excitation source(s) in the CE block.

61. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an external excitation source of central wavelength λ

_exc is applied via the interface optics splitter onto the object to excite fluorescence or Raman radiation of wavelength λ

_C in the object and wherein the optical splitter consists of two to four different parts selected from;

(i) a large band beam-splitter, (ii) a gradual deposited large band beam-splitter, (iii) a band-pass or a notch filter and (iv) an edge filter deposition, or a cold or hot mirror, wherein the optical splitter could be manually positioned or is mounted on a servo controlled mount which can be controllably positioned to select one of the parts above of the optical splitter to intersect the said imaging beam, and while doing so the low coherence optical source and the excitation source may be switched on or off to give further versatility to the optical mapping apparatus, and the display mean operates by generating two lines in two images, one image for each successive facet when the line scanner is a polygon mirror, or when using a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line for each sign of variation of the driving waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid or a triangle, or when using a resonant scanner, one line for each sign of variation of the sinusoid waveform applied; and

wherein a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the driving waveform, at every change in the variation of the signal applied to the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and wherein the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the driving waveform applied to the frame scanner where the frame scanner is a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, wherein said image can comprise as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging means to be simultaneously displayed;

or wherein the displaying mean uses position sensing signals delivered by the said transverse scanning means, wherein, two lines in two side by side images are generated, such that when using a polygon mirror, one line is generated from each successive facet, whilst when using a galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line is generated for each sign of variation of the waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid, a triangle, or a nonlinear symmetric periodic signal, and a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the position sensing signal at every change in the direction of movement of the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and where the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the position sensing signal of the frame scanner, a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator and where the two side by side images can consists of as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging mean to be simultaneously displayed, in order to display pairs of OCT and confocal images delivered by the confocal optical receiver tuned on the fluorescence or Raman emanated from the object due to the external source excitation, and when one or both sources are switched on and off, to display pair of such images corresponding to the time interval when the switched source is off and the other pair corresponding to the time interval when the switched source is on, and wherein the switching is controlled by the line trigger, and wherein said regimes comprise;

(i) two channel operation on OCT and con focal on the same wavelength when the optical-splitter is positioned on the large band beam-splitter, the low coherence source is on and the external excitation source is off;

(ii) OCT and confocal on the same wavelength with adjustable ratio of the signals in the two channels when the optical-splitter is positioned on the graded large band beam-splitter, the low coherence source is on and the external excitation source is off;

(iii) OCT and fluorescence or Raman on sufficiently distinct wavelengths when the optical-splitter is positioned on the band-pass filter when employing R-OCT/T-C configuration or on the notch filter when employing T-OCT/R-C configuration, and the filter tuned on the central wavelength of the fluorescence or Raman radiation emitted from the object, and (a) only the low coherence source is on and the external excitation source is off and the Raman or fluorescence radiation is due to the low coherence source, and (b) both the low coherence source and the external excitation source are on, when the Raman or fluorescence radiation is due to the external excitation source;

Switched regimes;

(iv) Triple imaging regime, where a pair of OCT and confocal images is quasi-simultaneous with a fluorescence or Raman image, when the OCT channel is not disturbed by the excitation source of the fluorescence or Raman and when the optical-splitter is positioned on either (a) the edge filter, or cold or hot mirror or (b) on the band-pass filter when employing R-OCT/T-C configuration or on the notch filter when employing T-OCT/R-C configuration, filter tuned on the central wavelength of the fluorescence or Raman radiation emitted from the object, the low coherence source being switched on and off and the external excitation source is on; and

(v) Triple imaging regime, where a pair of OCT and confocal images is quasi-simultaneous with a fluorescence or Raman image and when the OCT channel would be disturbed by the excitation source of the fluorescence or Raman, and when the optical-splitter is positioned on either (a) the edge filter, or a cold or hot mirror, or (b) on the band-pass filter when employing R-OCT/T-C configuration or on the notch filter when employing T-OCT/R-C configuration, wherein the filter is tuned on the central wavelength of the fluorescence or Raman radiation emitted from the object, and the low coherence source and the external excitation source are switched on and off with one source on and the other off.

62. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein an external excitation source of central wavelength λ

_exc is applied via the interface optics splitter onto the object to excite fluorescence or Raman radiation of wavelength λ

_C in the object and wherein the optical splitter consists of two to four different parts selected from;

(i) a large band beam-splitter, (ii) a gradual deposited large band beam-splitter, (iii) a band-pass or a notch filter and (iv) an edge filter deposition, or a cold or hot mirror, wherein the optical splitter could be manually positioned or is mounted on a servo controlled mount which can be controllably positioned to select one of the parts above of the optical splitter to intersect the said imaging beam, and while doing so the low coherence optical source and the excitation source may be switched on or off to give further versatility to the optical mapping apparatus, and the display mean operates by generating two lines in two images, one image for each successive facet when the line scanner is a polygon mirror, or when using a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line for each sign of variation of the driving waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid or a triangle, or when using a resonant scanner, one line for each sign of variation of the sinusoid waveform applied; and

wherein a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the driving waveform, at every change in the variation of the signal applied to the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and wherein the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the driving waveform applied to the frame scanner where the frame scanner is a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, wherein said image can comprise as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging means to be simultaneously displayed;

or wherein the displaying mean uses position sensing signals delivered by the said transverse scanning means, wherein, two lines in two side by side images are generated, such that when using a polygon mirror, one line is generated for each successive facet, whilst when using a galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line is generated for each sign of variation of the waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid, a triangle, or a nonlinear symmetric periodic signal, and a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the position sensing signal at every change in the direction of movement of the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and where the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the position sensing signal of the frame scanner, a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator and where the two side by side images can consists of as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging mean to be simultaneously displayed, in order to display pairs of OCT and confocal images delivered by one of the confocal optical receiver in block CE tuned on the fluorescence or Raman emanated from the object due to the external source excitation, and when one or both sources are switched on and off, to display pair of such images corresponding to the time interval when the switched source(s) is (are) off, and the other pair corresponding to the time interval when the switched source(s) is (are) on, and wherein the switching is controlled by the line trigger signal, and wherein said regimes comprise;

(i) Multiple channel operation when the optical-splitter is positioned on the large band beam-splitter, the low coherence source is on and the external excitation source is off, where a pair of OCT and confocal images on the same wavelength may simultaneously be displayed with an additional confocal image or images generated by the confocal optical receiver(s) in the CE block tuned on the band of the fluorescence or Raman radiation due to respective internal excitation source(s) in the CE block;

(ii) Multiple channel operation when the optical-splitter is positioned on the graded large band beam-splitter, the low coherence source is on and the external excitation source is off, where the pair of OCT and confocal images on the same wavelength may simultaneously be displayed with an additional confocal image or images generated by the confocal optical receiver(s) in the CE block tuned on the band of the fluorescence or Raman radiation due to respective internal excitation source(s) in the CE block, with adjustable ratio of the OCT signal on one hand and of all the other signals on the other hand;

(iii) Triple channel operation, when the optical-splitter is positioned on the band-pass filter when employing R-OCT/T-CE configuration or on the notch filter when employing T-OCT/R-CE configuration, and (a) only the low coherence source is on and the external excitation source is off and the filter is tuned on the central wavelength of the fluorescence or Raman radiation emitted from the object due to the low coherence source, and (b) both the low coherence source and the external excitation source are on, when the filter is tuned on the central wavelength of the fluorescence or Raman radiation emitted from the object due to the external excitation source, where such OCT and fluorescence or Raman on sufficiently distinct wavelengths may be simultaneously displayed with an additional confocal image generated by a confocal optical receiver in the CE block tuned on the band of the low coherence source;

(iv) Multiple imaging regime, when the OCT channel is not disturbed by the external excitation source of the fluorescence or Raman but the fluorescence/Raman confocal optical receiver is disturbed by the low coherence source, in which case the low coherence source is switched on and off and the external excitation source is on, and the optical-splitter is positioned on the edge filter, or cold or hot mirror wherein the pair of OCT and confocal image due to the external excitation source is simultaneous with a fluorescence or Raman image generated by the confocal optical receiver(s) in the CE block tuned on the band of the fluorescence or Raman radiation due to respective internal excitation source(s) in the CE block;

(v) Triple imaging regime, when the OCT channel is not disturbed by the external excitation source of the fluorescence or Raman but the fluorescence/Raman confocal optical receiver is disturbed by the low coherence source, in which case the low coherence source is switched on and off and the external excitation source is on, and the optical-splitter is positioned on the band-pass filter when employing R-OCT/T-CE configuration or on the notch filter when employing T-OCT/R-CE configuration, filter tuned on the central wavelength of the fluorescence or Raman radiation emitted from the object under the excitation of the external source, wherein the pair of OCT and confocal image due to the external excitation source may be simultaneous with an additional confocal image generated by a confocal optical receiver in the CE block tuned on the band of the low coherence source;

(vi) Multiple imaging regime, when the OCT channel is disturbed by the external excitation source of the fluorescence or Raman and the fluorescence/Raman confocal optical receiver is disturbed by the low coherence source, in which case both the low coherence source and the external excitation source are switched on and off, with one source on and the other off, and the optical-splitter is positioned on the edge filter, or a cold or hot mirror, wherein the pair of OCT and confocal image due to the external excitation source is simultaneous with a fluorescence or Raman image generated by the confocal optical receiver(s) in the CE block tuned on the band of the fluorescence or Raman radiation due to respective internal excitation source(s) in the CE block;

(vii) Triple imaging regime, when the OCT channel is disturbed by the external excitation source of the fluorescence or Raman and the fluorescence/Raman confocal optical receiver is disturbed by the low coherence source, in which case both the low coherence source and the external excitation source are switched on and off, with one source on and the other off, and the optical-splitter is positioned on the band-pass filter when employing R-OCT/T-CE configuration or on the notch filter when employing T-OCT/R-CE configuration, filter tuned on the central wavelength of the fluorescence or Raman radiation emitted from the object under the excitation of the external source, wherein the pair of OCT and confocal image due to the external excitation source may be simultaneous with an additional confocal image generated by a confocal optical receiver in the CE block tuned on the band of the low coherence source.

63. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 2, suitable for those cases where the OCT band is close to the band of the fluorescence or Raman radiation emanated by the object, where the optical splitter is a rotating high reflective disk equipped with equidistant slits or holes, which by rotation, toggles the beams sent to the object, either the OCT beam or the beam of the CE block, the disk being equipped with a sensor to sense the rate of rotation of the disk and synchronise the line scanner to deliver a ramp of a certain slope for each time the beam is reflected and to deliver a ramp of opposite slope for each time the beam is transmitted through the disk, the same sensor synchronising the image display, with a further delay circuit to allow for the eventual skew between the disk and the line scanner, with the frame scanner under the excitation of a separate ramp or saw-tooth generator, and wherein two images are displayed side by the side along the line in the raster, the left half corresponding to the OCT image and the right half to the confocal image of the fluorescence or Raman radiation emanated from the object under the excitation of an internal excitation source.

64. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 2, suitable for those cases where the OCT band is close to the band of the fluorescence or Raman radiation emanated by the object, where the optical splitter is a rotating high reflective disk equipped with equidistant slits or holes, which by rotation, toggles the beams sent to the object, either the OCT beam or the beam of the CE block, the disk being equipped with a sensor to sense the rate of rotation of the disk and synchronise the frame scanner to deliver a ramp of a certain slope for each time the beam is reflected and to deliver a ramp of opposite slope for each time the beam is transmitted through the disk, the same sensor synchronising the image display, with a further delay circuit to allow for the eventual skew between the disk and the frame scanner, with the line scanner under the excitation of a separate ramp or saw-tooth generator, and wherein two images are displayed successively side by the side, one corresponding to the OCT image and the next to the confocal image of the fluorescence or Raman radiation emanated from the object under the excitation of an internal excitation source.

65. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 2, suitable for those cases where the OCT band is close to the band of the fluorescence or Raman radiation emanated by the object, where the optical splitter is a fast optical modulator, whose transmission/reflection can be switched high and low, which under electric or magnetic field, toggles the beams sent to the object, either the OCT beam or the beam of the CE block, the modulator is equipped with a sensor to sense the transmission/reflectivity change and synchronise the line scanner to deliver a ramp of a certain slope for each time the beam is reflected and to deliver a ramp of opposite slope for each time the beam is transmitted through the modulator, the same sensor synchronising the image display, with a further delay circuit to allow for the eventual skew between the modulator and the line scanner, with the frame scanner under the excitation of a separate ramp or saw-tooth generator, and wherein two images are displayed side by the side along the line in the raster, the left half corresponding to the OCT image and the right half to the confocal image of the fluorescence or Raman radiation emanated from the object under the excitation of an internal excitation source.

66. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 2, suitable for those cases where the OCT band is close to the band of the fluorescence or Raman radiation emanated by the object, where the optical splitter is a fast optical modulator, whose transmission/reflection can be switched high and low, which under electric or magnetic field, toggles the beams sent to the object, either the OCT beam or the beam of the CE block, the modulator is equipped with a sensor to sense the transmission/reflectivity change and synchronise the frame scanner to deliver a ramp of a certain slope for each time the beam is reflected and to deliver a ramp of opposite slope for each time the beam is transmitted through the modulator, the same sensor synchronising the image display, with a further delay circuit to allow for the eventual skew between the modulator and the frame scanner, with the line scanner under the excitation of a separate ramp or saw-tooth generator, and wherein two images are displayed successively in time side by the side, one corresponding to the OCT image and the next to the confocal image of the fluorescence or Raman radiation emanated from the object under the excitation of an internal excitation source.

67. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 2, where different imaging regimes can be implemented by toggling synchronous with the line scanner either

(i) the optical radiation source with the external excitation source while one or more internal excitation sources is (are) all the time either off or on, or some on and some off;

(ii) the optical radiation source with one of the internal excitation source, while other internal excitation sources or/and external excitation source is (are) all the time either off or on, or some on and some others off;

(iii) one of the internal excitation source with the external excitation source while other internal excitation source(s) is (are) all the time either off or on, or some on and some others off;

(iv) two internal excitation sources, while other internal excitation sources or/and the external excitation source is (are) all the time either off or on, or some on and some others off;

(v) the optical radiation source along with one or more internal excitation sources with the external excitation source while other internal excitation source(s) is (are) all the time either off or on, or some on and some off;

(vi) the optical radiation source along with the external excitation source with one of the internal excitation source, while (the) other internal excitation source(s) is (are) all the time either off or on, or some on and some others off;

(ii) one or more internal excitation sources with the external excitation source while other internal excitation sources is (are) all the time either off or on, or some on and some others off where the sources to be toggled are those which are disturbing each other if they worked at the same time.

68. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 36 or 53 or 54 wherein the two optical sources are combined by a fiber directional single mode coupler, a bulk beam-splitter or a WDM (wavelength demultiplexing) coupler.

69. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein that part of the object where a 3D stack of OCT images is to be collected, with the view to produce a 3D reproduction, is selected on the basis of information collected by the confocal channel in claim 1 or one of the confocal channels in claim 2, tuned on either the wavelength of the OCT channel or on a wavelength different from the OCT channel, including a wavelength resulting from the fluorescence or Raman emission from the object.

70. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein that part of the object where fluorescence or Raman image is to be collected by the confocal channel or one of the confocal channels, is selected based on the information provided by the OCT channel in either one longitudinal or en-face image, or based on a stack of 3D OCT en-face images at different depths.

71. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 36 or 53 to 54 where the ratio of the average brightness in the confocal images in the pair of images obtained with the two said sources is used to correct the brightness in the OCT images in the pair of images generated by the same said two sources.

72. A method of preparing a dual channel image of an object, which method utilizes an optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, where the parameters of the said synchronising procedure of the OCT depth adjusting means and focusing adjusting means, which parameters include range, initial position and velocity of the focus adjusting means for a given initial position, depth range and velocity of the OCT depth scanning means, are found using a manual procedure performed by the user with the following steps:

(i) with the range of the focusing adjusting means on zero, the user repetitively changes the initial position of the focusing adjusting means while acquiring longitudinal OCT images in the plane (X,Z) for a Y fixed, or in the plane (Y,Z) for X fixed or in the surface (θ

, Z) for a fixed radius ρ

, with such images repeated until the central part of the longitudinal OCT image becomes sharp;

(ii) continuing to watch the OCT images generated by the display device, the riser increases the range of the focus adjusting means until most of the lines in the longitudinal OCT image become sharper, and wherein in doing so in both steps, the user validates each OCT image by the brightness and regularity of the confocal image according to claim 1 or one of the confocal images according to claim 2 and once the initial position and range of the focusing adjustment corresponding to a given set of range and speed of the optical path adjustment in the OCT channel are found, they are stored for subsequent measurements.

73. A method of preparing a dual channel image of an object, which method utilizes an optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, where the parameters of the said synchronising procedure of the OCT depth adjusting means and focusing adjusting means, parameters which are the range, initial position and velocity of the focus adjusting means for a given depth range and velocity of the OCT depth scanning means, are found using a self-adjusting procedure operating in two loops, wherein the mapping apparatus according to the invention operates in a longitudinal OCT regime and acquires images in the plane (X,Z) for a Y fixed, or in the plane (Y,Z) for X fixed or in the surface (θ

, Z) for a fixed radius ρ

, wherein in a first loop, the procedure automatically finds the initial position of the focus scanning means, where for a given depth range, initial position and velocity of the OCT depth scanning means, OCT longitudinal images are repeated for different initial positions of the focusing adjusting means, which are automatically selected by the procedure until the middle of the longitudinal OCT image exhibits clarity and sharpness, evaluated by an imaging processing method, which one possibility of operation of the imaging processing method based on the evaluation of the size of the pixels in the image, and once the initial position is found, then the procedure automatically starts a second loop wherein the range of the focusing adjusting means is incrementally increased until most of the lines in the longitudinal OCT image exhibit sharpness, as determined by the same imaging processing method, and wherein each OCT image in either loop is validated by the brightness and regularity of the confocal image or one of the confocal images, and wherein sounds of different tonality, and/or luminous indicators of different colour keep the user informed about the self adjusting process and wherein the user can recognise from the tonality of the sounds and/or colour of the luminous signals, that the procedure is taking too long in either loop and can intervene accordingly to adjust the trade-off between the pixel size and the time required to find the initial position of the focusing adjusting means in the first loop and to adjust the trade-off between the uniformity of the pixelation across the lines in the OCT longitudinal image and the time required to find the range of the focusing adjusting means in the second loop, and when the optimum parameters are found they are stored and the self-adjusting procedure stops and the user is informed.

74. A method of preparing a dual channel image of an object, as claimed in claim 72 wherein after the parameters of the said synchronising procedure of the OCT depth adjusting means and focusing adjusting means are found, stacks of N en-face OCT images are collected by mowing the depth adjusting means at a velocity obtained by dividing the velocity of advancing the focusing means, as well as the velocity of advancing the optical path difference in the OCT interferometer, by N.

75. A method of preparing a dual channel image of an object, as claimed in claim 73, wherein after the parameters of the said synchronising procedure of the OCT depth adjusting means and focusing adjusting means are found, stacks of N en-face OCT images arc collected by mowing the depth adjusting means at a velocity obtained by dividing the velocity of advancing the focusing means, as well as the velocity of advancing the optical path difference in the OCT interferometer, by N.

76. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 39 to 44 or 47 to 52 wherein an optical combiner is used to mix the beam of the fixation lamp with the beam of the excitation beam from the excitation source, and the combined beam is sent to the object, where the optical combiner could be a large bandwidth beam-splitter, or a cold or a hot mirror or a band-pass or notch filter or edge filter to accommodate the spectral properties of the fixation lamp and excitation source.

79. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the output of the OCT interferometer is linearly polarised and wherein the optical-splitter is a polarisation sensitive beam-splitter which allows the polarisation field of the signal coming out of the OCT interferometer to pass through to the focusing means and where the confocal optical receiver operates on a polarisation direction rectangular to that of the OCT interferometer.

81. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 4, wherein if the OCT interferometer uses optical fiber, the fiber end shining light towards the optical splitter is cleaved at an angle and eventually antireflection coated, and the lenses are anti-reflection coated for the wavelength of the source used in the OCT channel to avoid feedback back into the OCT and optical radiation source as well as to maintain a low level of the excess photon noise.

82. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 where the optical splitters, such as the optical splitter shared by the confocal and the OCT channel and also all surfaces of different elements in the confocal optical receiver(s) including the photodetector(s) facet, the fiber input surface when using optical fiber and the other spectral selective elements are tilted to avoid reflections back into the OCT system and the interface optics splitter is preferably used in reflection by the OCT channel, or if used in transmission, materials of similar thickness are placed in the reference path of the OCT interferometer.

83. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, claim 3 or claim 4 where the said displaying means for processing and generating the images may be synchronised with the said transverse scanning means.

3. An optical mapping apparatus which comprises an optical radiation source made out of two optical sources of different wavelengths which are combined by a fiber directional single mode coupler or a bulk beam-splitter;

a confocal optical receiver with or without adjustable depth resolution;

an optical splitter, shared by the optical source and the confocal optical receiver, to direct some of the light returned from an object situated at the object location to the optical confocal optical receiver, where the optical-splitter is used by the source in reflection and by the confocal channel in transmission, regime called R-S/T-C and it is equally possible for the optical-splitter to be used in transmission by the source and in reflection by the confocal channel, regime called TS-S/R-C;

transverse scanning means consisting of a line scanner and a frame scanner, to effect transverse scanning of an optical output from the optical splitter over a line or a predetermined area in the object;

interface optics for transferring an optical beam from the transverse scanning means to the object and for transferring an optical output beam reflected and scattered from the object back to the optical-splitter through the transverse scanning means, and from the optical-splitter to the confocal optical receiver of the confocal channel in a ratio determined by the optical splitter and the wavelength backscattered or emitted by the object;

optionally, a fixation lamp for sending light from an external source towards the object;

optionally, an interface optics-splitter shared by the light of the fixation lamp beam and the imaging beam;

focusing adjustment means placed between the optical-splitter and the transverse scanning means, to vary the position of the focused beam in the object;

analysing means, for demodulating the photodetected signals of the photodetectors in the confocal optical receiver;

depth adjustment means for altering the focus, over a predetermined amount for at least one point in a raster in either steps or continuously at a pace synchronised with the focusing adjustment, according to a synchronising procedure;

displaying means for generating and processing the images created by the confocal optical receivers, and;

timing means which controls the 3D scanning operation regime, when the mapping apparatus acquires en-face images in a plane perpendicular on the optic axis (or in the patient face) at different focusing depths, where the optic axis is an imaginary axis from the scanning means through the interface optics to the object.

77. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said two optical sources are sequentially switched off and on, with one source on and the other off, and wherein the displaying mean generates two lines in two images, one image for each successive facet when the line scanner is a polygon mirror, or when using a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line for each sign of variation of the driving waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid or a triangle, or when using a resonant scanner, one line for each sign of variation of the sinusoid waveform applied;

and wherein a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the driving waveform, at every change in the variation of the signal applied to the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and wherein the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the driving waveform applied to the frame scanner where the frame scanner is a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, wherein said image can comprise as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging means to be simultaneously displayed;

or wherein the displaying mean uses position sensing signals delivered by the said transverse scanning means, wherein, two lines in two side by side images are generated, such that when using a polygon mirror, one line is generated for each successive facet, whilst when using a galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line is generated for each sign of variation of the waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid, a triangle, or a nonlinear symmetric periodic signal, and a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the position sensing signal at every change in the direction of movement of the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and where the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the position sensing signal of the frame scanner, a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator and where the two side by side images can consists of as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging mean to be simultaneously displayed, and wherein the optical-splitter is a large bandwidth beam-splitter, with similar reflectivity and transmission for both wavelengths used.

78. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said optical sources are polarised linearly in the same direction by polarising means, sources which are sequentially switched off and on, with one source on and the other off, wherein the displaying mean generates two lines in two images, one image for each successive facet when the line scanner is a polygon mirror, or when using a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line for each sign of variation of the driving waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid or a triangle, or when using a resonant scanner, one line for each sign of variation of the sinusoid waveform applied;

and wherein a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the driving waveform, at every change in the variation of the signal applied to the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and wherein the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the driving waveform applied to the frame scanner where the frame scanner is a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, wherein said image can comprise as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging means to be simultaneously displayed;

or wherein the displaying mean uses position sensing signals delivered by the said transverse scanning means, wherein, two lines in two side by side images are generated, such that when using a polygon mirror, one line is generated for each successive facet, whilst when using a galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line is generated for each sign of variation of the waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid, a triangle, or a nonlinear symmetric periodic signal, and a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the position sensing signal at every change in the direction of movement of the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and where the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the position sensing signal of the frame scanner, a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator and where the two side by side images can consists of as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging mean to be simultaneously displayed, and wherein the optical-splitter is a large bandwidth beam-splitter, with similar reflectivity and transmission for both wavelengths used and wherein the optical-splitter is a polarisation sensitive beam-splitter which allows the polarisation field of the sources to pass through to the focusing means and the confocal optical receiver may have supplementary polarisation selecting means in a direction perpendicular to that of the sources and a quarter wave plate at 45°

from the direction of polarisation of the sources in used in the imaging beam.

4. An optical mapping apparatus which comprises:

an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system built around an in-fiber or a bulk interferometer excited by an optical radiation source;

transverse scanning means to effect transverse scanning of the object using an optical output from the optical splitter (as an imaging beam), over a line or a predetermined area in the object;

interface optics for transferring an optical beam from the transverse scanning means to the object, and for transferring an optical output beam reflected and scattered from the object back to the OCT system;

optionally a fixation lamp for sending light from an external source towards the object;

optionally, an interface optics-splitter shared by the optional fixation lamp beam and the imaging beam, wherein the interface optics-splitter can be used either in reflection or transmission by the imaging beam, while the fixation lamp beam is transmitted or reflected, respectively;

focusing adjustment means placed between the output of the OCT system and the transverse scanning means, to maintain the input aperture of the interferometer in focus, while focusing the scanned beam on the object;

optionally means to introduce intensity or phase modulation or intensity modulation and phase modulation in the OCT interferometer;

analysing means, coupled to the transverse scanning means, for demodulating the photodetected signals of the photodetectors in the interferometer;

depth adjustment means for altering the optical path difference in said OCT interferometer over a predetermined amount for at least one point in the transverse scanning means in either steps or continuously at a pace synchronised with the focusing adjustment means, according to a synchronising procedure;

displaying means for generating and processing the image created by the interferometer;

optionally timing means which control two main operation regimes, namely (i) en-face imaging when the mapping apparatus acquires transverse images at constant depth in a perpendicular plane to the optic axis and (ii) longitudinal imaging when the mapping apparatus acquires longitudinal images, in a parallel plane to the optic axis, where the optic axis is an imaginary axis from the scanning means through the interface optics to the object.

80. An optical mapping apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the display mean operates by generating two lines in two images, one image for each successive facet when the line scanner is a polygon mirror, or when using a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line for each sign of variation of the driving waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid or a triangle, or when using a resonant scanner, one line for each sign of variation of the sinusoid waveform applied;

and wherein a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the driving waveform, at every change in the variation of the signal applied to the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and wherein the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the driving waveform applied to the frame scanner where the frame scanner is a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, wherein said image can comprise as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging means to be simultaneously displayed;

or wherein the displaying mean uses position sensing signals delivered by the said transverse scanning means, wherein, two lines in two side by side images are generated, such that when using a polygon mirror, one line is generated for each successive facet, whilst when using a galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, one line is generated for each sign of variation of the waveform applied, which waveform may be a sinusoid, a triangle, or a nonlinear symmetric periodic signal, and a line trigger signal to control the displaying means is derived from the position sensing signal at every change in the direction of movement of the galvanometer scanner, resonant scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator, or at the beginning of each facet when using a polygon mirror, and where the vertical position of the two lines is determined by the amplitude of the position sensing signal of the frame scanner, a galvanometer scanner, acousto-optic modulator or piezo-vibrator and where the two side by side images can consists of as many frames as input signals are applied to the display imaging mean to be simultaneously displayed, and wherein said optical radiation source consists of two optical sources of essentially the same wavelength but of different coherence length which are sequentially switched off and on, with one source on and the other off, where the switching is controlled by the line trigger signal.