Optical coherence tomography device, method, and system

• US 8,348,429 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Doheny Eye Institute
• Original Assignee: Doheny Eye Institute
• Inventors: Walsh, Alexander C., Updike, Paul G., Sadda, Srinivas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAHLE, MAHIDERE S
• Application Number:
  US12/111,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20090244485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 351/204, 351/206, 351/210, 351/221, 356/450, 356/511, 356/512, 600/558
• US Class Current: 351/210
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0008 provided with illuminating means A61B3/117 takes precedence; goniolenses used for laser treatment A61F9/009; illuminating means for optical instruments G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0025 characterised by electronic signal processing, e.g. eye models
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0033 characterised by user input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1005 for measuring distances inside the eye, e.g. thickness of the cornea A61B3/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/102 for optical coherence tomography [OCT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/111 for measuring interpupillary distance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1225 using coherent radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an optical coherence tomography instrument comprises an eyepiece for receiving at least one eye of a user is provided; a light source that outputs light that is directed through the eyepiece into the user'"'"'s eye; an interferometer configured to produce optical interference using light reflected from the user'"'"'s eye; an optical detector disposed so as to detect said optical interference; and electronics coupled to the detector. The electronics can be configured to perform a risk assessment analysis based on optical coherence tomography measurements obtained using the interferometer. An output device can be electrically coupled to the electronics, and may be configured to output the risk assessment to the user through the output device. The optical coherence tomography instrument can be self-administered, and the eyepiece can be a monocular system or a binocular system.

Claims

1. An optical coherence tomography instrument comprising:

first and second oculars for directing light to and receiving light reflected from a pair of eyes of a subject;

a light source that outputs light that is directed through the first and second oculars to the subject'"'"'s eye;

an interferometer configured to produce optical interference using light reflected from the subject'"'"'s eye; and

an optical detector disposed so as to detect said optical interference;

wherein said instrument is configured to obtain optical coherence tomography scans of eye tissue, and said instrument comprises at least one of;

(i) auto-focus lenses configured to focus the instrument based on said detected optical interference;

or (ii) an interpupillary distance adjustment configured to facilitate the adjustment of interpupillary distance by the subject while the subject looks through said first and second oculars and a Z positioning module configured to automatically and independently adjust the Z offset of each ocular, thereby adjusting a depth at which each scan is obtained.

2. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 1, further comprising first and second optical paths from said first and second oculars to said interferometer and an optical modulator configured to switch between said first and second optical paths.

3. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 2, further comprising at least one beamsplitter disposed in said optical paths to couple light from said light source into said first and second optical paths.

4. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 1, wherein said instrument comprises auto-focus lenses configured to automatically focus the instrument on eye tissue.

5. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 1, wherein said instrument comprises auto-focus lenses configured to assist the subject in focusing the instrument on tissue of an eye.

6. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 1, wherein said instrument comprises said auto-focus lenses for focusing the instrument based on said detected optical interference.

7. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 6, further comprising a processor configured to adjust said auto-focus lenses based on analysis of a signal based on said detected optical interference.

8. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 7, wherein said auto-focus lenses are configured to be translated based on said detected optical interference to provide auto-focusing.

9. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 1, wherein said instrument comprises said interpupillary distance adjustment configured to facilitate the adjustment of interpupillary distance by the subject while the subject looks through said first and second oculars.

10. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 9, further comprising a display visible to the subject through at least one of said oculars, said display configured to assist the viewer in performing said interpupillary distance adjustment.

11. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 1, wherein said instrument comprises said Z positioning module configured to automatically and independently adjust the Z offset of each ocular.

12. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 11, further comprising a reference arm associated with each ocular, wherein said Z positioning module is configured to automatically adjust the Z offset for one of said eyes by adjusting one of said reference arms of said interferometric modulator.

13. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 12, further comprising movable mirrors in said reference arms of said interferometer, said movable mirrors configured to translate so as to adjust said Z-offset.

14. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 13, further comprising electronics configured to adjust said movable mirrors based on analysis of a signal based on said detected optical interference.

15. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 1, further comprising electronics configured to perform an assessment of visual acuity.

16. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 15, further comprising an output device configured to output the said assessment of visual acuity to the user through the output device.

17. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 9, wherein the interpupillary distance adjustment is configured to facilitate the manual adjustment of the interpupillary distance by the subject while the subject looks through said first and second oculars.

18. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 9, wherein the interpupillary distance adjustment is configured to assist the subject in adjusting interpupillary distance on the basis of visual feedback received by the subject while the subject looks through said first and second oculars.

19. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 18, further comprising first and second displays configured to display images that are visible to the subject through the first and second oculars, said images configured to provide said visual feedback to said subject while the subject looks through the first and second oculars.

20. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 9, wherein the interpupillary distance adjustment comprises an adjustment control configured to be adjusted by the subject while the subject looks through said first and second oculars to adjust interpupillary distance.

21. The optical coherence tomography instrument of claim 1, wherein said instrument further comprises:

auto-focus lenses configured to focus the instrument based on said detected optical interference;

an interpupillary distance adjustment configured to facilitate the adjustment of interpupillary distance by the subject while the subject looks through said first and second oculars; and

a Z positioning module configured to automatically and independently adjust the Z offset of each ocular, thereby adjusting a depth at which each scan is obtained.