Optical tissue imaging based on optical frequency domain imaging

• US 8,964,017 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tomophase Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tomophase Corporation
• Inventors: Vertikov, Andrei, Norris, Peter E., Li, Xiao-Li
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sath V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Peter D
• Application Number:
  US13/392,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20120268578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: 348/65
• US Class Current: 348/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2290/40 Non-mechanical variable delay line
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2290/70 Using polarization in the interferometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02004 using frequency scans
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/0205 of probe head
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02057 by using common path configuration, i.e. reference and object path almost entirely overlapping
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02064 by particular adjustment of coherence gate, i.e. adjusting position of zero path difference in low coherence interferometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/0209 Low-coherence interferometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02091 Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/241 Light guide terminations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2706 as bulk elements, i.e. free space arrangements external to a light guide, e.g. polarising beam splitters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3624 Fibre head, e.g. fibre probe termination optical details of light guide terminations G02B6/241; reshaping of light guides G02B6/2552; optical details of coupling light into or out of fibre end G02B6/262

Abstract

Optical devices and techniques for imaging and measuring targeted objects, e.g., tissues.

Claims

1. A device for optically imaging a sample, comprising:

a swept frequency light source that produces an optical probe beam and sweeps an optical frequency of the optical probe beam in time;

a waveguide to receive and guide optical probe beam in a first propagation mode and a second propagation mode different from the first propagation mode;

a disposable probe head unit removably coupled to the waveguide to receive the optical probe beam in first and second propagation modes and to reflect a first portion of the optical probe beam back to the waveguide in the first propagation mode and direct a second portion of the optical probe beam to a sample, the probe head collecting reflection of the second portion from the sample and exporting to the waveguide the reflection as a reflected second portion in the second propagation mode;

a mode director that directs the optical probe beam from the swept frequency light source into the waveguide and to couple light of the reflected first portion and the reflected second portion out of the waveguide without changing respective propagation modes;

a mode controller coupled in an optical path of the optical probe beam between the swept frequency light source and the mode director to control light in the first and second propagation modes;

a differential delay controller in an optical path of both the reflected first portion and the reflected second portion from the mode director to control a relative delay between the reflected first portion and the reflected second portion; and

an optical detector unit that receives the light from the differential delay controller and to produce an electrical signal containing imaging information of the sample.

2. The device as in claim 1, comprising:

a detection module to receive the reflected first portion and the reflected second portion in the waveguide and to extract information of the sample carried by the reflected second portion.