Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging systems having adaptable lens systems and related methods and computer program products

• US 9,814,383 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2017
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leica Microsystems NC, Inc. (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bioptigen, Inc. (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Hart, Robert H., Buckland, Eric L., Myers, Glenn A., Izatt, Joseph A., Vance, Joseph Elliott
• Primary Examiner(s): SAHLE, MAHIDERE S
• Application Number:
  US15/464,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20170188817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 238 Days
• Field of Search: 351206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/102 for optical coherence tomography [OCT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0073 by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections A61B5/0066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/105 with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors G02B26/101 takes precedence

Abstract

OCT imaging systems are provided for imaging a spherical-type eye including a source having an associated source arm path and a reference arm having an associated reference arm path coupled to the source path. The reference arm path has an associated reference arm path length. A sample is also provided having an associated sample arm path coupled to the source arm and reference arm paths. A lens having a focal power optimized for a diameter of the spherical-type eye is provided along with a reference arm path length adjustment module coupled to the reference arm. The reference arm path length adjustment module is configured to automatically adjust the reference arm path length such that the reference arm path length is based on an eye diameter of the subject.

Claims

1. A scanning optical imaging system for imaging structures adjacent a posterior surface of a substantially spherical ball-lens device, the system comprising:

a source of optical radiation having an associated source arm path;

a sample arm having an associated sample arm path coupled to the source arm path, the sample arm delivering optical radiation from an output of the source to a first optical subsystem following the output of the source, at least one scanning mirror following the first optical subsystem, at least one optical element following the at least one scanning mirror, and the substantially spherical ball lens device following the at least one optical element;

a non-zero working distance between the at least one optical element and the substantially spherical ball lens device,

wherein the working distance between the at least one optical element and the substantially spherical ball lens device are configured to adjust such that a conjugate of the at least one scanning mirror is imaged interior to the substantially spherical ball lens device, posterior to an anterior surface of the substantially spherical ball lens device and anterior to the posterior surface of the substantially spherical ball lens device; and

wherein the optical radiation from the output of the source is focused to an intermediate conjugate anterior to the substantially spherical ball lens device, wherefrom the intermediate conjugate of the optical radiation from the output of the source is focused to a region posterior to an image of the at least one scanning mirror and to a region adjacent the posterior surface of the substantially spherical ball lens device.

2. The scanning optical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the optical radiation from the output of the source is focused to a substantially telecentric intermediate conjugate.

3. The scanning optical imaging system of claim 1:

wherein the at least one optical element within the sample arm has adjustable optical focusing power; and

wherein the adjustable optical focusing power is controlled to adjust a position of focus relative to the posterior surface of the substantially spherical ball lens device.

4. The scanning optical imaging system of claim 1:

wherein the at least one optical element within the sample arm has adjustable optical focusing power; and

wherein the adjustable optical focusing power is controlled to adjust a position of focus relative to the posterior surface of the substantially spherical ball lens device dependent on a diameter of the substantially spherical ball lens device.

5. The scanning optical imaging system of claim 1:

wherein the at least one optical element within the sample arm comprises at least one interchangeable element configured to adjust optical focusing power; and

wherein the at least one interchangeable element is selected to adjust a position of focus relative to the posterior surface of the substantially spherical ball lens device dependent on a diameter of the substantially spherical ball lens device.

6. The scanning optical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the substantially spherical ball lens device is a distal optical element in the sample arm of the imaging system.

7. The scanning optical imaging system of claim 6:

wherein the sample arm with the substantially spherical ball lens device is positioned proximate a subject under test; and

wherein structures adjacent the posterior surface of the substantially spherical ball lens device include the subject under test.

8. The scanning optical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the substantially spherical ball lens device is an element physically separate from the sample arm of the imaging system.

9. The scanning optical imaging system of claim 8:

wherein the substantially spherical ball lens device is proximate a subject under test; and

wherein structures adjacent the posterior surface of the substantially spherical ball device lens include the subject under test.

10. The scanning optical imaging system of claim 8, wherein the substantially spherical ball lens device is a subject under test.

11. A method for imaging structures adjacent a posterior surface of a substantially spherical ball lens device using a scanning optical imaging system, the method comprising:

positioning a substantially spherical ball lens device distal to sample arm optics of the scanning imaging system;

adjusting a working distance between a distal sample arm optical element and an anterior surface of the substantially spherical ball lens device such that a conjugate of at least one scanning mirror is imaged within an interior of the substantially spherical ball lens device, posterior to an anterior surface of the substantially spherical ball lens device and anterior to the posterior surface of the substantially spherical ball lens device, such that a scanning beam of optical radiation pivots around a region interior to the substantially spherical ball lens device; and

focusing the scanning beam of optical radiation to a region posterior to a position of the conjugate of the at least one scanning mirror and to a region adjacent the posterior surface of the substantially spherical ball lens device.

12. A computer program product for imaging structures adjacent a posterior surface of a substantially spherical ball lens device using a scanning imaging system, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to image structures adjacent the posterior surface of a substantially spherical ball lens device using optics positioned between at least one scanning mirror and the substantially spherical ball lens device, wherein the optics are configured to image conjugate of the at least one scanning mirror to a region internal to the substantially spherical ball lens device and focus a light source posterior to an image of the at least one scanning mirror and to a region adjacent the posterior surface of the substantially spherical ball lens device; and

computer readable program code configured to process an optical coherence tomography image of a region adjacent the posterior surface of the substantially spherical ball lens device.