Oct apparatus

Abstract

To provide an OCT apparatus capable of executing imaging quickly even under a low temperature environment.SOLUTION: An OCT apparatus includes: a heat source; a detector for detecting interference light between measurement light emitted to an eye to be examined and reference light; and a storage part for storing the heat source and the detector so that the detector is warmed with the heat from the heat source. It is possible to shorten a time required for warming the detector from the time that power is supplied to the OCT apparatus to the time that a spectral interference signal can be detected appropriately by having the detector warmed with the heat from the heat source under a low temperature environment, for example, thereby executing imaging quickly even under a low temperature environment.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to OCT devices. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art In the field of ophthalmology, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a device that captures a tomographic image of tissue of a subject's eye.

[0003] In OCT devices, thermal changes in the optical system have been a problem. For example, in OCT devices, Patent Document 1 discloses a mechanism in a spectrometer holder for suppressing thermal expansion of the optical path length in a spectrometer, which is a detector for SD-OCT. Even if the optical base on which the spectrometer is mounted expands thermally, the overall optical path length of the spectrometer is suppressed from increasing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-035949 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In cold regions, the OCT device may be started up when it is completely cold. For example, the light receiving element of the detector may have temperature characteristics that are unfavorable to signal detection at low temperatures. In addition, in the case of SD-OCT, thermal deformation of the spectrometer at low temperatures may also be a problem. As a result, in a low-temperature environment, images of appropriate quality may not be obtained even if images are taken between the time the device is started up and the time the detector is sufficiently warmed up.

[0006] In contrast, the present disclosure has been made in consideration of the problems with the conventional technology, and has as its technical objective to provide an OCT device that is capable of quickly capturing images even in a low-temperature environment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An OCT device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a heat source, a detector that detects interference light between measurement light and reference light irradiated to a test eye, and a housing unit that houses the heat source and the detector so that the detector is warmed by heat from the heat source. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an OCT device that can quickly capture images even in a low-temperature environment. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an OCT device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an optical system of an OCT apparatus. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the inside of a base according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the inside of a base according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] "overview" First, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. Note that the configurations according to the embodiments can be appropriately combined with other embodiments.

[0011] <First embodiment> The OCT device according to the first embodiment acquires OCT data of a subject's eye. The OCT device according to the first embodiment includes at least a heat source, a detector, and a housing. In the present disclosure, the heat source and the detector are separate entities.

[0012] The detector detects a spectral interference signal between the measurement light irradiated to the subject's eye and the reference light. The housing contains the heat source and the detector so that the detector is warmed by heat from the heat source. For example, in a low-temperature environment, the detector is warmed by heat from the heat source, thereby shortening the time required for the detector to warm up from when the OCT device is turned on until the detector can properly detect the spectral interference signal.

[0013] The OCT device may be a SD-OCT (Spectral-domain OCT). In this case, the detector may be a spectrometer in which a plurality of optical elements including at least a grading and a light receiving element are held in a mount. The grading is an optical element that disperses interference light between the measurement light and the reference light. The light receiving element detects the dispersed light. In a typical spectrometer, a line sensor is used as the light receiving element. By warming the spectrometer with heat from a heat source separate from the detector, for example, the displacement of the holding interval of the optical elements caused by a low temperature environment is suppressed. In addition, for example, even if the temperature characteristics of the line sensor are unfavorable for signal detection at low temperatures, the environmental temperature can be adjusted to an appropriate temperature in a shorter time and the line sensor can be operated.

[0014] The heat source may be a dedicated heater, but is not necessarily a dedicated product. It is more preferable that the heat source is shared by an electrical component for operating the OCT device. For example, any of the processor, the power supply circuit, the driver (control circuit) and power supply circuit of the optical component, the communication circuit, the light source, and the actuator body may be used as the heat source. The processor may be, for example, a circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or a programmable logic device (e.g., a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array)).

[0015] For example, when the OCT device has a scanner for scanning light on the subject's eye, the power supply circuit of the scanner is one of the heat sources that generates a particularly large amount of heat in the OCT device. The scanner may be a device used to scan the measurement light in the OCT optical system, or may be a device used to scan the observation light in the observation optical system (e.g., SLO optical system).

[0016] As described above, the heat source and the detector are accommodated in the accommodation unit so that the detector is warmed by heat from the heat source. The heat source and the detector may be arranged in sufficient proximity in the accommodation unit. The accommodation unit may further include a blowing device for directing heat from the heat source to the detector. In this case, an air flow path is formed by driving the blowing device. It is desirable that the detector is arranged downstream of the heat source and the blowing device in the air flow path. In this case, it is preferable that the blowing device is arranged either upstream of the heat source or between the heat source and the detector. By arranging the blowing device, the detector is efficiently warmed by heat from the heat source.

[0017] The OCT device according to the first embodiment may have a sensor for monitoring the temperature of the detector. When a blowing device is provided, the driving of the blowing device may be controlled according to the temperature detected by the sensor. For example, when the temperature is equal to or higher than a threshold, the blowing of air from the blowing device is stopped, thereby preventing the temperature of the detector from becoming higher than the appropriate operating temperature. The driving control of the blowing device may be control related to any one of switching the device on / off, adjusting the air volume, and changing the air direction.

[0018] In addition, the OCT device may operate electrical components that are heat sources while the power supply to the detector is stopped during sleep (power saving) etc. This allows imaging to be performed promptly when the device returns from the power saving state.

[0019] In addition, in the OCT device according to the first embodiment, the first imaging of the subject's eye after the device is started up may be controlled according to the temperature detected by the sensor. For example, imaging of the subject's eye may be permitted when a temperature equal to or higher than a threshold is detected, and imaging of the subject's eye may be restricted when the temperature is equal to or lower than the threshold. The imaging restriction may be implemented by locking the device so that imaging is not performed, or by informing the subject that the temperature has not yet reached the proper operating temperature.

[0020] The OCT device according to the first embodiment may have a photographing unit and a base unit. The photographing unit may include a scanning unit for scanning the measurement light on the subject's eye, and an objective optical system for guiding the measurement light from the scanning unit to the subject's eye. An optical system including the scanning unit and the objective optical system arranged in the photographing unit may be referred to as a light-guiding optical system. The base unit may be arranged below the photographing unit. The photographing unit may be supported by the base unit via a driving unit used for alignment between the optical axis of the subject's eye and the photographing unit. In this case, it is preferable that the housing unit for housing the heat source and the detector is provided in the base unit. This suppresses the influence of heat from the heat source on the optical system housed in the photographing unit (for example, a decrease in accuracy due to thermal expansion or thermal displacement).

[0021] In addition, it is electrically rational to place the control circuit and power supply circuit for controlling the optical components arranged in the photographing unit together with the optical components in the photographing unit. On the other hand, by purposely placing at least one of the control circuit and power supply circuit in the base unit as a heat source, the effect of heat on the optical system housed in the photographing unit can be suppressed and the photographing unit can be made smaller.

[0022] <Second embodiment> The scanning fundus imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment includes at least an imaging unit, a base unit, a plurality of optical components including at least a scanning unit, and a driver and a power supply circuit for the scanning unit. The scanning fundus imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment may be an OCT apparatus, an SLO (Scanning Light Ophthalmoscope) apparatus, or a composite apparatus in which the OCT apparatus and the SLO apparatus are integrated.

[0023] In the second embodiment, the photographing unit houses a photographing optical system including at least a plurality of optical components including a scanning unit. The photographing unit may be provided with an optical base, and the plurality of optical components included in the photographing optical system may be fixed and held on the optical base.

[0024] The base unit supports the photographing unit. The base unit may support the photographing unit via an alignment drive unit. In a second embodiment, the base unit houses a driver and a power supply circuit of the scanning unit. This makes it difficult for heat generated from the driver and the power supply circuit of the scanning unit to affect the photographing optical system in the photographing unit.

[0025] It is more reasonable in terms of electrical design to place the driver and power circuit of the scanning unit near the main body of the scanning unit than to place them away from the main body of the scanning unit. However, since the heat generated by the driver and power circuit of the scanning unit is relatively large, if they are placed on the photographing unit side, it will cause thermal deformation of the photographing optical system. Also, if they are placed on the photographing unit side, the heat generated by the driver and power circuit of the scanning unit will promote air convection inside the photographing unit, making it easier for dust to adhere to the photographing optical system. In contrast, in the second embodiment, the driver and power circuit of the scanning unit are intentionally placed on the base unit, which makes it easier to suppress thermal deformation in the photographing optical system and to suppress adhesion of dust due to air convection, making it easier to maintain the performance of the photographing optical system. Furthermore, it is easier to make the photographing unit compact.

[0026] When the scanning fundus imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment is an OCT apparatus, a detector may be disposed in the base unit in order to quickly operate the detector at an appropriate operating temperature by utilizing heat generated from the driver and power supply circuit of the scanning unit, as in the first embodiment. Also, a blower device may be disposed in the base unit in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0027] When the detector is a spectrometer, each part (each optical component) of the spectrometer may be fixed and held by a lens barrel. This prevents dust from entering the spectrometer even if the inside of the base unit is in a state where dust is likely to fly due to heat generated by the driver and power supply circuit of the scanning unit or wind from the air blowing device. As a result, deterioration of imaging performance due to dust is likely to be suppressed.

[0028] "Example" Hereinafter, an OCT device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The OCT device 1 according to the embodiment is an SD-OCT. The OCT device 1 acquires OCT data of a subject's eye. Unless otherwise specified, in this embodiment, it is assumed that OCT data of a fundus is captured as an example of the OCT data of the subject's eye.

[0029] First, a schematic configuration of an OCT device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the OCT device 1 includes an imaging device main body 1A and a control device 1B. The control device 1B controls imaging of the imaging device main body 1A and performs analysis processing of the imaging results. The control device 1B may be, for example, a PC.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 1, the photographing device main body 1A has a photographing unit 2, a base (an example of a base unit) 3, a driving unit 5, and a face support unit 7. As shown in Fig. 1, in this embodiment, the driving unit 5 and the photographing unit 2 are disposed on the base 3. The face support unit 7 is attached to the base 3.

[0031] The imaging unit 2 houses the optical system of the OCT device 1. The drive unit 5 moves the imaging unit 2 in the XYZ directions with respect to the eye E to be examined. The drive unit 5 has an actuator for moving the imaging unit 2 in each movable direction. The face support unit 7 supports the face of the subject.

[0032] <Imaging unit> The imaging unit 2 has the main optical system in the OCT device 1. In this embodiment, the imaging unit 2 has a part of the OCT optical system (interference optical system) 10, a light guiding optical system 10a, a fundus observation optical system (SLO optical system) 30, and an anterior eye segment observation optical system 40 (anterior eye segment observation optical system). These are installed on an optical base (not shown) that is moved by the drive unit 5. The optical paths of the OCT optical system 10, the fundus observation optical system 30, and the anterior eye segment observation optical system 40 are branched / joined by beam splitters / combiners 16, 17.

[0033] <OCT optical system> The OCT optical system 10 detects the spectral interference signal between the measurement light and the reference light irradiated onto the fundus of the eye E to be examined.

[0034] The OCT optical system 10 has at least an OCT light source 11, an optical splitter 12, a reference optical system 20, and a detector 25. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, among the OCT light source 11, the optical splitter 12, the reference optical system 20, and the detector 25, the OCT light source 11, the optical splitter 12, and the reference optical system 20 are housed in the imaging unit 2, and the detector 25 is housed in the base 3. The optical splitter 12 disposed in the imaging unit 2 and the detector 25 disposed in the base 3 are connected across the unit by a fiber 23.

[0035] The OCT light source 11 emits low coherent light. The light emitted from the OCT light source 11 is split into a measurement light and a reference light by the light splitter 12. In this embodiment, a coupler (splitter) is used as the light splitter 12. The measurement light is guided to the subject's eye E via the light guiding optical system 10a, and the reference light is guided to the reference optical system 20. In FIG. 1, the polarizer 13 is disposed on the reference optical path. The reference optical system 20 in this embodiment is a reflective optical system. However, the reference optical system 20 may be a transmissive optical system. In this embodiment, the reference light is turned back by a mirror (not shown) disposed on the reference optical path, and is multiplexed with the return light of the measurement light by the light splitter 12, and then enters the detector 25 provided on the base 3. As a result, a spectral interference signal between the return light and the reference light is detected. For example, in SD-OCT, a spectrometer is used as the detector 25 (details will be described later).

[0036] In this embodiment, a mirror (not shown) disposed in the reference optical system 20 is movable along the optical axis, and the optical path length difference between the measurement light and the reference light is adjusted according to the position of the mirror. Also, the polarization of the measurement light and the reference light is adjusted by the polarizer 13.

[0037] Additionally, a focusing lens 14, a scanning unit (optical scanner) 15, and an objective lens 60 are arranged on the optical path between the light splitter 12 and the subject's eye E. The optical system between the light splitter 12 and the subject's eye E, including the focusing lens 14, the scanning unit (optical scanner) 15, and the objective lens 60, forms a light-guiding optical system 10a in this embodiment.

[0038] In this embodiment, the focus position in the OCT optical system 10 is changed by displacing the focusing lens 14 in the optical axis direction.

[0039] The scanning unit 15 is used to change the acquisition position of the OCT image. The scanning unit 15 may be used to two-dimensionally scan the fundus of the subject's eye E with the measurement light. The scanning unit 15 may include, for example, two optical scanners having different scanning directions. In this embodiment, two galvano scanners corresponding to the X and Y directions are used as the optical scanners. However, the optical scanner is not necessarily limited to the galvano scanner, and may be another optical scanner.

[0040] The objective lens 60 guides the measurement light to the fundus of the subject's eye. The measurement light is rotated via the objective lens 60 with a position conjugate with the scanning unit 15 as the rotation point. As shown in FIG. 1, when the anterior segment of the subject's eye is located at the rotation point, the measurement light reaches the fundus without being vignetted by the iris, and the measurement light scans the fundus based on the driving of the scanning unit 15. In this case, the focusing surface of the measurement light is formed on the fundus.

[0041] <Fundus observation optical system> The fundus observation optical system 30 is used to obtain a front image of the fundus as an observation image. Through the fundus observation optical system 30, a front image of the fundus is obtained as an observation image.

[0042] 1, an SLO optical system is shown as an example of the fundus observation optical system 30. The fundus observation optical system 30 may have at least an irradiation optical system and a light receiving optical system. The irradiation optical system irradiates an imaging site of the subject's eye with observation light. The light receiving optical system receives fundus reflection light due to the observation light by a light receiving element 39. Observation images are sequentially acquired based on an output signal from the light receiving element 30.

[0043] The fundus observation optical system 30 further includes a focus adjustment unit, which includes a focusing lens .

[0044] For example, a laser diode light source is used as the observation light source 31. In addition to the focusing lens 34, a scanning unit 35 and an objective lens 60 are arranged in the observation light path. The scanning unit 35 two-dimensionally scans the imaging site of the subject's eye with light. The scanning unit 35 may include, for example, a combination of a polygon mirror and a galvano scanner.

[0045] A beam splitter 33 is disposed between the observation light source 31 and the focusing lens 34. A confocal aperture 37 and a light receiving element 39 are disposed in the transmission direction of the beam splitter 33.

[0046] The observation light is reflected by the beam splitter 33 and then passes through a focusing lens 34 to reach a scanning unit 35. The light passing through the scanning unit 35 passes through a beam splitter 17 and then passes through an objective lens 60 to be irradiated onto the fundus of the subject's eye.

[0047] The reflected light from the fundus is guided back along the light projection path to the beam splitter 33. The reflected light from the fundus passes through the beam splitter 33 and is received by the light receiving element 39 via the confocal aperture 37. Based on a light receiving signal from the light receiving element 39, a front image of the fundus is formed. The formed front image may be stored in the memory 72.

[0048] <Anterior segment observation optical system> The anterior-segment observation optical system 40 is used to observe a front image (referred to as an observation image) of the anterior segment of the subject's eye E. The anterior-segment observation optical system 40 has at least an image sensor 45. In this embodiment, an image of the anterior segment is formed on the image sensor 45. The observation image of the anterior segment acquired via the anterior-segment observation optical system 40 is used for alignment and tracking control of the photographing unit 2 for the subject's eye E when photographing the fundus.

[0049] <Fixation projection optical system> The OCT device 1 further includes a fixation target projection optical system. The fixation target projection optical system may be an internal fixation lamp. The fixation target projection optical system guides the gaze direction of the subject's eye E by projecting a fixation target (fixation light beam) onto the subject's eye E. In this embodiment, the fixation target projection optical system can change the presentation position of the fixation target two-dimensionally and can guide the subject's eye E in a plurality of directions. As a result, the imaging site is changed. In this embodiment, the fixation projection optical system is shared by the fundus observation optical system 30, which is an SLO optical system. A visible light source different from the observation light source is provided, and the timing of projecting the visible light is controlled, so that the fixation target is projected onto the subject's eye E.

[0050] <Base unit> 2, in this embodiment, the base 3 accommodates a detector 25, a circuit board 210, and a fan 220. The circuit board 210 is provided with various electric circuits.

[0051] As described above, the detector 25 in this embodiment is a spectrometer. The detector 25 includes, for example, a collimating system 25b, a grading (dispersion element) 25d, imaging systems 25e and 25f, and an image sensor (an example of a light receiving element) 25g. Additionally, the detector 25 in this embodiment includes a folding mirror 25c, which reduces the overall length of the detector 25. Each part of the detector 25 is fixed and held on a base (optical substrate) not shown. Each part may be fixed and held via a mount or a lens barrel.

[0052] The interference light is guided from the end 25a of the fiber 23 to the detector 25. Thereafter, the interference light passes through a collimating system 25b, a grading (dispersion element) 25d, and imaging systems 25e and 25f, and is received by an imaging element 25g (for example, a line sensor).

[0053] The holding intervals of each part in the detector 25 in Fig. 2 (particularly the interval from the end 25a of the fiber 23 to the collimating system 25b, and the interval between the imaging systems 25e, 25f and the image sensor 25g) change according to the environmental temperature. If the environmental temperature is outside the appropriate temperature range, the desired sensitivity performance may not be obtained. Furthermore, the image sensor 25g has temperature characteristics in which the sensitivity is attenuated on the low temperature side. In the case of fundus OCT, since the return light of the measurement light is weak, if the sensitivity of the image sensor 25g is attenuated at low temperatures, fundus OCT data may not be obtained appropriately.

[0054] In contrast to this, in this embodiment, the detector 25, the circuit board 210, and the fan 220 are housed inside the base 3 in the arrangement shown in FIG.

[0055] In this embodiment, the circuit board 210 is provided with at least a control circuit and a power supply circuit corresponding to the scanning unit 15 for OCT imaging, as a control circuit and a power supply circuit for the optical components arranged in the imaging unit 2. In OCT imaging, the measurement light is scanned on the fundus at high speed, so that the amount of heat generated from the control circuit and the power supply circuit of the scanning unit 15 is relatively large among the various electric components provided in the device main body 1A.

[0056] If an electrical component that generates a large amount of heat were arranged on the photographing unit 2 side, it would cause thermal deformation of various optical components housed in the photographing unit 2. In addition, the heat would promote air convection inside the photographing unit 2, making it easier for dust to adhere to the optical system. In contrast, in this embodiment, the control circuit and power supply circuit of the scanning unit 15 for OCT photography, which is one of the electrical components that generates a large amount of heat among the electrical components corresponding to the optical components housed in the photographing unit 2, are purposely housed in the base 3, away from the photographing unit 2 where the optical component main body (galvano scanner main body) is arranged. This suppresses thermal deformation of various optical components housed in the photographing unit 2. In addition, the adhesion of dust to the optical system arranged in the photographing unit 2 is suppressed, making it easier to maintain the photographing performance.

[0057] Additionally, in this embodiment, the circuit board 210 is provided with a general-purpose power supply circuit (e.g., DCDC power supply), control circuits (e.g., driver ICs) and power supply circuits (e.g., power supply ICs) for various optical components, a processor (e.g., FPGA), a communication circuit with an external computer (e.g., PC), and the like. In an alternative embodiment, any of these circuits may be used as the heat source 230. Each circuit may be arranged on the same board, or may be distributed and arranged on multiple boards. Among the control circuits and power supply circuits for various optical components, those other than the circuit corresponding to the scanning unit 15 for OCT photography include, for example, the control circuit and power supply circuit for the scanning unit 35 for SLO photography, the main body of the light sources 11 and 31, and the control circuit for the light sources 11 and 31. Since the control circuits and power supply circuits for various optical components are accommodated in the base 3 rather than in the photographing unit 2, as described above, the thermal change of the optical system arranged in the photographing unit 2 can be suppressed. Furthermore, the photographing unit 2 is easily miniaturized.

[0058] In addition, in alternative embodiments, electrical components not mounted on the circuit board 210 (eg, an ACDC power supply, etc.) may be used as the heat source 230.

[0059] The fan 220 is used to cool the circuits arranged on the circuit board 210 to prevent breakdowns, and to warm the detector 25 with heat generated from the circuits. In Fig. 3, the airflow from the fan 220 is indicated by dotted arrows. In this embodiment, the fan 220 is arranged so that the airflow is directed toward the power supply circuit of the scanning unit 15. This allows the power supply circuit of the scanning unit 15, which generates a large amount of heat, to be appropriately cooled, suppressing breakdowns.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 3, the detector 25 is disposed downstream of the power supply circuit of the scanning unit 15. In other words, the detector 25 is disposed at a position where it is hit by air that has passed around the power supply circuit of the scanning unit 15 and been heated. This allows the detector 25 to be heated using the power supply circuit of the scanning unit 15 as a heat source 230. This allows the detector 25 to be operated after the environmental temperature of the detector 25 is adjusted to an appropriate temperature in a short time. In Fig. 3, the fan 220, the heat source 230 (the power supply circuit of the scanning unit 15), and the detector 25 are not aligned in a row, but if they are aligned in a row, the detector 25 can be heated to a desired temperature in a short time.

[0061] In addition, in FIG. 3, the heat source 230 and the detector 25 are arranged in this order downstream of the fan 220, but the fan 220 may be arranged between the heat source 230 and the detector 25.

[0062] In this embodiment, since the heat source 230 and the fan 220 are disposed on the base 3, dust tends to fly around inside the base 3. In response to this, each part of the detector 25 (see FIG. 2) constituting the spectrometer may be fixed and held by a lens barrel to prevent dust from entering the detector 25.

[0063] "Variations" While the present disclosure has been described based on the embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and various modifications are possible.

[0064] For example, in order to prevent the detector 25 from being excessively heated by the heat from the heat source 230, a temperature sensor 240 may be provided as shown in FIG. 4, and the fan 220 may be controlled according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 240. As shown in FIG. 4, the temperature sensor 240 is installed near the detector 25 and is used to monitor the temperature of the detector 25. The temperature sensor 240 may be disposed downstream of the heat source 230. For example, when the temperature is equal to or lower than a threshold value, the fan 220 may be driven, and when the temperature exceeds the threshold value, the fan 220 may be stopped. The drive control of the fan 220 based on the temperature may be hysteresis control.

[0065] Also, for example, in the above embodiment, the OCT device 1 is an SD-OCT, but this is not necessarily limited to this, and other imaging methods may be adopted. For example, it may be a time-domain OCT (TD-OCT) or a swept source OCT (SS-OCT). In these cases, too, when the light receiving element of the detector has temperature characteristics that are unfavorable for signal detection at low temperatures, it becomes possible to quickly perform imaging at an appropriate temperature. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1 OCT device 3 Base unit 25 Detector (spectrometer) 230 Heat source

Claims

1. a heat source, a detector that detects interference light between measurement light irradiated on the eye to be examined and reference light, a housing portion that houses the heat source and the detector so that the detector is warmed by heat from the heat source, An OCT apparatus comprising:

2. An imaging unit including a scanning unit for scanning measurement light on the eye to be examined and an objective optical system for guiding the measurement light from the scanning unit to the eye to be examined, a base unit disposed below the imaging unit, The OCT apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing portion is provided in the base unit.

3. The housing portion further includes a blowing device for guiding heat from the heat source to the detector, The detector is disposed on the downstream side of the heat source and the blowing device in an air flow path formed based on the drive of the blowing device. The OCT apparatus according to claim 1.

4. The heat source is any one of a processor, a power supply circuit, a driver for optical components and a power supply circuit, a communication circuit, a light source, and an actuator body. The OCT apparatus according to claim 1.

5. The detector is a spectrometer in which a plurality of optical elements including at least a grating that disperses interference light between the measurement light and the reference light and a light receiving element that detects the dispersed interference light are held by a mounting portion. The OCT apparatus according to claim 1.

Images