Autofocus Imager for OCT Arm Length Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current OCT systems in ophthalmic surgery require manual adjustments to ensure optimal imaging, which can be impractical, especially when integrated with surgical microscopes, leading to suboptimal interference patterns and images due to potential differences in the lengths of the reference and sample arms.
Innovation Solution
A visualization system incorporating an autofocus imager that adjusts the OCT system's reference and sample arms by determining the distance and focal length of the autofocus imager lens, allowing for automated optimization of the OCT scanning process, ensuring minimal differences between the lengths of the reference and sample arms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustments are used to optimize OCT imaging, then imaging quality can be improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to the impracticality of manual adjustments during surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an autofocus imager to automatically detect the sample position and generate control signals that adjust the reference arm length and sample arm focus, enabling the OCT system to self-optimize without manual intervention during surgical procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The autofocus imager continuously monitors the sample position and provides feedback signals to the processor, which then adjusts the OCT system parameters in real-time to maintain optimal imaging conditions throughout the procedure
2Adaptability or versatility
If the OCT system is integrated with the surgical microscope, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases due to multiple optical paths
Solution Approach 1:
The dichroic mirror serves multiple functions by simultaneously reflecting the OCT source beam to the sample and allowing non-OCT light from the surgical microscope to pass through to the camera, enabling a single optical component to handle multiple wavelengths and functions
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the OCT imaging path and the surgical microscope visualization path into a single integrated system, where both optical paths share common components such as the dichroic mirror and beam splitters to reduce overall system complexity
3Productivity
If automated optimization is implemented using the autofocus imager, then productivity improves by reducing manual intervention, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The autofocus imager acts as an intermediary device that bridges the surgical microscope and OCT systems, capturing non-OCT light to determine sample position and generating control signals that automatically optimize the OCT imaging parameters without requiring direct manual adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment mechanisms with an automated optical system using the autofocus imager and processor to detect sample position and electronically control the reference arm length and sample arm focus, eliminating the need for manual mechanical intervention
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables more analyzable interference patterns and optimized OCT images by automatically adjusting the OCT system's arms, improving imaging accuracy and reducing the need for manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
a dichroic mirror operable to allow non-OCT light to substantially pass through and operable to reflect the sample beam
Implementation Method 2
an OCT beam splitter operable to split the OCT source beam into a sample beam that travels along a sample arm until it is reflected by a sample to form a reflected sample beam, and a reference beam that travels along a reference arm
Implementation Method 3
When the reflected sample beam and reflected reference beam are combined, an interference pattern is generated, which may be used to measure distances and depth profiles of the sample and other information
Implementation Method 4
a visualization beam splitter operable to direct non-OCT light into both the surgical microscope and an autofocus imager
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a visualization system for performing optimized optical coherence tomography (OCT) by determining the absolute distance between the OCT source and a sample. The present disclosure also provides a method for optimizing OCT, which includes determining an absolute distance between the OCT source and a sample using data relating to the focal length or position of an autofocus imager lens.