Binocular OCT System Using Swept Light Source for Simultaneous Eye Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current OCT imaging systems capture images of one eye at a time, leading to a slow imaging process, and binocular systems require duplication of hardware, increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A binocular OCT imaging system using a swept light source with a long coherence length, allowing simultaneous imaging of both eyes with fewer components, including a single photodetector and a single reference arm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional OCT imaging system is used to image both eyes, then imaging completeness is improved, but imaging speed deteriorates due to sequential imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the detection of interference signals into separate frequency bands using spectral filtering. A first frequency band corresponds to the first eye and a second frequency band corresponds to the second eye, allowing simultaneous imaging of both eyes through a single photodetector by separating their signals in the frequency domain
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical path length difference between the first and second sample arms that creates a frequency separation between the interference signals from the two eyes. This transforms the spatial problem of separating two eyes into a frequency domain problem, enabling simultaneous detection without hardware duplication
2Adaptability or versatility
If binocular OCT imaging is implemented with duplicate hardware for each eye, then imaging capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the detection functions for both eyes into a single photodetector. By combining the interference signals from both sample arms and using spectral filtering to separate the frequency bands, the system achieves binocular imaging capability with shared hardware components, reducing complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
A single photodetector performs multiple functions by detecting interference signals from both the first and second sample arms simultaneously. The spectral filtering module enables this universal detector to selectively process signals from different eyes by separating them in the frequency domain
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
Enables fast and cost-effective simultaneous imaging of both eyes, reducing the need for duplicate hardware and improving the efficiency of the imaging process.
Implementation Method 1
a tunable light source with a narrow linewidth has the optical frequency of its light rapidly swept across a broad spectral bandwidth
Implementation Method 2
A light beam generated by the swept light source 10 is split into two beams by the beam splitter 20
Implementation Method 3
a first of the beams being guided along a reference arm of the interferometer to the reference mirror 30, and a second of the beams is guided along a sample arm of the interferometer towards an eye 70
Implementation Method 4
The back-reflected light travelling along the reference arm and the backscattered light travelling along the sample arm are then combined at the photodetector 50 to generate an interference light signal
Implementation Method 5
an interference signal is detected by a photodetector of the SS-OCT imaging system as a function of the frequency
Data Source
AI summary
A binocular OCT imaging system for simultaneously imaging regions of a first eye and second eye using an interferometer having a reference arm, first sample arm and second sample arm, by: obtaining an electrical signal (S) having first frequency components spanning a first band and caused by interference between reference light in the reference arm with light reflected from the first eye in the first sample arm, and second frequency components spanning a second band and caused by interference between the reference light and light reflected from the second eye in the second sample arm; and generating OCT images of: the region of the first eye using first frequency components in a portion of the first band not overlapping the second band; and the region of the second eye using second frequency components in a portion of the second band not overlapping the first band.