Common-Path OCT Scanner Reducing Mechanical Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intraoral OCT imaging faces challenges due to size and cost constraints, mechanical drift, sensitivity to vibrations, high maintenance needs, and image distortion caused by fluids and tissue characteristics, making it difficult to achieve accurate and reliable imaging of intraoral structures.
Innovation Solution
A wavelength-tunable light source and a common-path optical coherence tomography scanner design with multiple channels, using a scanning probe and light circulator to direct light through optical fibers for both sample and reference signals, reducing the need for mechanical adjustments and increasing imaging speed and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional OCT systems use adjustable mechanical reference arms with multiple optical components, then optical path matching can be achieved, but device size, weight, cost, and mechanical complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the adjustable mechanical reference arm components (translation stages, kinematic mounts, adjustable mirrors) from the optical system. Instead, it uses a fixed reference arm where the optical path length is determined by fixed optical components, eliminating the need for mechanical adjustment mechanisms while maintaining optical path matching capability through fixed geometric relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical adjustment system with an optical/electronic solution. The fixed reference arm uses precise optical component positioning and fixed path geometry to achieve optical path matching without mechanical stages or adjustable mirrors. The system substitutes mechanical tunability with fixed optical design that achieves the same functional result.
2Ease of operation
If conventional OCT systems include multiple optical mounts, translation stages, and adjustable components, then optical path adjustment is enabled, but sensitivity to vibration and mechanical drift increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes translation stages, adjustable mounts, and mechanical adjustment components from the reference arm. By extracting these sensitive mechanical elements, the system eliminates the primary sources of vibration sensitivity and mechanical drift while maintaining the ability to achieve optical path matching through fixed geometric relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical adjustment and alignment system with a fixed optical path design. Instead of using adjustable components that require mechanical stability, the system uses fixed optical components positioned in rigid mounting structures, substituting mechanical tunability with fixed geometric precision that is inherently more resistant to vibration and drift.
3Reliability
If conventional OCT systems use specially designed enclosures to protect optical components, then contamination is prevented, but device size, weight, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the specially designed protective enclosures from the optical system. By eliminating these bulky enclosure structures, the system reduces device size, weight, and complexity while maintaining optical component protection through alternative means such as integrated sealing or protected optical paths within the compact hand-held form factor.
4Measurement precision
If conventional OCT systems require precision matching of sampling and reference arm optical paths, then accurate interference signals are obtained, but maintenance time and downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adjustable mechanical reference arm components that require periodic realignment and maintenance. By extracting these maintenance-intensive components and replacing them with fixed optical paths, the system maintains interference signal accuracy while eliminating the need for regular precision realignment and reducing maintenance time and downtime.
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
The solution enables more efficient and cost-effective intraoral OCT imaging by reducing mechanical complexity, minimizing image distortion, and improving scanning speed and accuracy, making it more suitable for clinical use.
Implementation Method 1
a wavelength-tunable light source configured to generate scanning light having a range of wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
Interference effects are used to determine characteristics of the surface and near-surface underlying structure of the sample
Implementation Method 3
the detector forms a digital output signal indicative of interference of the combined sample and reference signals
Data Source
AI summary
An optical coherence tomography scanner for imaging an intraoral sample has a wavelength-tunable light source configured to generate scanning light having a range of wavelengths and a scanning probe having a scanning head. A light circulator is configured to direct the scanning light to a first sample arm having at least a first optical fiber for conveying light to the sample, to direct a sample signal, having scattered and reflected light from the sample, back from the first optical fiber, to a detector, and to direct a reference signal, having light reflected back along the first optical fiber from a partially reflective surface at the scanning head, to the detector. The detector forms a digital output signal indicative of interference of the combined sample and reference signals. A display is configured to form an image of sample features according to the digital output signal.