Eye Tracking for Motion Corrected OCT Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems are vulnerable to lateral motion artifacts due to patient movement, particularly in anterior segment imaging, which corrupts volumetric data and affects image quality, as they rely on manual alignment and are not effective in compensating for involuntary motions like micro-saccades and tremors.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an eye tracking system that determines pupil movement and location to control OCT scanners, allowing for real-time relocation of the OCT scan pivot or system image plane, thereby mitigating lateral motion artifacts and maintaining alignment during imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional OCT systems use manual alignment and fixed scanning, then device complexity is reduced, but image quality deteriorates due to lateral motion artifacts from patient movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an eye tracking device to continuously monitor pupil position and provides real-time feedback to the controller, which adjusts the scanner position accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism compensates for lateral motion artifacts caused by patient movement, thereby improving image quality without requiring overly complex manual intervention systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The OCT system performs self-alignment through automated eye tracking and scanner relocation. The system independently detects pupil movement and adjusts its scanning position without requiring continuous manual realignment by an operator, enabling the device to service itself during the imaging process.
2Measurement precision
If real-time eye tracking is implemented to correct motion artifacts, then image accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional tracking and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The scanner serves dual functions: it performs the primary OCT imaging function and simultaneously acts as the tracking target for the eye tracking device. By imaging the scanner itself, the system eliminates the need for separate tracking markers or additional complex tracking hardware, thereby improving image accuracy while controlling device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical alignment systems with an optical-based eye tracking and image processing approach. Instead of using mechanical stages and manual alignment mechanisms, the system uses optical tracking of the pupil and computational relocation of the scan pivot, substituting mechanical complexity with optical and computational solutions.
3Manufacturing precision
If the scanner is continuously moved to track pupil position, then motion artifacts are reduced, but imaging speed decreases due to relocation overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary tracking of the pupil position during the volumetric acquisition process. By continuously monitoring and predicting pupil movement throughout the scan sequence, the system can proactively adjust the scanner position to anticipate motion artifacts, thereby maintaining motion correction while minimizing interruptions to the imaging speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanner relocation is performed dynamically during the imaging process rather than as discrete interruptions. The system continuously adjusts the scan pivot position in real-time based on pupil tracking data, enabling smooth, continuous motion correction that maintains imaging speed while reducing motion artifacts.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for eye tracking for motion corrected ophthalmic optical coherence tomography (OCT) are disclosed. According to an aspect, an imaging system includes an eye tracking device configured to determine movement of an eye. The imaging system also includes an OCT apparatus configured to generate OCT images of a retina of the eye. The OCT apparatus includes a scanner operable to be moved for relocating an OCT scan pivot at a pupil plane for image capture and during capture of the OCT images. The imaging system also includes a controller configured to control the scanner to relocate the OCT scan pivot at the pupil plane based on the determined movement of the eye.