Field Scanning OCT Parallel Photon Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems face challenges in achieving high-speed and stable imaging due to mechanical motion limitations and phase instability, particularly in clinical settings where real-time imaging is required, and existing methods struggle to accurately quantify tissue-related optical attenuation coefficients in highly scattering media.
Innovation Solution
The Field Scanning OCT (FSOCT) system enables simultaneous detection of backscattered photons from multiple orientations, overcoming mechanical motion constraints and allowing for faster and more stable imaging by parallelly detecting photons, which facilitates the reconstruction of Backscattered Photon Profiles (BSPP) for improved PSF and MTF analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical scanning is used to capture offset photons, then backscattered photons from multiple orientations can be detected, but imaging speed is limited and phase stability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical scanning with a fixed interferometer configuration that uses optical paths to achieve the same detection capability. Instead of mechanically moving components to capture photons from different orientations, the system uses a stationary setup with multiple optical paths that simultaneously detect backscattered photons, thereby eliminating mechanical motion limitations and achieving real-time imaging.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical scanning is used to capture offset photons, then backscattered photons from multiple orientations can be detected, but phase stability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical scanning with a fixed interferometer configuration that uses optical paths to achieve the same detection capability. Instead of mechanically moving components to capture photons from different orientations, the system uses a stationary setup with multiple optical paths that simultaneously detect backscattered photons, thereby eliminating mechanical motion limitations and achieving real-time imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements simultaneous detection of backscattered photons from multiple orientations through parallel optical paths, eliminating the sequential nature of mechanical scanning. This continuous, parallel detection approach maintains phase stability by capturing all necessary data at the same moment rather than through time-dependent mechanical movements.
3Measurement precision
If single-scattering model is used to extract OAC, then tissue optical properties can be quantified, but multiple scattered photons are ignored leading to significant variation in highly scattering media
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements simultaneous detection of backscattered photons from multiple orientations through parallel optical paths, eliminating the sequential nature of mechanical scanning. This continuous, parallel detection approach maintains phase stability by capturing all necessary data at the same moment rather than through time-dependent mechanical movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates least scattered photons (LSPs) from multiple scattered photons (MSPs) by detecting photons at offset positions from the illumination beam. This segmentation allows the system to identify and quantify LSPs specifically, which carry accurate spatial location information, thereby improving OAC measurement accuracy in highly scattering media while accounting for the presence of MSPs.
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
FSOCT significantly enhances imaging speed and stability, enabling real-time acquisition of OCT images and accurate separation of least and multiple scattered photons, thereby improving the quantification of tissue optical properties and clinical usability.
Implementation Method 1
an interferometer using methods to capture backscattered photons
Implementation Method 2
The contrast in OCT images originates from backscattered photons, resulting from the refractive index variation in tissue
Implementation Method 3
The light backscattered from the sample is focused through a lens onto a detector array, enabling simultaneous detection of photons from the illuminated spot and offset positions
Data Source
AI summary
A Field Scanning OCT (FSOCT) system that overcomes the bottleneck of imaging speed through simultaneous (parallel) detection of photons from a sample. This provides phase stability during imaging. The herein-disclosed FSOCT methods and devices detect backscattered photons in parallel simultaneously from multiple locations without relying on mechanical motion to capture them at offset positions at different times. This significantly improves the performance of OCT imaging.