Microscope OCT Calibration via Marking Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microscopes with OCT modules face calibration challenges due to external influences and individual optical deviations in patients, leading to discrepancies between microscope and OCT images, especially with externally arranged OCT modules that are more susceptible to mechanical influences.
Innovation Solution
A microscope system with an optical module, an OCT module, and a control device that uses a marking element with a depression and/or elevation to determine the relative spatial position from both optical and tomographic recordings, enabling precise calibration and alignment between the modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If externally arranged OCT modules are used with microscopes, then the microscope can be more easily configured and modified, but the OCT modules become more susceptible to external mechanical influences leading to frequent misalignments
Solution Approach 1:
A marking element is introduced as an intermediary reference object that is visible in both the microscope image and the OCT image. This marking element serves as a common reference point that mediates the alignment between the externally arranged OCT module and the microscope, enabling accurate spatial correspondence despite the modular, non-rigid connection between components.
2Manufacturing precision
If calibration is performed during microscope production, then initial alignment between components is established, but calibration errors accumulate over time due to temperature changes, transport effects, and long-term use
Solution Approach 1:
A marking element is pre-positioned on or near the medical instrument before use. This preliminary placement of the reference marker enables subsequent calibration procedures to be performed quickly and accurately by providing a known reference point that is visible in both imaging modalities, eliminating the need for complex recalibration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the marking element to provide feedback on the relative spatial position between the microscope and OCT module. By detecting the position of the marking element in both images and comparing it to the expected position, the system can identify and correct calibration drift, ensuring long-term alignment accuracy.
3Ease of manufacture
If calibration is based on a standard model of the eye, then general alignment is achieved, but individual optical deviations of the patient's eye remain unconsidered
Solution Approach 1:
The marking element on the actual medical instrument being used serves as a patient-specific reference. Instead of relying on a generic standard model, the system uses the actual instrument's positioning and the visible marking element to establish accurate correspondence between the microscope and OCT images for that specific patient and instrument configuration.
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
Facilitates a permanent, reliable mapping between microscope and OCT images, allowing for quick and precise calibration during medical treatments with minimal setup, maintaining long-term stability and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
the optical module (2) configured to generate optical image representations
Implementation Method 2
In the case of optical coherence tomography, light in the infrared range is radiated onto body tissue and, as a rule, said infrared light penetrates a few millimeters into the body tissue. The light scattered back from different depths of the body tissue is detected
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope is provided which includes an optical module, an OCT module, and a control device. The optical module is configured to generate optical image representations. The OCT module is configured to generate tomographic recordings. The control device is configured to determine the relative spatial position of a marking element, in each case from an optical image representation of the marking element and from a tomographic recording of the same marking element.