OCT Reference Arm Length Adjustment for Retinal Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmic imaging systems for retinal imaging face challenges in efficiently adjusting the reference arm length for Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) devices due to anatomical variations among users, leading to increased imaging time and reduced field of view, especially without mechanisms to adjust the sample arm length or objective lens distance.
Innovation Solution
An ophthalmic imaging system that includes a viewer assembly to restrain the user's head, a control unit to determine and store user-specific reference arm lengths, and a reference arm length adjustment module to vary the reference arm length within a smaller user-specific range, reducing the time to find the optimal imaging position and maintaining a consistent sample arm length across sessions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the reference arm length is adjusted to accommodate anatomical variations among users, then the system can image different users, but the imaging time increases due to the need to search through a large range of reference arm lengths
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by determining a user-specific reference arm length range before actual retinal imaging. The control unit controls the reference arm length adjustment module to vary the reference arm length within this predetermined smaller range to search for the optimal length, rather than searching through the entire adjustable range during imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference arm length adjustment range is segmented into a smaller user-specific range. The control unit is configured to store and utilize this user-specific range, which is substantially smaller than the full reference arm length adjustment range, thereby reducing the search space and imaging time.
2Area of stationary object
If the sample arm length or objective lens distance is made adjustable, then the field of view can be optimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the field of view optimization problem from the sample arm length adjustment mechanism and relocates it to the reference arm length adjustment. By adjusting the reference arm length within a user-specific range, the system achieves field of view optimization without adding sample arm length adjustment mechanisms or objective lens distance adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference arm length acts as an intermediary parameter to achieve field of view optimization. Instead of directly adjusting the sample arm length or objective lens distance, the system uses the reference arm length adjustment as a mediator to indirectly optimize the field of view while maintaining fixed sample arm length and objective lens distance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a large reference arm length adjustment range is used to accommodate all users, then all users can be imaged, but the time to find the optimal reference arm length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter range from the full reference arm length adjustment range to a smaller user-specific range. The control unit stores this user-specific range and controls the reference arm length adjustment module to operate within it, thereby changing the operational parameters to achieve both user accommodation and improved imaging efficiency.
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
This approach significantly reduces the time required to image the retina by identifying a user-specific range of reference arm lengths, enhancing imaging efficiency and maintaining a consistent field of view, even without adjustable sample arm lengths or objective lens distance mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique relying on low coherence interferometry that can be used to generate a cross-sectional image of the macula
Data Source
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AI summary
Retinal imaging systems and related methods employ a user specific approach for controlling the reference arm length in an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging device. A method includes restraining a user's head relative to an OCT imaging device. A reference arm length adjustment module is controlled to vary a reference arm length to search a user specific range of reference arm lengths to identify a reference arm length for which the OCT image detector produces an OCT signal corresponding to the retina of the user. The user specific range of reference arm lengths covers a smaller range of reference arm lengths than a reference arm length adjustment range of the reference arm length adjustment module.