OCT Imaging System Relay Lens Alignment Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current OCT imaging systems face challenges in accurately centering the OCT scan origin on the optical axis of the eye during ophthalmic surgeries due to mechanical offsets between the retinal viewing lens system (RVLS) and the microscope, requiring manual adjustments that are time-consuming and prone to uncertainty.
Innovation Solution
A control system that performs radial scans of the relay lens surface to determine lateral and angular offsets, allowing for automatic adjustment of the OCT imaging system to center the scan origin accurately, eliminating the need for manual recentering and reducing surgical complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual adjustment of OCT scan origin is performed to correct lateral offset, then alignment accuracy is improved, but surgical time is increased and complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary radial scans of the relay lens surface to pre-determine the lateral offset between the optical axis and the RVLS mechanical interface. This preliminary measurement allows the OCT scan origin to be automatically adjusted without requiring manual intervention during the surgical procedure, thus maintaining high alignment accuracy while reducing surgical time.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system automatically adjusts the OCT scan origin based on the measured lateral offset without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously correcting the alignment, eliminating the need for surgeons to perform time-consuming manual adjustments while maintaining precise alignment accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If manual adjustment of OCT scan origin is performed to correct lateral offset, then alignment accuracy is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated control system that uses radial scanning and computational algorithms to determine and correct lateral offset. The control system automatically calculates the offset based on scan data and adjusts the OCT scan origin accordingly, eliminating the need for complex manual adjustment mechanisms while maintaining high alignment accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If preset alignment offsets are used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision is worsened due to theoretical model limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs radial scans of the actual relay lens surface to obtain real feedback data about the lateral offset. This empirical feedback from actual scanning replaces theoretical preset values, allowing the system to automatically adapt to the specific optical path and RVLS configuration. The feedback mechanism ensures high alignment accuracy while maintaining ease of operation through automated adjustment.
4Measurement precision
If radial scans are performed to determine lateral offset, then alignment accuracy is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The radial scanning capability is integrated into the existing OCT imaging system, allowing the same hardware to serve multiple functions: both performing medical imaging and measuring the lateral offset for alignment correction. This multi-functionality approach avoids adding separate dedicated measurement devices, thereby improving alignment accuracy while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.
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 system enhances the accuracy and speed of OCT image alignment, reducing surgical time and minimizing errors associated with mechanical misalignment, thereby increasing surgeon confidence and precision in visualizing anatomical features.
Implementation Method 1
performing at least one radial scan of a surface of the relay lens (172)... determining, from scan data of the at least one radial scan, at least one curve corresponding to a shape of the surface of the relay lens (172)
Implementation Method 2
Optical coherence tomography is based on low-coherence interferometry, typically employing near-infrared light
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a control system for an optical coherence tomography imaging system to be used with a microscopy system for viewing and/or imaging a subject (190, 192), the microscopy system comprising an objective (164) and a viewing lens system (170) including a relay lens (172), wherein the viewing lens system (170) is arranged at a subject's side of the objective (164), the control system being configured to perform the following steps: controlling the optical coherence tomography imaging system to perform at least one radial scan of a surface (176) of the relay lens (172), determining, from data of the at least one radial scan at least one curve corresponding to a shape of the surface (176) of the relay lens (172), determining (520), from the at least one curve a lateral offset (178) between a center of the relay lens (172) and an origin of the optical coherence tomography imaging system, and adjusting the origin of the optical coherence tomography imaging system taking into account to the lateral offset (178), to an arrangement with an OCT imaging system and a method for adjusting an OCT imaging system.