OCT Transverse Motion Tracking with Magnitude and Direction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems are unable to effectively track both the magnitude and direction of transverse motion, which is crucial for improving image quality and flow measurements in micro-circulation studies, as existing methods only extract speed and not direction of motion.
Innovation Solution
An OCT system that scans an object with a light source in a spatial pattern around multiple points of interest over time, using a signal processor to determine both the magnitude and direction of relative motion by processing detection signals from the reflected or scattered light, employing novel image analysis methods to extract parameters related to speed and direction from 2D and 3D data sets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If speckle decorrelation analysis is used for transverse motion tracking, then speed extraction is achieved, but direction of motion cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from analyzing only intensity-based speckle patterns (1D speed magnitude) to utilizing complex OCT signal phase information (adding directional dimension). By incorporating phase data from multiple A-scans and analyzing phase changes across different spatial locations, the system extracts both speed magnitude and direction, effectively adding a dimensional aspect to the motion tracking measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces phase information as an intermediary parameter between the raw OCT signals and the final motion characteristics. Instead of directly measuring displacement from intensity changes alone, the phase of the OCT signals serves as a mediator that encodes both magnitude and direction of motion, allowing simultaneous extraction of complete motion vectors.
2Device complexity
If conventional motion tracking methods are used, then processing complexity is reduced, but both magnitude and direction of motion cannot be simultaneously determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the motion analysis into distinct computational stages: first extracting phase information from individual A-scans, then analyzing phase changes across multiple A-scans to determine velocity, and finally calculating both magnitude and direction components. This segmentation of the processing pipeline makes the complex task of simultaneous magnitude and direction measurement more manageable and implementable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the problem from 1D speed measurement to 2D velocity vector measurement by utilizing the complex nature of OCT signals. The phase component provides the additional dimensional information needed to resolve direction, while the amplitude provides magnitude, allowing complete characterization of transverse motion through multi-dimensional signal analysis.
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
Enables accurate and quantitative tracking of both speed and direction of transverse motion, improving image quality and flow measurements by resolving motion artifacts and providing a reliable method for transverse motion analysis.
Implementation Method 1
receive detection signals from the illumination beam of light after being reflected from the object under observation
Implementation Method 2
receive detection signals from the illumination beam of light after being scattered from the object under observation
Implementation Method 3
transverse flow measurement and transverse motion tracking based on speckle decorrelation analysis
Implementation Method 4
process the detection signals to determine both magnitude and direction of relative motion
Data Source
AI summary
An optical coherence tomography (OCT) system having magnitude and direction of motion detection has a light source, and a scanning system arranged in an optical path of the light source. The scanning system is configured to scan an illumination beam of light in a spatial pattern around each of a plurality of points of interest of an object under observation for a corresponding plurality of instants of time in which each of the plurality of points of interest are displaced from each other due to motion of at least one of the OCT system or the object under observation. The OCT system also includes an OCT detection system configured and arranged to receive at least a portion of the illumination beam of light after being at least one of reflected or scattered from said the under observation, and a signal processor configured to communicate with the OCT detection system to receive detection signals therefrom. The signal processor is configured to process the detection signals to determine both magnitude and direction of relative motion of the OCT system from a first one of the plurality of points at a first corresponding time to a second one of the plurality of points at a second corresponding time.