Parallel OCT Imaging Without Galvanic Mirror Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical coherence tomography (OCT) imagers are expensive and complex due to the use of galvanic mirrors for scanning, limiting their availability and accessibility for conditions like diabetic retinopathy detection.
Innovation Solution
A snapshot spectral domain optical coherence tomographer that uses a system of optical components for parallel imaging, including a beam splitter, optical systems, a parallel interferometer, and a spectrometer to generate and process interferograms, eliminating the need for scanning and reducing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If galvanic mirrors are used for scanning in OCT imagers, then retinal imaging capability is achieved, but device complexity and cost substantially increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the galvanic mirror scanning component from the OCT imager, replacing it with a direct imaging optical path. This eliminates the complex scanning mechanism while preserving the core retinal imaging capability through a simplified optical design that directly captures retinal images without mechanical scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical galvanic mirror scanning system with a static optical imaging system. Instead of using moving mechanical components to scan the retina, the invention uses a fixed optical path with lenses and sensors to directly capture retinal images, substituting mechanical scanning with a purely optical direct imaging approach.
2Reliability
If galvanic mirrors are used for scanning in OCT imagers, then retinal imaging capability is achieved, but cost substantially increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the expensive galvanic mirror scanning subsystem from the OCT imager, retaining only the essential retinal imaging function. This extraction eliminates costly mechanical components while maintaining the core capability to capture retinal images, thereby significantly reducing manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simplified optical design using cost-effective, static optical components instead of expensive, precision mechanical scanning systems. The design uses affordable lenses, beam splitters, and sensors arranged in a fixed configuration, replacing high-cost galvanic mirrors with cheaper alternative optics that achieve the same imaging function.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If galvanic mirrors are used for scanning, then measurement is performed, but response time and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the scanning function from the measurement process by removing galvanic mirrors entirely. The retinal measurement is performed directly through a static optical path, eliminating the time delays associated with mechanical scanning and galvanic mirror response, thereby achieving instantaneous or near-instantaneous image capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures the optical path in a fixed, stationary arrangement before measurement begins. All optical components (lenses, beam splitters, sensors) are positioned in advance in a static configuration that directly captures retinal images without requiring real-time scanning adjustments, eliminating latency during the actual measurement process.
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 low-cost, high-quality retinal imaging without scanning, increasing accessibility to retinal examinations in primary care clinics and home settings.
Implementation Method 1
The principle of OCT is based upon low-coherence interferometry, where the backscatter from more outer retinal tissues can be differentiated from that of more inner tissues because it takes longer for the light to reach the sensor
Implementation Method 2
a spectrometer configured to disperse each of the interferograms into its respective spectral components and project the spectral components of each interferogram in parallel
Implementation Method 3
a photodetector configured to receive the spectral components of each interferogram and provide in parallel photon quantification
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a snapshot spectral domain optical coherence tomographer comprising a light source providing a plurality of beamlets; a beam splitter, splitting the plurality of beamlets into a reference arm and a sample arm; a first optical system that projects the sample arm onto multiple locations of a sample; a second optical system for collection of a plurality of reflected sample beamlets; a third optical system projecting the reference arm to a reflecting surface and receiving a plurality of reflected reference beamlets; a parallel interferometer that provides a plurality of interferograms from each of the plurality of sample beamlets with each of the plurality of reference beamlets; an optical image mapper configured to spatially separate the plurality of interferograms; a spectrometer configured to disperse each of the interferograms into its respective spectral components and project each interferogram in parallel; and a photodetector providing photon quantification.