SS-OCT Receiver Segmentation for Signal Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current receiver designs for swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) systems are overly complex, unreliable, non-manufacturable, and expensive, limiting their configurations and performance in biomedical and medical imaging applications.
Innovation Solution
A compact and manufacturable imaging system is developed, incorporating an electromagnetic radiation source that varies frequency over time, a detector/interferogram unit to generate interferograms, and a signal processing unit that extracts hybrid data including magnitude, phase, and polarization data to produce high-quality images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional receiver designs are used in SS-OCT systems, then signal detection capability is maintained, but device complexity increases and manufacturing reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver architecture is segmented into distinct functional modules: a first receiver for detecting first interferograms, a second receiver for detecting second interferograms, and a processor that combines these signals. This modular segmentation reduces overall system complexity while maintaining detection capability, as each module can be independently designed and manufactured with standardized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various SS-OCT configurations. The same basic receiver architecture can detect different types of interferograms (first and second types) and process multiple signal modes (polarization sensitive, phase measurements, Doppler imaging) through a unified design, eliminating the need for separate specialized receivers for each application.
2Measurement precision
If complex receiver designs are implemented, then measurement precision may be improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves enhanced measurement precision not through complex hardware but through parameter changes in the signal processing domain. The processor analyzes interferograms and extracts multiple parameters including magnitude, phase, and polarization information by manipulating signal parameters mathematically. This allows high precision measurement while keeping the physical receiver design simple and manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
Complex mechanical receiver designs are replaced with a simpler optical detection system followed by digital signal processing. Instead of using complex analog signal processing hardware, the system uses straightforward optical detection components combined with computational algorithms to achieve the required measurement precision, thereby improving ease of manufacture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple channel systems are used for polarization sensitive OCT and phase measurements, then functional imaging capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single receiver system is designed that can perform multiple functions including polarization sensitive OCT, phase measurements, and Doppler imaging by processing different types of interferograms. The processor is configured to handle various signal modes and extract multiple parameters from the interferograms, eliminating the need for separate dedicated receivers for each functional imaging mode.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple detection channels are merged into a unified receiver architecture. The first and second receivers detect different interferogram types that are then combined and processed together by a single processor. This merging approach maintains the functional imaging capabilities of multichannel systems while reducing overall device complexity and cost through shared components and integrated processing.
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 solution simplifies the receiver architecture, enhances image quality by compensating for system imperfections, and improves sensitivity, making it more reliable and cost-effective for various SS-OCT configurations.
Implementation Method 1
an electro-magnetic radiation source configured to provide a first electro-magnetic radiation to a sample and a second electro-magnetic radiation to a reference, wherein a frequency of radiation provided by the electro-magnetic radiation source varies over time
Implementation Method 2
a detector/interferogram unit configured to detect an interference between a third radiation associated with the first radiation and a fourth radiation associated with the second radiation and generate at least one interferogram
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices and methods of producing an image are provided. A electro-magnetic radiation source provides electro-magnetic radiation to a sample and a reference. A detector/interferogram unit produces at least one interferogram that is supplied to a signal processing unit. The signal processing unit extracts phase, magnitude, and/or polarization data from the supplied signals, and produces an image based on at least the extracted data.