Angular multiplexed optical coherence tomography systems and methods
AssigneeAMO Development, LLC
InventorsThomas D. Raymond, Devon E. Reid
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Angle multiplexed optical coherence tomography systems and methods can be used to evaluate ocular tissue and other anatomical structures or features of a patient. The angle multiplexed optical coherence tomography system includes a light source, an optical assembly for obtaining a plurality of sample beams corresponding to respective anatomical locations of the eye of the patient, where individual sample beams are associated with a respective non-zero angle relative to a reference beam, and a detection mechanism that detects individual unique interference patterns respectively provided by the plurality of sample beams, for simultaneous evaluation of the anatomical locations.
Claims11
An optical coherence tomography system, comprising:
- a detector comprising an array of pixels;
- a light source configured to supply a sample light beam to an eye and to further supply a reference light beam;
- an optical element configured to direct the reference light beam to the array of pixels;
- and
- an optical splitter configured to divide light returning from the eye into a plurality of individual signal beams each having a corresponding different path length from an output of the optical splitter to the optical element and each corresponding to a respective different anatomical location of the eye,
- wherein each of the individual signal beams impinges on the optical element at a corresponding different angle with respect to the reference light beam, and
- wherein the optical element is configured to direct the plurality of individual signal beams simultaneously to the array of pixels.
A method of optical coherence tomography, comprising:
- supplying a sample light beam from a light source to an eye, and further supplying a reference light beam from the light source;
- an optical element directing the reference light beam to a detector comprising an array of pixels;
- and
- an optical splitter dividing light returning from the eye into a plurality of individual signal beams each having a corresponding different path length from an output of the optical splitter to the optical element, and each corresponding to a respective different anatomical location of the eye,
- wherein each of the individual signal beams impinges on the optical element at a corresponding different angle with respect to the reference light beam, and
- wherein the optical element directs the plurality of individual signal beams simultaneously to the array of pixels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.