Frequency-domain interferometric based imaging systems and methods

A frequency-domain interferometric imaging system for imaging a light scattering object comprising:

• a light source for generating a light beam;
• a beam divider for separating the light beam into reference and sample arms, wherein the sample arm contains the light scattering object to be imaged;
• sample optics for delivering the light beam in the sample arm to the light scattering object to be imaged, the light beam in the sample arm defining a line beam illuminating a linear area spanning a plurality of A-scan locations on the light scattering object at the same time, the linear area defining a first linear field of view (FOV), the sample optics including a beam scanner for scanning the line beam in a direction parallel to, and along, the line beam in the sample arm, so that the linear area is moved to illuminate the object at a plurality of locations defining a scan line having a second linear FOV longer than the first linear FOV;
• a detector having a plurality of photosensitive elements defining a light-capturing region including a plurality of spatially resolvable A-scan capturing locations arranged to simultaneously capture the plurality of A-scan locations spanned by the linear area, allowing the plurality of A-scan locations to be captured at the same time in parallel with the plurality of photosensitive elements;
• return optics for combining light scattered from the object and light from the reference arm and directing the combined light to the spatially resolvable A-scan capturing locations on the detector, the light capturing region of said detector collecting the combined light at the plurality of spatially resolvable A-scan capturing locations at the same time and generating signals in response thereto;
• and
• a processor for processing the signals collected at the plurality of locations and for generating image data of the object based on the processed signals, said image data spanning a linear region longer than the linear area illuminated by the line beam.