Optical coherence tomography device, method, and system

An optical coherence tomography instrument comprising:

• first and second oculars for receiving a pair of eyes of a user;
• a light source that outputs light that is directed through the first and second oculars to the user's eyes;
• an interferometer configured to produce optical interference using light reflected from the user's eye;
• an optical detector disposed so as to detect said optical interference;
• and
• electronics coupled to the detector and configured to provide an output to a user based on optical coherence tomography measurements obtained using said interferometer.

An optical coherence tomography instrument comprising:

• an eyepiece for receiving at least one eye of a user;
• a light source that outputs a beam that is directed through the eyepiece to the user's eye;
• an interferometer configured to produce optical interference using light reflected from the user's eye;
• an optical detector disposed so as to detect said optical interference;
• a electronics coupled to the detector and configured to automatically perform a diagnosis based on optical coherence tomography measurements obtained using said interferometer;
• and
• an output device electrically coupled to the electronics, said output device configured to output the diagnosis to the user through the output device.

An optical coherence tomography instrument for providing self-administered disease screening, said instrument comprising:

• an eyepiece for receiving at least one eye of a user;
• a light source that outputs a beam that is directed through the eyepiece to the user's eye;
• an interferometer configured to produce optical interference using light reflected from the user's eye;
• an optical detector disposed so as to detect said optical interference;
• a processor in communication with the detector and configured to identify one or more diseases that the user may manifest indications of based on optical coherence tomography measurements obtained using said interferometer;
• and
• an output device electrically coupled to the electronics, said output device configured to alert the user.

An optical coherence tomography instrument comprising:

• an eyepiece for receiving at least one eye of a user;
• at least one target display visible through said eyepieces;
• a light source that outputs light that is directed through the eyepiece to the user's eye;
• an interferometer configured to produce optical interference using light reflected from the user's eye;
• an optical detector disposed so as to detect said optical interference;
• and
• electronics coupled to the target display and said detector and configured to provide an output to a user based on optical coherence tomography measurements obtained using said interferometer,
• wherein said electronics is further configured to produce features on said target display of varying size and receive user responses to test a user's visual acuity.

An optical coherence tomography instrument comprising:

• an eyepiece for receiving at least one eye of a user;
• a light source that outputs light that is directed through the eyepiece to the user's eye;
• an interferometer configured to produce optical interference using light reflected from the user's eye;
• an optical detector disposed so as to detect said optical interference;
• electronics coupled to the detector and configured to provide an output to a user based on optical coherence tomography measurements;
• and
• a card reader configured to receive a card from said user, said card reader in communication with said electronics to transmit signals thereto to authorize said electronics to provide the output to said user.

An optical coherence tomography instrument comprising:

• an eyepiece for receiving at least one eye of a user;
• a light source that outputs light that is directed through the eyepiece to the user's eye;
• an interferometer configured to produce optical interference using light reflected from the user's eye;
• an optical detector disposed so as to detect said optical interference;
• electronics coupled to the detector and configured to provide an output to a user based on optical coherence tomography measurements obtained using said interferometer;
• memory that includes a list of healthcare providers;
• and
• an output device electrically coupled to the electronics to provide an output to said user,
• wherein said electronics is configured to access said memory to provide at least a portion of said list in said output to said user.

An optical coherence tomography instrument comprising:

• an eyepiece for receiving at least one eye of a user;
• a light source that outputs light that is directed through the eyepiece to the user's eye;
• an interferometer configured to produce optical interference using light reflected from the user's eye;
• an optical detector disposed so as to detect said optical interference;
• electronics coupled to the detector and configured to provide an output to a user based on optical coherence tomography measurements obtained using said interferometer;
• and
• an output device electrically coupled to the electronics and configured to provide an output to said user,
• wherein said electronics is configured to provide a recommended deadline for consulting a healthcare provider based on the patient's risk level of having certain types of diseases as determined using said optical coherence tomography measurements.

An optical coherence tomography instrument comprising:

• an eyepiece for receiving an eye of a user;
• a light source that outputs a light beam that is directed through the eyepiece to the user's eye;
• an interferometer configured to produce optical interference using light reflected from the user's eye;
• an optical detector disposed so as to detect said optical interference;
• an array of display elements visible to the user through the eyepiece, said array of display elements configured to display a display target at different locations across the array;
• and
• electronics in communication with said array of display elements and said detector, said electronics configured to use said position of said display target on said array of display elements to associate optical coherence tomography measurements with spatial locations.

An optical coherence tomography instrument comprising:

• an eyepiece for receiving a subject's eye;
• a light source that outputs light that is directed through the eyepiece to the subject's eye;
• an interferometer configured to produce optical interference using light reflected from the user's eye;
• an optical detector disposed so as to detect said optical interference;
• and
• memory including statistical information correlating optical coherence tomography measurements with risk of at least one disease;
• electronics coupled to the detector and configured to access said memory to compare data obtained based on optical coherence tomography measurements of said subject's eye using said interferometer with said statistical information to provide an assessment of said subject's risk of having said at least one disease.

An optical coherence tomography instrument comprising:

• an eyepiece for receiving an eye of a user;
• a light source that outputs light that is directed through the eyepiece to the user's eye;
• an adjustable optical element configured to alter the focus of the light directed into the user's eye;
• an interferometer configured to produce optical interference using light reflected from the user's eye;
• an optical detector disposed so as to detect said optical interference;
• electronics coupled to the detector and configured to provide an output to a user based on optical coherence tomography measurements obtained using said interferometer;
• and
• an output device electrically coupled to the electronics and configured to provide an output to said user,
• wherein said electronics is configured to adjust said optical element to focus said light using a signal from said detector.

A risk-assessment instrument comprising:

• an eyepiece for receiving at least one eye of a user;
• an optical coherence tomography system configured to detect light reflected from the user's eye;
• an optical detector disposed so as to detect said reflected light;
• electronics coupled to the detector and configured to perform a risk assessment analysis based on optical coherence tomography measurements obtained using said optical coherence tomography system;
• and
• an output device electrically coupled to the electronics, said output device configured to output the risk assessment to the user through the output device.