System and method for imaging retinal tissue with tissue generated light
AssigneeHeidelberg Engineering GmbH
InventorJosef F. Bille
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for imaging retinal tissues in an eye generates an input light beam having ultra-short pulses and an input wavelength (λi) to stimulate the tissue. Depending on the particular type tissue being imaged, the retinal tissue responds to the input beam by generating a return beam of light having first and second components of different wavelengths (λr1 and λr2). An imaging unit then receives the return light and images the tissue according to the return wavelength (λr1 vis-a-vis λr2). Additionally, a sensor unit is used to evaluate light returning from the retina to measure optical and phase aberrations introduced by the eye, and to program a compensator (e.g. an active mirror) that compensates the input beam by removing the aberrations.
Claims20
A system for imaging retinal tissues of an eye which comprises:
- a laser unit for generating an input beam having a wavelength οi, and for directing the input beam to a spot in the retina of an eye to generate a return beam from a retinal tissue, wherein the return beam has a first component with a wavelength λr1, and a second component with a wavelength λr2, wherein λi≠λr1≠λr2;
- a sensor unit for evaluating light returned from the retina to identify optical and phase aberrations introduced into the return beam by components of the eye;
- a compensator responsive to the sensor unit for altering the input beam to compensate the input beam by removing optical aberrations therefrom;
- and
- an imaging unit for receiving the return beam and imaging the retinal tissue by using a selected component in the return beam (λr1 vis-a-vis λr2).
A system for imaging tissues of an eye which comprises:
- a laser means for directing an input beam onto a target tissue to be imaged, wherein the input beam includes a plurality of femto-second pulses having a wavelength “λi” and wherein the input beam generates a return beam from the target tissue having a first component with a wavelength “λr1” in response to a first target tissue, and a second component with a wavelength “λr2” in response to a second target tissue, and further wherein λi≠λr1≠λr2;
- and
- an imaging unit for selecting a component of the return beam (λr1 vis-a-vis λr2) for use in imaging the target tissue.
A method for imaging tissues in an eye which comprises the steps of:
- directing an input beam onto a target tissue to be imaged, wherein the input beam includes a plurality of femto-second pulses having a wavelength “λi” and wherein the input beam generates a return beam from the target tissue having a first component with a wavelength “λr1” in response to a first target tissue, and a second component with a wavelength “λr2” in response to a second target tissue, and further wherein λi≠λr1≠λr2;
- and
- selecting a component of the return beam (λr1 vis-a-vis λr2) for use in imaging the target tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.