Control device, control method and control program for optical coherence tomographic image-generating apparatuses

A method for controlling an optical coherence tomography apparatus, the optical coherence tomography apparatus comprises:

• an optical unit comprising:
• a light source for periodically emitting laser beam on an object;
• and a detector for detecting internal information of the object;
• a probe comprising:
• a scanning mechanism which can perform two-dimensional scanning with the laser beam, the probe guiding the laser beam emitted through the optical unit to the object and guiding light reflected by the object to the optical unit;
• and
• a control unit comprising:
• the controller for controlling generation of an optical coherence tomogram of the object from data converted from a detection signal of the detector while performing imaging by controlling the scanning mechanism in synchrony with the laser beam;
• and a display for displaying the optical coherence tomogram, comprising the steps of:
• starting imaging when it is determined to receive an input of a measurement command to scan an imaging range of the object with the laser beam at a predetermined pitch by using the scanning mechanism so as to determine the internal information of the object and stopping the imaging after an imaging time according to the predetermined pitch, as one of predetermined imaging modes based on an external input for a controller;
• starting imaging when it is determined to receive an input of a preview command to scan the imaging range with the laser beam at a larger pitch than the predetermined pitch by using the scanning mechanism and stopping the imaging when it is determined to receive an input of a command to cancel the preview command, as another of the predetermined imaging modes based on an external input for the controller;
• and
• image-processing a detection signal as obtained by the imaging of either imaging mode.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium in which a program for controlling a controller for an optical coherence tomography apparatus is stored, the controller comprising:

• an imaging control means for imaging with a predetermined imaging mode based on an external input;
• and image-processing means for performing image processing of an detection signal as obtained at the imaging,
• the imaging control means comprising:
• a first imaging control means for starting imaging when it is determined to receive an input of a measurement command to scan an imaging range of an object with laser beam at a predetermined pitch by using a scanning mechanism so as to determine internal information of the object and for stopping the imaging after an imaging time according to the predetermined pitch;
• and a second imaging control means for starting imaging when it is determined to receive an input of a preview command to scan the imaging range with the laser beam at a larger pitch than the predetermined pitch by using the scanning mechanism and for stopping the imaging when it is determined to receive an input of a command to cancel the preview command,
• wherein the optical coherence tomography apparatus comprises:
• an optical unit comprising:
• a light source for periodically emitting the laser beam on the object;
• and a detector for detecting the internal information of the object;
• a probe comprising the scanning mechanism which can perform two-dimensional scanning with the laser beam, the probe guiding the laser beam emitted through the optical unit to the object and guiding light reflected by the object to the optical unit;
• and
• a control unit comprising:
• the controller for controlling generation of an optical coherence tomogram of the object from data converted from the detection signal of the detector while performing imaging by controlling the scanning mechanism in synchrony with the laser beam;
• and a display for displaying the optical coherence tomogram.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium in which a program for executing a method for controlling an optical coherence tomography apparatus is stored, the method comprising the steps of:

• stating imaging when it is determined to receive an input of a measurement command to scan an imaging range of an object with laser beam at a predetermined pitch by using a scanning mechanism so as to determine internal information of the object and stopping the imaging after an imaging time according to the predetermined pitch, as one of predetermined imaging modes based on an external input for a controller;
• starting imaging when it is determined to receive an input of a preview command to scan the imaging range with the laser beam at a larger pitch than the predetermined pitch by using the scanning mechanism and stopping the imaging when it is determined to receive an input of a command to cancel the preview command, as another of the predetermined imaging modes based on an external input for the controller;
• and
• image-processing a detection signal as obtained by the imaging of either imaging mode,
• wherein the optical coherence tomography apparatus comprises:
• an optical unit comprising:
• a light source for periodically emitting the laser beam on the object;
• and a detector for detecting the internal information of the object;
• a probe comprising the scanning mechanism which can perform two-dimensional scanning with the laser beam, the probe guiding the laser beam emitted through the optical unit to the object and guiding light reflected by the object to the optical unit;
• and
• a control unit comprising:
• the controller for controlling generation of an optical coherence tomogram of the object from data converted from the detection signal of the detector while performing imaging by controlling the scanning mechanism in synchrony with the laser beam;
• and a display for displaying the optical coherence tomogram.