Multimodal integration of ocular data acquisition and analysis

A system to image an eye of a patient, comprising:

• a first station for collecting images from a first imaging modality;
• a second station for collecting images from a second imaging modality, distinct from said first imaging modality;
• a processor for analyzing one or more images from said first imaging modality to derive a set of scan parameters for the second imaging modality;
• and
• a controller for communicating said set of scan parameters to the second station and for using said set of scan parameters to control the acquisition of an image using said second imaging modality.

A method to image an eye of a patient, comprising:

• collecting a first image of the eye with a first imaging modality;
• collecting a second image of the eye with the first imaging modality at a subsequent patient visit;
• identifying changes between the first and second images to determine a region-of-interest;
• obtaining a third image of the eye containing said region-of-interest using a second imaging modality distinct from the first imaging modality;
• and,
• displaying, storing, or further processing said third image.

A method for imaging an eye of a patient, said method comprising:

• collecting a first set of one or more images of the eye from an imaging modality;
• processing automatically said first set of images to derive a set of scan parameters;
• communicating said set of scan parameters to an imaging control station;
• obtaining a second set of one or more images of the eye, in which the imaging control station controls the image acquisition using the scan parameters derived from the first set of images;
• and,
• displaying, storing, or further processing said second set of images.

An optical coherence tomographic (OCT) imaging system for collecting data from an eye of a patient, the system comprising:

• a light source for generating a light beam propagating along an axis;
• a beam divider for directing a first portion of the light beam into a reference arm and a second portion of the light beam into a sample arm;
• optics for scanning the light beam in the sample arm over the eye to a plurality of positions in a plane perpendicular to the propagation axis of the beam;
• a detector for measuring light radiation returning from the sample and reference arms, and generating output signals in response thereto;
• a processor for analyzing a retinal image to determine a set of parameters for use in scanning the light beam in the sample arm over the eye;
• and,
• a controller for scanning the light beam using the set of parameters.