Apparatus and methods to enhance signal to noise ratio imaging performance in optical coherence tomography
AssigneeThe General Hospital Corporation
InventorsDanielle J. Harper, Benjamin J. Vakoc
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Abstract
An optical coherence tomography system which is capable of operating in two or more optical bandwidth configurations for the purpose of trading off between high resolution imaging and high signal-to-noise ratio imaging, wherein the later enables deeper imaging depth. The system and associated methods allow for both high resolution, shallow penetration depth and low resolution, deep penetration depth optical coherence tomography imaging to be performed using a single light source. Methods and apparatus are described that allow a single system to dynamically switch between modes, or to operate in a hybrid mode that achieves a balance between resolution and SNR/depth of penetration.
Claims20
A method for performing optical coherence tomography (OCT), comprising:
- providing, using a light source, a first illumination and a second illumination to a diffuse scattering sample,
- the first illumination providing light within a first bandwidth and the second illumination providing light within a second bandwidth narrower than the first bandwidth;
- generating, using an OCT optical arrangement comprising a sample light path and a reference light path each of which is optically coupled to the light source, interference data from the sample;
- collecting, using a detector optically coupled to the OCT optical arrangement, the interference data from the sample;
- and
- switching, using a controller, illumination provided to the OCT optical arrangement between the first illumination and the second illumination,
- the interference data comprising first interference data obtained using the first illumination and second interference data obtained using the second illumination.
A method for performing optical coherence tomography (OCT), comprising:
- providing, using a light source, a first illumination and a second illumination to a diffuse scattering sample,
- the first illumination providing light within a first bandwidth and the second illumination providing light within a second bandwidth narrower than the first bandwidth;
- generating, using an OCT optical arrangement comprising a sample light path and a reference light path each of which is optically coupled to the light source, interference data from the sample;
- collecting, using a detector comprising a spectrometer optically coupled to the OCT optical arrangement, the interference data from the sample as a function of wavelength;
- and
- switching, using a controller, illumination provided to the OCT optical arrangement between the first illumination and the second illumination,
- the interference data comprising first interference data obtained using the first illumination and second interference data obtained using the second illumination, and
- a ratio of the first bandwidth to the second bandwidth being at least 2.
A method for performing optical coherence tomography (OCT), comprising:
- providing, using a light source, a first illumination and a second illumination to a diffuse scattering sample,
- the first illumination providing light within a first bandwidth comprising a first wavelength vs. time profile and a first power vs. time profile,
- providing, using the light source, light within a second bandwidth narrower than the first bandwidth,
- the second illumination comprising a second wavelength vs. time profile and a second power vs. time profile;
- generating, using an OCT optical arrangement comprising a sample light path and a reference light path each of which is optically coupled to the light source, interference data from the sample;
- collecting, using a detector optically coupled to the OCT optical arrangement, the interference data from the sample;
- and
- controlling, using a controller, the light source to switch illumination provided to the OCT optical arrangement between the first illumination and the second illumination by controlling at least one of the first wavelength vs. time profile or the first power vs. time profile of the first illumination and by controlling at least one of the second wavelength vs. time profile or the second power vs. time profile of the second illumination,
- the interference data comprising first interference data obtained using the first illumination and second interference data obtained using the second illumination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.