Stationary optical spectroscopic imaging in turbid objects by special light focusing and signal detection of light with various optical wavelengths

Interferometer apparatus for spectroscopic imaging, said interferometer apparatus comprising:

• a source arm, including means for emitting a beam of light;
• an object arm;
• a reference arm, adapted for including a reflective element therein;
• means for splitting the beam of emitted light, and directing one portion of the emitted light into the object arm and directing another portion of the emitted light into the reference arm;
• focusing means, disposed within the object arm, for focusing the light simultaneously into at least two different depth regions within an object;
• means for causing light reflected from the object arm and the reference arm to be recombined;
• detector means for measuring spectral components of the recombined light, so that at one scan of the object, a spectroscopic image of the object yields both spacial resolution in a lateral direction and a field of view in a depth direction.

A method for performing spectroscopic imaging comprising the steps of:

• emitting a beam of light from a light source;
• causing the beam of light to be split into an object arm and a reference arm;
• focusing the light in the object arm simultaneously into at least two depth regions of an object;
• reflecting the light from both a reflective element in the reference arm and from said object, so that the light is recombined;
• directing the recombined light into a detector arm;
• and
• measuring spectral light components of the light in the detector arm, so that at one scan of the object, a spectroscopic image of the object yields both spacial resolution in a lateral direction and a field of view in a depth direction.