Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography imager

An OCT imager, comprising:

• a coupler coupled to receive light from a source arm and provide the light to a sampling arm and a reference arm, the coupler also coupled to receive reflected light from the sampling arm and the reference arm and provide a combined interference signal to a detector arm;
• a broadband light source coupled to provide light to the source arm;
• an optical delay line coupled to receive light from the reference arm and reflect light back into the reference arm;
• an XY scan coupled to receive light from the sampling arm, direct that light onto a sample, capture reflected light from the sample, and couple the reflected light from the sample back into the sampling arm, the XY scan including an alignment position where no light is reflected back into the sampling arm;
• a spectrometer coupled to receive the combined interference signal from the detector arm to provide spectrum data, the spectrometer including at least one controllable component;
• and
• a controller that adjusts the at least one controllable component in response to spectrum data taken while the XY scan is in the alignment position so that the spectrometer is aligned.