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US 8,531,676 B2Granted
Forward-imaging optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems and probes
AssigneesBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System, Volcano Corporation
InventorsJonathan C. Condit, Nathaniel J. Kemp, Kumar Karthik, Thomas E. Milner, Xiaojing (John) Zhang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided are forward-imaging optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems and probes. In one embodiment, a scanning reflector surface is configured to be rotated about two axes in a single operating plane to direct light transmitted along the sample path to a sample to be imaged.
Claims15
An OCT imaging probe comprising:
- (a) a scanning reflector surface configured to be rotated about two axes in a single operating plane to direct light transmitted along an OCT sample path to a sample to be imaged, and (b) a tunable lens assembly operatively positioned in an OCT sample path between a scanning reflector surface and the sample, wherein the tunable lens comprises a deformable base material doped or coated with a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles.
A forward-imaging optical coherence tomography (OCT) system, comprising:
- a reference path and a sample path, the sample path comprising a scanning reflector surface configured to be rotated about two axes in a single operating plane to direct light transmitted along the sample path to a sample to be imaged, wherein the scanning reflector surface is suspended within a frame by at least two torsion springs and at least two inner rotor combs for inner axis rotation, the inner rotor combs disposed along opposite sides of the scanning reflector surface such that the lengths of the inner rotor combs are parallel to the at least two torsion springs, and at least two gimbals aligned in the orthogonal direction of the at least two torsion springs to mount the frame within a bond pad, and at least two staggered vertical comb drive actuators for outer axis rotation of the frame;
- and
- a lens assembly, wherein the lens assembly comprises at least one of (a) a graded index (GRIN) lens, (b) a Steinheil triplet lens, and (c) a lens with a filed curvature that is less than about one wavelength of the light passing through the lens assembly, and
- wherein the lens assembly comprises a tunable lens comprising at least one of (a) an elastically deformable base material doped or coated with a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles and (b) a plurality of magnetic particles operatively positioned about the peripheral rim of the lens.
1 more element
An OCT imaging probe comprising:
- (a) a scanning reflector surface configured to be rotated about two axes in a single operating plane to direct light transmitted along an OCT sample path to a sample to be imaged, the scanning reflector surface is suspended within a frame by at least two torsion springs and at least two inner rotor combs for inner axis rotation, the inner rotor combs disposed along opposite sides of the scanning reflector surface such that the lengths of the inner rotor combs are parallel to the at least two torsion springs, and at least two gimbals aligned in the orthogonal direction of the at least two torsion springs to mount the frame within a bond pad, and at least two staggered vertical comb drive actuators for outer axis rotation of the frame, and (b) a tunable lens assembly operatively positioned in an OCT sample path between a scanning reflector surface and the sample, wherein the tunable lens comprises at least one of (1) a deformable base material doped or coated with a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles and (2) a plurality of magnetic particles operatively positioned about the peripheral rim of the lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.