OCT swept laser with high coherence signal extraction
AssigneeAxsun Technologies, Inc.
InventorDale C. Flanders
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical coherence tomography system utilizes an optical swept laser that has improved coherence length in the swept optical signal. This is accomplished using an intra-cavity element that extracts the tunable optical signal at the optimal location within the laser's resonant cavity. Generally this location is between the intracavity tuning element and the cavity's gain element so that light coming from the tuning element is extracted. In general in lasers, the gain element adds noise and chirp and this degrades the tunable optical signal's coherence length.
Claims20
A swept laser that generates a swept optical signal, the swept laser comprising:
- a laser cavity in which the swept optical signal is generated;
- a tuning element for a controlling an optical frequency of the swept optical signal;
- a gain element for amplifying light in the laser cavity;
- and
- an optical signal extraction element located in the laser cavity between the tuning element and the gain element for coupling the swept optical signal from the laser cavity after being filtered by the tuning element but before amplification by the gain element.
An optical coherence tomography system, comprising:
- an interferometer that combines a swept optical signal from a sample and from a reference path to generate an interference signal;
- a swept laser that generates the swept optical signal, the swept laser comprising a laser cavity, a gain element or amplifying light in the laser cavity, and an optical signal extraction element located within the laser cavity for coupling the swept optical signal from the laser cavity prior to amplification by the gain element;
- and
- a detection system that detects the interference signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.