Method and apparatus for improving image clarity and sensitivity in optical coherence tomography using dynamic feedback to control focal properties and coherence gating

The apparatus for obtaining information associated with at least one structure, comprising:

• at least one optical coupler first arrangement configured to receive at least one first optical radiation from the at least one structure and at least one second optical radiation from a reference;
• and
• at least one computer second arrangement configured to determine the information regarding the at least one structure as a function of depth thereof, wherein the at least one second arrangement is further configured to determine a distance from at least one portion of the at least one structure to the at least one first arrangement based on the information,
• wherein the at least one computer second arrangement is further configured to, as a function of the distance, control an optical radiation path length of a third optical radiation which is at least one of:
• i. at least one of transmitted to or received from the at least one structure, or
• ii. at least one of transmitted to or received from the reference,
• wherein the at least one computer second arrangement is further configured to determine the distance using at least one of a zero-th order procedure, a first derivative procedure, a second derivative procedure, a determination of a probability distribution function statistics or a fitting procedure as applied to the information which is based on the depth,
• wherein the at least one second arrangement is further configured to determine a length from the at least one portion based on the at least one first optical radiation, and
• wherein the at least one second arrangement is further configured to, as a function of the length, control a focal distance of the at least one third optical radiation which is at least one of transmitted to or received from the at least one structure.

A method for obtaining information associated with at least one structure, comprising:

• receiving at least one first optical radiation from the at least one structure and at least one second optical radiation from a reference;
• determining the information regarding the at least one structure as a function of depth thereof;
• determining a distance from at least one portion of the at least one structure based on the information;
• tracking at least one peak of at least one signal of the information which includes image data regarding the at least one structure;
• as a function of the distance and the at least one peak, controlling an optical radiation path length of at least one third optical radiation which is at least one of:
• i. at least one of transmitted to or received from the at least one structure, or
• ii. at least one of transmitted to or received from the reference;
• and
• using a computer arrangement, determining the distance using at least one of a zero-th order procedure, a first derivative procedure, a second derivative procedure, a determination of a probability distribution function statistics or a fitting procedure as applied to the information which is based on the distance and the at least one peak.

A method for obtaining information associated with at least one structure, comprising:

• receiving at least one first optical radiation from the at least one structure;
• determining a length from at least one portion of the at least one structure based on the at least one first optical radiation;
• and
• using a computer arrangement, as a function of the length, controlling a focal distance of at least one of at least one second optical radiation which is at least one of transmitted to or received from the at least one structure.