Methods and systems for performing angle-resolved Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography

A method for detecting signals, comprising:

• receiving at least one first electro-magnetic radiation;
• forwarding at least one second electro-magnetic radiation within a solid angle to a sample, wherein the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation is associated with the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation;
• receiving a plurality of third electro-magnetic radiations from the sample which is associated with the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation, wherein at least one portion of the third electro-magnetic radiations is provided outside a periphery of the solid angle;
• simultaneously detecting the signals which are (i) provided along optical axes associated therewith that are different from one another, and (ii) associated with each of the third electro-magnetic radiations, wherein the signals are associated with in formation for the at least one sample at a plurality of depths thereof, and
• using a computer arrangement, determining the depths using the at least one portion of the third electro-magnetic radiations.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first arrangement including a lens configured to receive at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and forward at least one second electro-magnetic radiation within a solid angle to a sample, wherein the at least one forwarded second electro-magnetic radiation is at least one focused radiation, wherein the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation is associated with the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, wherein the first arrangement is configured to simultaneously receive at least two of a plurality of third electro-magnetic radiations from the sample which is associated with the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation, wherein the third electro-magnetic radiations are based on the at least one focused second electro-magnetic radiation, and wherein the lens receives at least one portion of the third electro-magnetic radiations is provided outside a periphery of the solid angle;
• and
• a second including a detector arrangement configured to simultaneously detect an interference between the at least two of the third radiations which are provided along optical axes associated therewith that are different from one another and at least one fourth radiation associated with the at least one first radiation, and configured to obtain information associated with the sample as a function of at least one depth within the sample based on the interference.

A method for detecting signals, comprising:

• receiving at least one first electro-magnetic radiation;
• forwarding at least one second electro-magnetic radiation within a solid angle to a sample, wherein the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation is associated with the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation;
• simultaneously receiving at least two of a plurality of third electro-magnetic radiations from the sample which is associated with the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation, wherein at least one portion of the third electro-magnetic radiations is provided outside a periphery of the solid angle;
• simultaneously detecting an interference between the at least two of the third radiations and at least one fourth radiation associated with the at least one first radiation, wherein the third radiations are provided along optical axes associated therewith that are different from one another;
• and
• using a computer arrangement, obtaining information associated with the sample as a function of at least one depth within the sample based on the interference.

A method providing data associated with at least one sample, comprising:

• using a detector arrangement, receiving a plurality of collimated electro-magnetic radiations provided from the at least one sample;
• and
• generating first information based on the received collimated electro-magnetic radiations provided from the at least one sample, wherein at least one of the electro-magnetic radiations has a frequency that changes over time, wherein received along a first axis simultaneously with at least a second one of the electro-magnetic radiations which is received along a second axis that is different from the first axis, wherein data for each of the signals within at least one portion of the first information includes data for a plurality of depths within the at least one sample;
• and
• using a computer arrangement, producing second information associated with contrast data of at least one portion of an image for the at least one sample as a function of the first information.