Various embodiments are described herein for a system and method of integrated X-ray imaging and microscopic imaging of an imaging area having a sample on a sample stage. An X-ray apparatus may be disposed within the imaging area and be configured to acquire X-ray image data of at least a portion of the sample. A microscopic imaging apparatus may be disposed within the imaging area and be configured to acquire microscopic image data of the at least a portion of the sample. In some embodiments, a processing unit may then control the X-ray apparatus to acquire X-ray image data of the at least the portion of the sample, and generate one or more corresponding X-ray images; determine a region of interest (ROI) of the sample based on the one or more X-ray images; and control the microscopic imaging apparatus to obtain at least one microscopic image based on the ROI.

Retinal imaging systems and related methods employ a user specific approach for controlling the reference arm length in an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging device. A method includes restraining a user's head relative to an OCT imaging device. A reference arm length adjustment module is controlled to vary a reference arm length to search a user specific range of reference arm lengths to identify a reference arm length for which the OCT image detector produces an OCT signal corresponding to the retina of the user. The user specific range of reference arm lengths covers a smaller range of reference arm lengths than a reference arm length adjustment range of the reference arm length adjustment module.

A device for Doppler optical coherence tomography (Doppler OCT), preferably of the human middle ear, is proposed. The device has an endoscope unit for at least partial insertion into the auditory canal. A sound source, a sound receiver, and OCT optics are integrated in the endoscope unit.

A stage includes a sample table on which a sample is placed, a first drive mechanism moving the sample table in a first direction; a position measurement element measuring a position in the first direction that is a driving direction of the sample table. The stage also has a scale element having a scale measurement axis that is parallel to a first measurement axis in the first direction based on the position measurement element and is different from the first measurement axis in height, and measuring the position of the sample table in the first direction. A controller calculates the orientation of the sample table by using a measurement value by the position measurement element and a measurement value by the scale element and correcting the Abbe error of the sample table.

Retinal imaging systems and related methods employ a user specific approach for controlling the reference arm length in an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging device. A method includes restraining a user's head relative to an OCT imaging device. A reference arm length adjustment module is controlled to vary a reference arm length to search a user specific range of reference arm lengths to identify a reference arm length for which the OCT image detector produces an OCT signal corresponding to the retina of the user. The user specific range of reference arm lengths covers a smaller range of reference arm lengths than a reference arm length adjustment range of the reference arm length adjustment module.

Retinal imaging systems and related methods employ a user specific approach for controlling the reference arm length in an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging device. A method includes restraining a user's head relative to an OCT imaging device. A reference arm length adjustment module is controlled to vary a reference arm length to search a user specific range of reference arm lengths to identify a reference arm length for which the OCT image detector produces an OCT signal corresponding to the retina of the user. The user specific range of reference arm lengths covers a smaller range of reference arm lengths than a reference arm length adjustment range of the reference arm length adjustment module.

A method and system for determining a location of artefacts and/or inclusions in a gemstone, mineral or sample thereof, the method comprising the steps of: surface mapping a gemstone, mineral or sample thereof to determine surface geometry associated with at least a portion of a surface of the gemstone, mineral or sample thereof; sub-surface mapping the gemstone, mineral or sample thereof using an optical beam that is directed at the surface along an optical beam path, wherein the optical beam is generated by an optical source using an optical tomography process; determining a surface normal at the surface at an intersection point between the optical beam path and the determined surface geometry; determining relative positioning between the surface normal and the optical beam path; and determining the location of artefacts and/or inclusions in the gemstone, mineral or sample thereof based on the sub-surface mapping step and the determined relative positioning.

A method of forming a Chemically Vapour Deposited polymeric conformal coating on a surface of a part (23). The method comprises placing the part (23) and a deposition regulator (28) in a deposition chamber (22); dispersing a gas into the chamber (22) from which the polymeric coating is deposited on the surface. The deposition regulator (28) is configured to control a localised flow of the gas in the deposition chamber (22) to promote a more uniform layer thickness of the polymeric coating on the surface.

A probing element for measuring at least one measurement object is provided. The probing element includes at least one first optical sensor configured to generate at least one first sensor signal depending on a fine shape of at least one surface of the measurement object, at least one second sensor configured to generate at least one second sensor signal depending on at least one of a coarse shape of the measurement object, and a distance to the measurement object. The at least one first optical sensor has a first measurement region and the at least one second sensor has a second measurement region. The at least one first optical sensor is at least partly integrated in the at least one second sensor to permit the first measurement region and the second measurement region to at least partly overlap.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus comprises a beam guide comprising an input aperture, a cavity, and a plurality of output apertures. The input aperture is coupled with the cavity and configured to receive a laser beam and to direct the laser beam into the cavity. The plurality of output apertures is formed in the cavity and spaced apart along the cavity, wherein each output aperture of the plurality of output apertures is configured to direct a portion of the laser beam out of the cavity. The apparatus comprises a plurality of fiber optic lines coupled to the beam guide and configured to receive ultrasonic information corresponding to portions of the laser beam that have exited the cavity through the plurality of output apertures.