Patent classifications
G01B9/02064
CROSSTALK ELIMINATION OR MITIGATION IN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY
One or more devices, systems, methods and storage mediums for performing optical coherence tomography (OCT) while reducing and/or eliminating crosstalk noise are provided. Examples of such applications include imaging, evaluating and diagnosing biological objects, such as, but not limited to, for Gastro-intestinal, cardio and/or ophthalmic applications, and being obtained via one or more optical instruments, such as, but not limited to, optical probes, catheters, capsules and needles (e.g., a biopsy needle). Preferably, the OCT devices, systems methods and storage mediums include or involve a method, such as, but not limited to, a complex conjugate method or a shift method, for handling the crosstalk noise in a way to mitigate or eliminate the noise from an image field of view. For example, a reference reflection or reference arm may be positioned or re-positioned in the image field of view at different locations depending on the crosstalk noise mitigation method being employed.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTING A REFERENCE SECTION OF AN OCT SYSTEM
A method for adjusting a reference section of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system includes providing the OCT system, generating a measuring beam using the OCT system, conducting the measuring beam to a measurement object, generating a reference beam using the OCT system, conducting the reference beam through the reference section, superimposing the measuring beam reflected from the measurement object and the reference beam, registering interference signals between the measuring beam and the superimposed reference beam using an interferometer of the OCT system, dividing a scanning path of the measuring beam into measurement phases and positioning phases, and adjusting the reference section exclusively in the positioning phases.
Tomographic image capturing apparatus and method with noise reduction technique
An object is to enable removal fixed pattern noise even if the intensity of interference light changes during measurement. An image capturing apparatus comprises a light splitting unit that splits light emitted from a light source into reference light and measurement light, an interference signal detection unit that acquires an interference signal from interference light resulting from interference of the reference light and return light generated by irradiating an object to be inspected with the measurement light, a noise signal acquisition unit that acquires a noise signal containing a noise component contained in the interference light, a correction unit that corrects the intensity of one of the interference signal and the noise signal, and a noise removal unit that removes the noise component contained in the interference signal using the interference signal and the noise signal one of which is corrected.
OPHTHALMOLOGIC APPARATUS
An ophthalmologic apparatus comprises a light source 12, an optical measurement system 13 that radiates first light from the light source to inside an eye to be examined and guides first reflected light from the eye, an optical reference system (24, 22) that radiates second light from the light source to a reference surface and guides second reflected light from the reference surface, a photo detector 26 that detects interfering light between the first reflected light from the optical measurement system and the second reflected light from the optical reference system, and a processor that determines a position of a measuring portion of the inside of the eye based on the detected interfering light. The optical measurement system comprises an incident angle changing member 46 that changes an incident angle of the first light radiated to the eye within a predetermined angular range relative to an axis of vision of the eye.
Interometric optical system
An interferometric optical system for measuring a test object, including: i) a reference object comprising a partially reflective reference surface; ii) a light source module configured to direct first and second input beams through the reference surface to the test object at an angle to one another; iii) a detector positioned to detect light reflected from the reference surface and one or more surfaces of the test object; and iv) an aperture positioned to selectively block light from reaching the detector, wherein the angle between the first and second input beams causes the aperture to block light from the first input beam reflected by the reference surface and pass light from second input beam reflected by the reference surface, wherein the two input beams have a mutual coherence length smaller than twice an optical distance between the reference surface and the test object.
Optical measurement apparatus and optical measurement method
By utilizing the fact that the observation object has a three-dimensional shape and the boundary surface can be regarded as a plane surface, phase or intensity distribution is applied into a luminous flux of reference light, thereby selectively attenuating the influence of the reflected light from the boundary surface so as to obtain a high-quality OCT image.
Ophthalmologic apparatus for measuring position of measuring portion inside eye
An ophthalmologic apparatus comprises a light source 12, an optical measurement system 13 that radiates first light from the light source to inside an eye to be examined and guides first reflected light from the eye, an optical reference system (24, 22) that radiates second light from the light source to a reference surface and guides second reflected light from the reference surface, a photo detector 26 that detects interfering light between the first reflected light from the optical measurement system and the second reflected light from the optical reference system, and a processor that determines a position of a measuring portion of the inside of the eye based on the detected interfering light. The optical measurement system comprises an incident angle changing member 46 that changes an incident angle of the first light radiated to the eye within a predetermined angular range relative to an axis of vision of the eye.
OPHTHALMOLOGIC APPARATUS, AND OPHTHALMOLOGIC IMAGING METHOD
Provided is an ophthalmologic apparatus including: an acquisition unit configured to acquire tomographic information of an eye to be examined using information on interference light between return light from the eye to be examined, which is irradiated with measurement light, and reference light; and a vitreous structure detection unit configured to detect a vitreous structure of the eye to be examined using tomographic information of the eye to be examined that is acquired after at least one of the difference in optical path length between the measurement light and the reference light and the in-focus position is controlled, wherein the acquisition unit is configured to acquire tomographic information of the vitreous structure.
IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING METHOD
An imaging apparatus images an imaging object which is stored in a container having an optical transparent wall part tomographically via the wall part. An FD-OCT imaging apparatus sets an optical path length of a reference light in conjunction with a setting of a focal depth such that a position corresponding to the focal depth is between a position conjugate with a first surface and a position conjugate with a second surface in a reflected light intensity distribution representing a relationship between a position in an incident direction of an illumination light and a reflected light intensity. Here, the first surface is a surface on the imaging object side out of surfaces of the wall part. The second surface is another surface on a side opposite to the imaging object out of the surfaces of the wall part.
Optical measuring apparatus
Provided is a compact, low-cost optical measuring apparatus capable of acquiring an image of a target to be measured without moving a mirror or using a wavelength-scanning light source or beam splitter. A laser beam emitted from a light source is split into first and second beams, and the first beam is focused as a signal beam onto the target by a lens for irradiation purposes, while the second beam is reflected as a reference beam by a mirror without irradiating the target. Then, a signal beam reflected by or scattered by the target is multiplexed with the reference beam and then enters interference optics, whereby three or more interference beams with different phases are generated and detected by photodetectors. Then, the detection signals are operated by a signal processing unit. During the measurement, the focus position of the first beam is moved at least in the optical axis direction.