CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AN OCT IMAGING SYSTEM, ARRANGEMENT WITH AN OCT IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING AN OCT IMAGING SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a control system for an optical coherence tomography imaging system to be used with a microscopy system for viewing and/or imaging a subject (190, 192), the microscopy system comprising an objective (164) and a viewing lens system (170) including a relay lens (172), wherein the viewing lens system (170) is arranged at a subject’s side of the objective (164), the control system being configured to perform the following steps: controlling the optical coherence tomography imaging system to perform at least one radial scan of a surface (176) of the relay lens (172), determining, from data of the at least one radial scan at least one curve corresponding to a shape of the surface (176) of the relay lens (172), determining (520), from the at least one curve a lateral offset (178) between a center of the relay lens (172) and an origin of the optical coherence tomography imaging system, and adjusting the origin of the optical coherence tomography imaging system taking into account to the lateral offset (178), to an arrangement with an OCT imaging system and a method for adjusting an OCT imaging system.

Claims

1. A control system for an optical coherence tomography imaging system to be used with a microscopy system for viewing and/or imaging a subject, the microscopy system comprising an objective and a viewing lens system including a relay lens, wherein the viewing lens system is arranged at a subject’s side of the objective, the control system being configured to perform the following steps: controlling the optical coherence tomography imaging system to perform at least one radial scan of a surface of the relay lens, determining, from data of the at least one radial scan, at least one curve corresponding to a shape of the surface of the relay lens, determining, from the at least one curve, a lateral offset between a center of the relay lens and an origin of the optical coherence tomography imaging system, and adjusting the origin of the optical coherence tomography imaging system taking into account to the lateral offset.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the least one radial scan comprises at least two different radial scans, and wherein the at least one curve comprises at least two different curves corresponding to the shape of the surface of the relay lens .

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein determining, from the at least one curve, the lateral offset comprises: determining an apex of the at least one curve, determining a lateral position of the apex, and determining the lateral offset from a difference of the lateral position of the apex and the origin of the optical coherence tomography imaging system.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein determining, from the at least one curve,the lateral offset comprises: determining offset components in two different lateral directions with respect to imaging coordinates of the optical coherence tomography imaging system.

5. The control system of claim 1, the control system further being configured to perform the following steps: determining, from the at least one curve, an angular offset between a center axis of the relay lens and an optical axis of the microscopy system, and adjusting the optical coherence tomography imaging system taking into account to the angular offset.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein the viewing lens system further includes a reduction lens, the reduction lens being arranged between the objective and the relay lens.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the subject includes or is a retina of an eye, and wherein the viewing lens system is or includes a retinal viewing lens system.

8. The control system of claim 1, wherein the viewing lens system is configured as an attachable and removable accessory.

9. An arrangement comprising an optical coherence tomography imaging system and a microscopy system for viewing and/or imaging a subject, the microscopy system comprising an objective and a viewing lens system including a relay lens, wherein the viewing lens system is arranged at the subject’s side of the objective, further comprising the control system of claim 1.

10. A method for adjusting an optical coherence tomography imaging system to be used with a microscopy system for viewing and/or imaging a subject, the microscopy system comprising an objective and a viewing lens system including a relay lens, wherein the viewing lens system is arranged at a subject’s side of the objective, comprising the following steps: performing at least one radial scan of a surface of the relay lens, by means of the optical coherence tomography imaging system, determining, from data of the at least one radial scan, at least one curve corresponding to a shape of the surface of the relay lens, determining, from the at least one curve, a lateral offset between a center of the relay lens and an origin of the optical coherence tomography imaging system, and adjusting the origin of the optical coherence tomography imaging system taking into account to the lateral offset.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the viewing lens system is attached to the objective before performing the at least one radial scan.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the following steps: determining, from the at least one curve, an angular offset between a center axis of the relay lens and an optical axis of the microscopy system, and adjusting the optical coherence tomography imaging system taking into account to the angular offset.

13. The method of any one of claims 10, wherein the viewing lens systemfurther includes a reduction lens, the reduction lens to be arranged between the objective and the relay lens.

14. The method of any one of claims 10, wherein the subject includes a retina of an eye, and wherein the viewing lens system is or includes a retinal viewing lens system.

15. A non-transient computer readable storage medium comprising a computer program including a program code for performing the method of claim 10, when the computer program is run on a processor or on the control systemof claim 1.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview of an arrangement with an OCT imaging system according to the disclosure in a preferred embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows, schematically, part of a microscopy system as used within an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows, schematically, a ray-trace diagram with laterally misaligned RVLS.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows, schematically, a ray-trace diagram with angularly misaligned RVLS.

[0029] FIG. 5 shows, schematically, a flow scheme describing a method according to the disclosure in a preferred embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 6 shows, schematically, OCT images for explanation of an aspect of the disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 7 shows, schematically, a ray-trace diagram with laterally misaligned RVLS, and the OCT imaging system origin being corrected.

[0032] FIG. 8 shows, schematically, a ray-trace diagram with angularly misaligned RVLS, and the OCT imaging system origin being corrected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In FIG. 1, a schematic overview of an arrangement with an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging system 100 and a microscopy system 160, in a preferred embodiment, is shown. The OCT imaging system 100 comprises a light source 102 (e.g., a low coherence light source), a beam splitter 104, a reference arm 106, a sample arm 112, a diffraction grating 118, a detector 120 (e.g., a camera), a control system 130 and display means 140 (e.g., a display or monitor).

[0034] Light originating from the light source 102 is guided, e.g., via fiber optic cables 150, to the beam splitter 104 and a first part of the light is transmitted through the beam splitter 104 and is then guided, via a lens 108 (which is only schematically shown and may represent also different, appropriate optics) in order to create a light beam 109 to a reference mirror 110, wherein the lens 108 and the reference mirror 110 are part of the reference arm 106.

[0035] Light reflected from the reference mirror 110 is guided back to the beam splitter 104 and is transmitted through the beam splitter 104 and is then guided, via a lens 116 (which is only schematically shown and may represent also different, appropriate optics) in order to create a light beam 117 to the diffraction grating 118.

[0036] A second part of the light, originating from the light source 102 and transmitted through the beam splitter 104 is guided, via microscopy system 160 (which is only schematically shown) in order to create a light beam 115 (for scanning) to the subject or subject eye 190 to be imaged and which comprises a retina 192.

[0037] The microscopy system 160 is part of the sample arm 112 and comprises a microscope 162 (e.g., an ophthalmic surgical microscope) and a retinal viewing lens system (RVLS) 170, which in turn comprises a relay lens 172 and a reduction lens 174. The microscope 162 includes a light input and output 163 (for the light originating from the light source 102), an ocular 166 and an objective or objective lens 164 (might also include a plurality of lenses).

[0038] Light reflected from the subject eye 190 or the retina 192 is guided back to the beam splitter 104 and is transmitted through the beam splitter 104 and is then guided, via lens 116 to the diffraction grating 118. Thus, light reflected in the reference arm 106 and light reflected in the sample arm 112 are combined by means of the beam splitter 104 and are guided, e.g., via a fiber optic cable 150, and in a combined light beam 117 to the diffraction grating 118.

[0039] Light reaching the diffraction grating 118 is diffracted and captured by the detector 120. In this way, the detector 120, which acts as a spectrometer, creates or acquires data or scan data 122 that are transmitted, e.g., via an electrical cable 152, to the control system 130 comprising processing means (or a processor) 132. The scan data 122 can then processed to obtain image data that are transmitted, e.g., via an electrical cable, to the display means 140 and displayed as a real-time image, i.e., an image that represents the currently scanned subject 190 in real-time. The process in which the scan data 122 is processed to determine the lateral and/or angular offset will be described in more detail in the following.

[0040] In FIG. 2, part of the microscopy system 160 as used within the disclosure and as indicated in FIG. 1, is shown in more detail. On the left side, the objective of objective lens 164 of the microscope, defining an optical axis 168 (which is also the optical axis of the OCT imaging system), is shown. Light emerging from the objective 164 passes the reduction lens 174 and the relay lens 172 (including its surface 176), enters the eye 190 through the cornea 196, passes the eye lens 194 and, reaches the retina 192.

[0041] In the situation shown, the RVLS 170, comprising the reduction lens 174 and the relay lens 172, is aligned with the optical axis 168 and, thus, does not have a lateral offset. The lateral offset, in general, is denoted by reference numeral 178, and includes, e.g., a y-component. Imaging coordinates of the OCT imaging system comprise x-, y- and z-coordinates (only y- and z-coordinates shown in FIG. 2).

[0042] In FIG. 3, a ray-trace diagram with laterally misaligned RVLS is shown. The basic system corresponds to the one shown in FIG. 2. However, the RVLS (including the relay lens 172) is laterally misaligned, i.e., there is a lateral offset 178. This results in the OCT beam (which the origin of the OCT imaging system being at its default position) deviating from the optical axis, as can be seen.

[0043] In FIG. 4, a ray-trace diagram with angularly misaligned RVLS is shown. The basic system corresponds to the one shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. However, the RVLS (including the relay lens 172) is angularly misaligned or tilted, i.e., there is an angular offset 179. This results in the OCT beam (which the origin of the OCT imaging system being at its default position) deviating from the optical axis, as can be seen.

[0044] In FIG. 5, a flow scheme describing a method according to the disclosure in a preferred embodiment is schematically shown, and in FIG. 6, OCT images are shown. In the following, the method will be described with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6. Also, reference will be made to components shown in the other Figs.

[0045] In a step 500, at least one radial scan of the surface 176 of the relay lens 172 is performed by means of the OCT imaging system, once the RVLS has been properly positioned for viewing the posterior segment (retina) of the subject eye. In FIG. 6, OCT images of two such radial scans along two imaging coordinates x, y of the OCT imaging system are shown. The upper OCT image corresponds to a radial scan 600 along the y-direction of the OCT imaging system, and the lower OCT image corresponds to a radial scan 602 along the x-direction of the OCT imaging system. Note, that a radial scan includes the apex or highest point of the surface 176 of the relay lens. Further, note that such OCT images can be presented on a display, but this is not necessary for the present disclosure.

[0046] In step 510, at least one curve corresponding to a shape of the surface 176 of the relay lens 172 is determined from the scan data, acquired during the radial scans 600, 602. This can include automatically segmenting the surface of the relay lens and fitting curves. In FIG. 6, a curve 604 for the scan along the y-direction and a curve 606 for the scan along the x-direction are shown. In addition, the origin of the OCT imaging system x.sub.0, y.sub.0, is indicated.

[0047] In step 520, a lateral offset between a center of the relay lens 172 and the origin x.sub.0, y.sub.0, of the OCT imaging system is determined from the curves 604, 606. This can include determining an apex 608, 610 of the curves 604, 606, i.e., there highest points in z-direction. These apices 608, 610 correspond to the (single and central) apex of the relay lens or its surface 176. The corresponding positions of the apices in x- and y-direction are indicated x.sub.1 and y.sub.1, in FIG. 6. The differences between the positions of the apices and the origin of the OCT imaging system are denoted Δx, Δy and correspond to or indicated the lateral offset or its respective components.

[0048] In step 530, an angular offset between the center axis of the relay lens 172 and the optical axis 168 are determined from the at least one curve. In FIG. 6, such angular offset component Δφ is indicated by a tilted center axis 162 of the relay lens with respect to a vertical line (along z-direction) of the OCT imaging system imaging coordinates system. In case of such tilt, the curve corresponding to the surface of the relay lens is tilted in the OCT image. Note, the tilted center axis 162 is shown just for means of illustration, the corresponding curve 606, as shown, does not indicate a tilt.

[0049] In step 540, the origin of the OCT imaging system is adjusted, taking into account to the lateral offset, including its components Δx, Δy. This can include automatically changing the x and y offsets x.sub.0, y.sub.0 (the default origin) to the values calculated, i.e., x.sub.1, y.sub.1. In addition, angle offset correction can be applied. These offsets or offset values can be saved as the OCT (new or adjusted) scan origin.

[0050] In FIGS. 7 and 8, ray-trace diagrams with laterally (FIG. 7) and angularly (FIG. 8) misaligned RVLS are shown, corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, however, the origin of the OCT imaging system being corrected as mentioned before. As can be seen, the light beam 115 reaches the optical axis 168 (and, thus, the center of the retina 192) although the RVLS is misaligned.

[0051] As used herein the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items and may be abbreviated as “/”.

[0052] Although some aspects have been described in the context of an apparatus, it is clear that these aspects also represent a description of the corresponding method, where a block or device corresponds to a method step or a feature of a method step. Analogously, aspects described in the context of a method step also represent a description of a corresponding block or item or feature of a corresponding apparatus.

[0053] Some embodiments relate to a microscope comprising a system as described in connection with one or more of the FIGS. 1 to 8. Alternatively, a microscope or microscopy system may be part of or connected to a system or OCT imaging system or arrangement as described in connection with one or more of the FIGS. 1 to 8. FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an arrangement comprising an OCT imaging system 100 configured to perform a method described herein. The arrangement comprises a microscopy system 160, an OCT imaging system 100 and a computer system or control unit 130. The microscopy system 160 and/or the OCT imaging system 100 is configured to take images and is connected to the control unit 130. The control unit 130 is configured to execute at least a part of a method described herein. The control unit 130 may be configured to execute a machine learning algorithm. The control unit 130 and microscopy system 160 and/or OCT imaging system 100 may be separate entities but can also be integrated together in one common housing. The control unit 130 may be part of a central processing system of the microscopy system 160 and/or OCT imaging system and/or the control unit 130 may be part of a subcomponent of the microscopy system 160 and/or OCT imaging system, such as a sensor, an actor, a camera or an illumination unit, etc. of the microscopy system 160 and/or OCT imaging system.

[0054] The control unit 130 may be a local computer device (e.g. personal computer, laptop, tablet computer or mobile phone) with one or more processors and one or more storage devices or may be a distributed computer system (e.g. a cloud computing system with one or more processors and one or more storage devices distributed at various locations, for example, at a local client and/or one or more remote server farms and/or data centers). The control unit 130 may comprise any circuit or combination of circuits. In one embodiment, the control unit 130 may include one or more processors which can be of any type. As used herein, processor may mean any type of computational circuit, such as but not limited to a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, a graphics processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), multiple core processor, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), for example, of a microscope or a microscope component (e.g. camera) or any other type of processor or processing circuit. Other types of circuits that may be included in the control unit 130 may be a custom circuit, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or the like, such as, for example, one or more circuits (such as a communication circuit) for use in wireless devices like mobile telephones, tablet computers, laptop computers, two-way radios, and similar electronic systems. The control unit 130 may include one or more storage devices, which may include one or more memory elements suitable to the particular application, such as a main memory in the form of random access memory (RAM), one or more hard drives, and/or one or more drives that handle removable media such as compact disks (CD), flash memory cards, digital video disk (DVD), and the like. The control unit 130 may also include a display device, one or more speakers, and a keyboard and/or controller, which can include a mouse, trackball, touch screen, voice-recognition device, or any other device that permits a system user to input information into and receive information from the control unit 130.

[0055] Some or all of the method steps may be executed by (or using) a hardware apparatus, like for example, a processor, a microprocessor, a programmable computer or an electronic circuit. In some embodiments, some one or more of the most important method steps may be executed by such an apparatus.

[0056] Depending on certain implementation requirements, embodiments of the disclosure can be implemented in hardware or in software. The implementation can be performed using a non-transitory storage medium such as a digital storage medium, for example a floppy disc, a DVD, a Blu-Ray, a CD, a ROM, a PROM, and EPROM, an EEPROM or a FLASH memory, having electronically readable control signals stored thereon, which cooperate (or are capable of cooperating) with a programmable computer system such that the respective method is performed. Therefore, the digital storage medium may be computer readable.

[0057] Some embodiments according to the disclosure comprise a data carrier having electronically readable control signals, which are capable of cooperating with a programmable computer system, such that one of the methods described herein is performed.

[0058] Generally, embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented as a computer program product with a program code, the program code being operative for performing one of the methods when the computer program product runs on a computer. The program code may, for example, be stored on a machine readable carrier.

[0059] Other embodiments comprise the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein, stored on a machine readable carrier.

[0060] In other words, an embodiment of the present disclosure is, therefore, a computer program having a program code for performing one of the methods described herein, when the computer program runs on a computer.

[0061] A further embodiment of the present disclosure is, therefore, a storage medium (or a data carrier, or a computer-readable medium) comprising, stored thereon, the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein when it is performed by a processor. The data carrier, the digital storage medium or the recorded medium are typically tangible and/or non-transitionary. A further embodiment of the present disclosure is an apparatus as described herein comprising a processor and the storage medium.

[0062] A further embodiment of the disclosure is, therefore, a data stream or a sequence of signals representing the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein. The data stream or the sequence of signals may, for example, be configured to be transferred via a data communication connection, for example, via the internet.

[0063] A further embodiment comprises a processing means, for example, a computer or a programmable logic device, configured to, or adapted to, perform one of the methods described herein.

[0064] A further embodiment comprises a computer having installed thereon the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein.

[0065] A further embodiment according to the disclosure comprises an apparatus or a system configured to transfer (for example, electronically or optically) a computer program for performing one of the methods described herein to a receiver. The receiver may, for example, be a computer, a mobile device, a memory device or the like. The apparatus or system may, for example, comprise a file server for transferring the computer program to the receiver.

[0066] In some embodiments, a programmable logic device (for example, a field programmable gate array) may be used to perform some or all of the functionalities of the methods described herein. In some embodiments, a field programmable gate array may cooperate with a microprocessor in order to perform one of the methods described herein. Generally, the methods are preferably performed by any hardware apparatus.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0067] 100 OCT imaging system [0068] 102 light source [0069] 104 a beam splitter [0070] 106 reference arm [0071] 108, 116 lenses [0072] 109, 115, 117 light beams [0073] 110 reference mirror [0074] 112 sample arm [0075] 118 diffraction grating [0076] 120 detector [0077] 122 scan data [0078] 130 control system [0079] 132 processing means [0080] 140 display means [0081] 150 fiber optic cable [0082] 152 electrical cable [0083] 160 microscopy system [0084] 162 ocular [0085] 163 light input and output [0086] 164 obj ective [0087] 166 ocular [0088] 168 optical axis [0089] 170 RVLS [0090] 172 relay lens [0091] 174 reduction lens [0092] 176 surface of refraction lens [0093] 178 lateral offset [0094] 179 angular offset [0095] 190 subject eye [0096] 192 retina [0097] 194 eye lens [0098] 196 cornea [0099] 500, 510, 520, 530, 540 method steps [0100] 600, 602 radial scans [0101] 604, 606 curves [0102] 608, 610 apices [0103] 612 center axis of relay lens [0104] x, y, z imaging coordinates [0105] x.sub.0, y.sub.0 OCT imaging system origin [0106] x.sub.1, y.sub.1 positions of apices [0107] Δx, Δy lateral offset components [0108] Δφ angular offset component