Image based handheld imager system and methods of use

1. An spectrometer comprising: a detection arm including a collimator, a grating, a cylindrical lens and a sensor to process a signal reflected from a sample to generate a signal of spectrum, wherein the signal of spectrum includes raw data and the raw data for each spectrum signal is a 2D image and a signal is processed after the 2D image is acquired to generate one 1D spectrum result, where the signal is processed by identifying a tilt angle due to alignment error regarding an average direction and correcting the tilt angle;

detecting the correct tilt angle and rotating the 2D image according to the correct tilt angle;

orienting the known reference spectrum perpendicular to the average direction if there is no tilt angle and no known reference spectrum washout occurs during averaging;

computing the signal after processing a Fourier-transform;

subtracting a background subtraction and obtaining a highest Signal-to-Noise (SNR), where:

if the highest SNR is not obtained, then updating tilted angle, rotating image again, and then averaging along a vertical direction; and

if the highest SNR is obtained, then performing a log display.

2. The spectrometer of claim 1 , wherein the detecting of the tilt angle is only performed during an alignment process.

3. The spectrometer of claim 2 , further comprising changing a direction of average operation to the tilt angle while not rotating the 2D image.

4. The spectrometer of claim 3 , further comprising a fiber coupler operably coupled to the detection arm.

5. The spectrometer of claim 4 , wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a consumer grade area scan camera; a photodetector array, and a two-dimensional detector.

6. The spectrometer of claim 5 , wherein the known reference spectrum is a fringe.

7. The spectrometer of claim 6 , wherein the grating is at least 1/mm in order to reach a wavelength sampling.

8. The spectrometer of claim 7 , further comprising a sample arm including a mirror at an appropriate depth such that a plurality of periodic fringe patterns are observed.

9. A method of facilitating representation of low coherence interferometry (LCI) data to increase an imaging range, comprising:

calculating a background noise level to generate a flat background level for a plurality of A-line results in a 1D interferometric data;

performing a numerical dispersion compensation with at least two different parameters to generate at least two different background profiles and at least two A-line profiles as A normal and A mirrored ; and

averaging A normal and A mirrored obtained from each raw interferometric data over all a current acquired interferometric data to obtain the noise background for A normal and A mirrored , as N normal and N mirrored , respectively.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein each acquired raw interferometric data might be different from A-line to A-line caused by fiber twist or stretch.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein N normal and N mirrored is the average over at least one hundred A-lines after at least one second.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising,

subtracting an A signal and an A mirrored by a N signal and a N mirrored respectively, and comparing the results by a sharpness measurement to determine if a mirrored image occurred for a current A-line;

obtaining the highest sharpness A-line as a correct A-line profile of a complex conjugate ambiguity;

performing a threshold check to determine whether a sufficient Signal-to-Noise (SNR) for the maximum signal is at least about 3 dB higher than the noise level for the A-line profile;

if the threshold check is passed, then the A-line profile is regarded as A useful ;

if the threshold check is not passed in this case of mirror image, then the A-line is disregarded;

analyzing a corresponding surface image for each A useful to determine whether an A-line scan is performed at a position of interest; and

if the corresponding surface image is performed at the position of interest, then A useful is designated as a final A-line profile and noted as A final .

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the LCI data is obtained with an interferometer including a material of high group delay dispersion into either one of a reference arm or a sample arm of an interferometric system to result in a large dispersion mismatch between the reference arm and the sample arm and creating a distinct A-line profile between A signal and A mirrored .

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the distinct A-line profile includes a sharpness and an intensity profile.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising performing a specific analysis on an useful A-line profile including:

identifying a first peak along a depth profile after each A final is acquired, fitting a signal intensity after the first peak to a curve.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the curve includes a steep slope when a signal drops to the noise level indicating a healthy tympanic membrane with a thickness about 100 μm.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising detecting a diseased tympanic membrane by a total thickness that is larger than the healthy tympanic membrane, wherein the total thickness is defined as a distance between the first peak and a position where signal drops to a noise level.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising utilizing a distribution of total thicknesses to indicate a validity of the measurement.

19. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

a. displaying an M-mode image on a 2D pixel array including a plurality of pixel columns;

i. displaying one A-scan on each pixel column by converting a signal level of each A-scan data point to a pixel brightness;

ii. shifting previously acquired A-scans when a newly acquired A-scan is to be displayed;

iii. removing the last pixel column in the 2D pixel array and displaying the newly acquired A-scan in the first column; or

b. displaying an M-mode image on a 2D pixel array including a plurality of pixel columns;

i. displaying one A-scan on each pixel column by converting a signal level of each A-scan data point to a pixel brightness;

ii. replacing the pixel column next to the last acquired A-scan with a newly acquired A-scan, wherein the last acquired A-scan remains stationary before it is replaced with the newly acquired A-scan.