Optical coherence tomographic system for ophthalmic surgery

1. A method for imaging an eye, comprising the steps of:

positioning the eye relative to a Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomographic (SD-OCT) imaging system,

the eye having a first and a second structure; and

imaging the eye with the SD-OCT imaging system by

selecting one of a direct image or a mirror image of the first eye-structure and generating a first image-portion, corresponding to the selected image of the first eye-structure;

selecting one of a direct image or a mirror image of the second eye-structure and generating a second image-portion, corresponding to the selected image of the second eye-structure; and

suppressing the non-selected images of the first and second structures.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the first and second image-portions comprises:

performing a transformation on one of the first or second image-portions to generate a biologically representative image of the first and second structures, when

at least one of the first or the second image-portions is a mirror image.

3. The method of claim 1 , the imaging the eye step comprising:

adjusting a reference depth of the SD-OCT imaging system

to generate the direct and mirror images of the first and second eye-structures at corresponding image depths so that the direct and mirror images of the first and second eye-structures can be distinguished from each other.

4. The method of claim 3 , the distinguishing the direct and mirror images of the first and second eye-structures step comprising at least one of:

recognizing a spatial separation of the images;

applying a pattern recognition approach;

distinguishing a signal characteristic of the images;

utilizing pre-existing knowledge about the eye; or

utilizing knowledge about the eye based on a diagnostics, or

a combination of the recited steps.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein

the steps of adjusting the reference depth and distinguishing the direct and mirror images of the first and second eye-structures are performed iteratively.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein:

the first structure is an anterior capsule layer of a lens of the eye; and

the second structure is a posterior capsule layer of the lens of the eye.

7. The method of claim 6 , the imaging the eye step comprising:

adjusting the reference depth of the SD-OCT imaging system so that a depth-sequence of the first image-portion, the second image-portion and a cornea image is one of:

direct image of the cornea—direct image of the anterior capsule layer—mirror image of the posterior capsule layer;

direct image of the cornea—mirror image of the posterior capsule layer—direct image of the anterior capsule layer; or

mirror image of the posterior capsule layer—direct image of the cornea—direct image of the anterior capsule layer.

8. The method of claim 3 , the adjusting the reference depth step comprising one of:

adjusting a position of a reference mirror of the SD-OCT imaging system; or

tuning a delay element of the SD-OCT imaging system, or

a combination of the recited steps.

9. The method of claim 3 , the imaging the eye step comprising:

a homodyne imaging.

10. The method of claim 3 , wherein the imaging the eye step comprises:

adjusting an imaging range around the reference depth

to result in the first and the second structures being located within the imaging range.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjusting the imaging range step comprises:

adjusting at least one of a central wavelength or a wavelength resolution of the SD-OCT imaging system.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjusting step comprises;

adjusting the imaging range to be within the 0-15 mm range.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjusting step comprises;

adjusting the imaging range to be in the 5-15 mm range.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the imaging the eye step comprises:

adjusting a Rayleigh range around a focal depth

to result in the imaging range being less than 4 times the Rayleigh range.

15. The method of claim 3 , the adjusting the reference depth step comprising:

adjusting the reference depth to be within the range of 2-15 mm.

16. The method of claim 1 , the positioning the eye step comprising at least one of;

docking the eye to an interface of the SD-OCT imaging system;

immobilizing the eye; or

minimizing a motion range of the eye relative to the SD-OCT imaging system, or

a combination of the recited steps.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the SD-OCT imaging system is one of a

Spectrometer Based OCT (SB-OCT) and a Swept Source OCT (SS-OCT) imaging system.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the imaging of the eye comprises at least one of:

creating a single z-scan;

creating a planar z-scan;

creating a z-scan along a scanning line; or

creating a z-scan in a raster pattern, or

a combination of the recited steps.

19. An imaging system for imaging an eye, comprising:

a Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomographic (SD-OCT) imaging system that

positions the eye relative to the SD-OCT imaging system,

the eye having a first and a second structure;

generates a first image-portion, selected from a direct image and a mirror image of the first structure;

generates a second image-portion, selected from a direct image and a mirror image of the second structure; and

suppresses non-selected images of the first and second structures.

20. The imaging system of claim 19 , the SD-OCT imaging system comprising;

an imaging light source that outputs an imaging light;

one or more beam splitters that

splits the imaging light into an imaging beam and a. reference beam; and

unifies a returned imaging light-portion and a returned reference light-portion into an interfering light;

a reference device, that returns the reference light-portion,

with a time difference proportional to a reference distance; and

an interference analyzer, that

receives the interfering light; and

generates an SD-OCT image of the eye.

21. The imaging system of claim 20 , wherein:

the SD-OCT is one of a

Spectrometer Based OCT (SB-OCT) or a Swept Source OCT (SS-OCT).

22. The imaging system of claim 20 , wherein:

the reference device is configured so that the returned reference light-portion is one of advanced or delayed relative to the returned imaging light-portion.

23. The imaging system of claim 20 , wherein:

the reference distance of the reference mirror is related to a reference depth in the eye, wherein

the interference analyzer as a maximum imaging sensitivity at the reference depth.

24. The imaging system of claim 23 , wherein:

the first structure is an anterior capsule layer of a lens of the eye;

the second structure is a posterior capsule layer of the lens of the eye;

the reference distance is adjustable to set the reference depth so that a depth-sequence of the first image-portion, the second image-portion and an image of a cornea is one of

mirror image of the posterior capsule layer—direct image of the anterior capsule layer—direct image of a cornea;

direct image of the anterior capsule layer—mirror image of the posterior capsule layer—direct image of the cornea; or

direct image of the anterior capsule layer—direct image of the cornea—mirror image of the posterior capsule layer.

25. The imaging system of claim 23 , wherein:

the first structure is an anterior capsule layer of a lens of the eye;

the second structure is a posterior capsule layer of the lens of the eye;

the reference distance is adjustable to set the reference depth so that a depth-sequence of the first image-portion, the second image-portion and an image of a cornea is one of

direct image of the posterior capsule layer—mirror image of the anterior capsule layer—mirror image of a cornea;

mirror image of the anterior capsule layer 13 direct image of the posterior capsule layer 13 mirror image of the cornea; or

mirror image of the anterior capsule layer—mirror image of the cornea—direct image of the posterior capsule layer.

26. The imaging system of claim 23 , wherein:

the reference distance is adjustable to control the reference depth to within the range of 2-15 mm.

27. The imaging system of claim 23 , wherein:

the SD-OCT imaging system controls an imaging range around the reference depth into a range of one of

0 mm-15 mm and 5 mm-15 mm.

28. The imaging system of claim 19 , wherein:

the SD-OCT imaging system suppresses the non-selected images by at least one of

preventing the display of generated non-selected images;

generating the non-selected images without displaying the non-selected images; or

performing a computational step to prevent the generation of the non-selected images, or

a combination of the recited functions.

29. A method of imaging an object, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning the object relative to a Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomographic (SD-OCT) imaging system,

the object comprising a high contrast structure in a low contrast medium;

generating an image of the high contrast structure with the SD-OCT imaging system, corresponding to one of a direct image and a mirror image of the high contrast structure; and

suppressing a non-selected image of the high contrast structure.

30. The method of claim 29 , the generating the image of the high contrast structure step comprising:

adjusting a reference depth of the SD-OCT imaging system

to generate the image of the high contrast structure at an image depth so that the image of the high contrast structure is distinguishable from a first image of a first structure.

31. The method of claim 30 , the adjusting the reference depth step comprising:

distinguishing the image of the high contrast structure from the first image by at least one of

recognizing a spatial separation of the image of the high contrast structure from the first image;

applying a pattern recognition approach;

distinguishing a signal characteristic of the image of the high contrast structure and the first image;

utilizing pre-existing knowledge about the object; or

utilizing a knowledge about the object based on a diagnostics.

32. The method of claim 29 , the generating an image of the high contrast structure step comprising:

a homodyne imaging.

33. The method of claim 29 , wherein the generating an image of the high contrast structure step comprises:

setting a reference depth of the SD-OCT imaging system; and

adjusting an imaging range around the reference depth

to result in the imaging range covering the high contrast structure.

34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the adjusting the imaging range step comprises:

adjusting at least one of a central wavelength and a wavelength resolution of the SD-OCT imaging system

to result in the imaging range covering the high contrast structure.

35. The method of claim 33 , wherein the adjusting the imaging range step comprises:

adjusting the imaging range to be within one of a range 0 mm-15 mm and 5 mm-15 mm.

36. The method of claim 33 , wherein the adjusting the imaging range step comprises:

adjusting the reference depth to be within a range of 2 mm-15 mm.

37. The method of claim 33 , wherein the adjusting the imaging range step comprises:

adjusting a focal depth of the SD-OCT imaging system; and

adjusting a Rayleigh range around the focal depth of the SD-OCT imaging system

to result in the imaging range being less than 4 times the Rayleigh range.

38. A surgical laser system, comprising:

a surgical laser delivery system; and

a Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomographic (SD-OCT) imaging system, coupled to the surgical laser delivery system, wherein

the SD-OCT imaging system

images an object having a high contrast structure in a low contrast medium;

generates an image of the high contrast structure corresponding to one of a direct image and a mirror image of the high contrast structure; and

suppresses a non-selected image of the high contrast structure.

39. The surgical laser system of claim 38 , the SD-OCT imaging system comprising:

an imaging light source to output an imaging light;

one or more beam splitter that

splits the imaging light into an imaging beam and a reference beam; and

unifies a returned imaging beam-portion and a returned reference beam-portion into an interference beam;

a reference mirror, that returns the reference beam-portion,

positioned at a reference distance; and

an interference analyzer, that

receives the interference beam; and

generates an SD-OCT image of the eye.

40. The imaging system of claim 39 , wherein:

the SID-OCT is one of a

Spectrometer Based OCT (SB-OCT) and a Swept Source OCT (SS-OCT).

41. The imaging system of claim 39 , wherein:

the reference distance of the reference mirror is related to a reference depth in the eye, wherein

the interference analyzer has a maximum imaging sensitivity at the reference depth.

42. The imaging system of claim 41 , wherein:

the reference distance is adjustable to control the reference depth to within the range of 2-15 mm.

43. The imaging system of claim 41 , wherein:

the SD-OCT imaging system is configured to control an imaging range around the reference depth into a range of one of

0 mm-15 mm and 5 mm-15 mm.

44. The imaging system of claim 38 , wherein:

the SD-OCT imaging system suppresses the non-selected image by at least one of

preventing the display of generated non-selected image;

generating the non-selected images without displaying the non-selected image; or

performing a computational step to prevent the generation of the non-selected image.