IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,618,325
Granted Patent B2
US 9,618,325 · App. 14/469,474 · Granted Apr 11, 2017

Optical coherence tomography imaging systems and methods

Inventors: William Brown (Durham, NC); Michael Crose (Durham, NC)
Assignee: Lumedica Inc.
G01B9/02091G01B9/0205G01B9/02044G01B9/02054
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,618,325
App. No.
14/469,474
Granted
Apr 11, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Optical coherence tomography imaging systems and methods are disclosed. According to an aspect, an optical coherence tomography imaging system includes a scanner configured to obtain images and to convert the images to electrical signals. The system also includes a computing device comprising an OCT module configured to receive the electrical signals, to apply an OCT imaging technique, and to generate imaging data.

Claims (32)

1. An optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging system comprising:

a scanner comprising a steerable lens that is fixed relative to an optical axis and configured to both focus and laterally scan a beam to obtain B-scans;

a detector configured to convert the images to electrical signals; and

a computing device comprising an OCT module configured to receive the electrical signals, to apply an OCT imaging technique, and to generate B-scans.

2. The OCT imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the scanner is a handheld scanner.

3. The OCT imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the scanner is configured to optically scan an object to obtain the images.

4. The OCT imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the steerable lens comprises a liquid lens.

5. The OCT imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising a spectrometer, a light source, and an interferometer.

6. The OCT imaging system of claim 5 , wherein the interferometer comprises a fiber coupler.

7. The OCT imaging system of claim 5 , wherein the spectrometer comprises an off axis parabolic reflector for collimation and focusing of light.

8. The OCT imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a display and a controller configured to control the display to output the imaging data.

9. The OCT imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising a handheld device including the scanner.

10. The OCT imaging system of claim 1 , wherein one of the scanner and the computing device is configured for polarization control.

11. The OCT imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising a camera and a handheld device including the scanner, the camera being integrated into the handheld device.

12. The OCT imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a spectrometer including a single off-axis parabolic mirror, diffraction grating, lens set, and camera/linescan/area scan array.

13. The OCT imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the spectrometer is a loop spectrometer.

14. The OCT imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an opening to receive light;

an off-axis parabolic mirror configured to collimate and focus the received light;

a grating configured to diffract the collimated and focused light and to reflect the light towards the off-axis parabolic mirror for focusing on a line scan array detector for imaging.

15. The OCT imaging system of claim 14 , wherein the grating is a reflective grating.

16. The OCT imaging system of claim 14 , wherein the grating comprises a transmission grating and a mirror.

17. The OCT imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising

an opening to receive light;

an off-axis parabolic mirror configured to collimate the received light;

a transmission diffraction grating to disperse the light; and

one or more lenses configured to focus the light onto a line scan array detector for imaging.

18. The OCT imaging system of claim 17 , wherein the off-axis parabolic mirror, the transmission diffraction grating, and the one or more lenses are in a loop configuration, and

wherein the OCT imaging system further comprises another mirror positioned between the off-axis parabolic mirror and the transmission diffraction grating.

19. The OCT imaging system of claim 17 , wherein the transmission diffraction grating is a holographic transmission grating.

20. The OCT imaging system of claim 3 , wherein the line scan array detector comprises pixels that are taller than the pixels are wide.

21. The OCT imaging system of claim 17 , wherein the line scan array detector comprises a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) array detector.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY DATA PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 033615 FRAME: 0052. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 27, 2014
From: BROWN, WILLIAM; CROSE, MICHAEL
To: LUMEDICA INC.
Reel/Frame 033645/0898 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 26, 2014
From: BROWN, WILLIAM; CROSE, MICHAEL
To: OLIVE, BENTLEY J
Reel/Frame 033615/0052 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61869991 · Aug 26, 2013
Related Publication 20150055137A1 · Feb 26, 2015