Compact telescope configurations for light scanning systems and methods of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10835119-B2
Application number	US-201615547547-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2016
Priority date	Feb 5, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

Compact telescope configurations for light scanning systems and related methods are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system for imaging or relaying an image of an object includes a first optical element having a first focal length f1 for imaging or relaying an image of an object at the distance f1 from the first optical element. The system also includes a second optical element having a second focal length f2 for receiving an image of the object from the first optical element and for focusing an output of the image at the distance f2 from the second optical element on a side that opposes the first optical element. The first optical element and the second optical element are separated by a distance of approximately [Formula I], wherein r is the finite radius of curvature of the wavefront of light located at the object or image of the object.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A system comprising:
an optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe including a light scanner for imaging an object;
a first optical element having a first focal length f 1 for imaging or relaying an image of the object at the distance f 1 from the first optical element;
a second optical element having a second focal length f 2 and having an optical axis substantially aligned with an optical axis of the first optical element for receiving an image of the object from the first optical element and for focusing an output of the image at the scanner at the distance f 2 from the second optical element on a side that opposes the first optical element; and
wherein the first optical element and the second optical element are separated by a distance d, wherein d is defined as a distance of ±5% of

f
1

+

f
2

-

f
1
2

r

,

wherein r is the finite radius of curvature of the wavefront of light located at the object or image of the object.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the optical elements are lenses.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first optical element and the second optical element are biconvex lenses.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first optical element is a biconvex lens.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a plano-concave lens positioned between the first optical element and the second optical element, and having an optical axis substantially aligned with the optical axes of the first and second optical elements.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an eye positioned at the distance f 2 from the second lens.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the light scanner is a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) scanner.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the light scanner is operably connected to scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) equipment for imaging the subject.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the light scanner is operably connected to scanning optical coherence tomography (OCT) equipment for imaging the subject.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the light scanner is operably connected to scanning optical coherence tomography (OCT) equipment and laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) equipment for imaging the subject.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein r is between 0 and infinity.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein r is between the value of

f
1
2

f
1

+

f
2

and the larger of 5f 1 or 5f 2 .

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a field flattening element to reduce field curvature induced by the system design.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein a field flattening element is located near an intermediate focal or image plane.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein a field flattening element is the closest optical element surface to an intermediate focal or image plane.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second elements are combined into a single optical element with focal length

f
′

=

f
1

⁢

f
2

f
1

+

f
2

.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first optical element and the second optical element are meniscus lenses.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising one meniscus and two biconvex lenses positioned between the first optical element and the second optical element, and having an optical axis substantially aligned with the optical axes of the first and second optical elements.

Assignees

• Univ Duke

Inventors

• Izatt Joseph A
• Larocca Francesco
• Dubose Theodore
• Nankivil Derek

Classifications

• A61B3/1025 Primary

  for confocal scanning · CPC title

• A61B3/12

  for looking at the eye fundus, e.g. ophthalmoscopes (A61B3/13 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B3/1208 Primary

  Multiple lens hand-held instruments · CPC title

• A61B3/13

  Ophthalmic microscopes · CPC title

• A61B3/102

  for optical coherence tomography [OCT] · CPC title