Methods and systems for performing angle-resolved Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-RE46412-E
Application number	US-201414184537-A
Country	US
Kind code	E1
Filing date	Feb 19, 2014
Priority date	Feb 24, 2006
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

Arrangements, apparatus and methods are provided according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In particular, at least one first electro-magnetic radiation may be received and at least one second electro-magnetic radiation within a solid angle may be forwarded to a sample. The second electro-magnetic radiation may be associated with the first electro-magnetic radiation. A plurality of third electro-magnetic radiations can be received from the sample which is associated with the second electro-magnetic radiation, and at least one portion of the third electro-magnetic radiation is provided outside a periphery of the solid angle. Signals associated with each of the third electro-magnetic radiations can be simultaneously detected, with the signals being associated with information for the sample at a plurality of depths thereof. The depths can be determined using at least one of the third electro-magnetic radiations without a need to utilize another one of the third electro-magnetic radiations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a first arrangement having a lens configured to receive at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and forward at least one second electro-magnetic radiation within a solid angle to a sample, wherein the at least one forwarded second electro-magnetic radiation is at least one focused radiation, wherein the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation is associated with the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, wherein the first arrangement is configured to receive a plurality of third electro-magnetic radiations from the sample which is associated with the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation, wherein the third electro-magnetic radiations are based on the at least one focused second electro-magnetic radiation, and wherein the lens receives at least one portion of the third electro-magnetic radiations is provided outside a periphery of the solid angle; and
a second arrangement having a detector configured to simultaneously detect signals which are (i) provided along optical axes associated therewith that are different from one another, and (ii) associated with each of the third electro-magnetic radiations, wherein the signals are associated with information for the at least one sample at a plurality of depths thereof, and wherein the second arrangement is configured to determine the depths using the at least one portion of the third electro-magnetic radiations.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a third wherein the second arrangement having a detector configured to detect an interference between the at least one portion of the third electro-magnetic radiation and at least one fourth electro-magnetic radiation associated with the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and to obtain information associated with the sample as a function of the depths within the sample based on the interference.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a third arrangement having a computer configured to provide data associated with at least one of birefringence properties, spectroscopic properties, motion, angular back-scattering properties or elastic properties of at least one portion of the sample as a function of the signals.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a third arrangement having a computer capable of generating at least one image of at least one portion of the sample as a function of the signals.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the third arrangement is further configured to provide data associated with at least one of birefringence properties, spectroscopic properties, motion, angular back-scattering properties or elastic properties of at least one portion of the sample as a function of the signals.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the data is contrast data associated with the at least one image.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a third arrangement including a computer configured to provide data associated with scattering characteristics of at least one portion of the sample as a function of a combination of the signals.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second arrangement is configured to determine the depths using a single one of the third electro-magnetic radiations.

9. A method for detecting signals, comprising:
receiving at least one first electro-magnetic radiation; forwarding at least one second electro-magnetic radiation within a solid angle to a sample, wherein the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation is associated with the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation; receiving a plurality of third electro-magnetic radiations from the sample which is associated with the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation, wherein at least one portion of the third electro-magnetic radiations is provided outside a periphery of the solid angle; simultaneously detecting the signals which are (i) provided along optical axes associated therewith that are different from one another, and (ii) associated with each of the third electro-magnetic radiations, wherein the signals are associated with in formation for the at least one sample at a plurality of depths thereof, and using a computer arrangement, determining the depths using the at least one portion of the third electro-magnetic radiations.

10. An apparatus for providing data associated with at least one sample, comprising:
a first arrangement configured to receive first information associated with signals for a plurality of electro-magnetic radiations provided from the at least one sample, wherein at least one of the electro-magnetic radiations has a frequency that changes over time, wherein at least a first one of the electro-magnetic radiations being provided along a first axis, and at least a second one of the electro-magnetic radiations being provided along a second axis which is different from the first axis, wherein data for each of the signals within at least one portion of the first information includes data for a plurality of depths within the at least one sample; and a second arrangement configured to produce second information associated with contrast data of at least one portion of an image for the at least one sample as a function of the first information.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one portion of the signals is provided outside a periphery of the solid angle.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the second arrangement is capable of determining parameters of the least one depth within the sample using the first information.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the second arrangement is capable of determining the at least one depth using data associated with a single one of the signals.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising a third arrangement capable of generating at least one image of at least one portion of the sample as a function of the second information.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the third arrangement is further configured to provide data associated with at least one of birefringence properties, spectroscopic properties, motion, angular back-scattering properties or elastic properties of at least one portion of the sample as a function of the second information.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the data is contrast data associated with the at least one image.

17. The apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising a third arrangement configured to provide data associated with scattering characteristics of at least one portion of the sample as a function of a combination of the signals.

18. A method providing data associated with at least one sample, comprising:
receiving first information associated with signals for a plurality of electro-magnetic radiations provided from the at least one sample, wherein at least one of the electro-magnetic radiations has a frequency that changes over time, wherein at least first one of the electro-magnetic radiations being provided along a first axis, and at least second one of the electro-magnetic radiations being provided along second axis which is different from the first axis, wherein data for each of the signals within at least one portion of the first information includes data for a plurality of depths within the at least one sample; and using a computer arrangement, producing second information associated with contrast data of at least one portion of an image for the at least one sample as a function of the

Assignees

• Desjardins Adrien
• Vakoc Benjamin J
• Tearney Guillermo J
• Bouma Brett Eugene
• Massachusetts Gen Hospital

Inventors

• Desjardins Adrien
• Vakoc Benjamin J
• Tearney Guillermo J
• Bouma Brett Eugene

Classifications

• G01B2290/70

  Using polarization in the interferometer · CPC title

• A61B5/0073

  by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections (A61B5/0066 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N21/4795 Primary

  spatially resolved investigating of object in scattering medium (in vivo A61B) · CPC title

• G01N2021/4714

  Continuous plural angles · CPC title

• G01B9/02087

  Combining two or more images of the same region · CPC title