Abstract: Various optical systems equipped with diode laser light sources are discussed in the present application. One example system includes a diode laser light source for providing a beam of radiation. The diode laser has a spectral output bandwidth when driven under equilibrium conditions. The system further includes a driver circuit to apply a pulse of drive current to the diode laser. The pulse causes a variation in the output wavelength of the diode laser during the pulse such that the spectral output bandwidth is at least two times larger the spectral output bandwidth under the equilibrium conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sub-aperture correlation based wavefront measurement in a thick sample and correction as a post processing technique for interferometric imaging to achieve near diffraction limited resolution are described. Theory, simulation and experimental results are presented for the case of full field interference microscopy. The inventive technique can be applied to any coherent interferometric imaging technique and does not require knowledge of any system parameters. In one embodiment of the present application, a fast and simple way to correct for defocus aberration is described. A variety of applications for the method are presented.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for sequential angle illumination to achieve ultra-high resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. One example OCT system includes a light source, a beam divider, sample arm optics, a detector, and a processor. The light source generates a light beam to illuminate the sample. The beam divider separates the light beam into reference and sample arms. The sample arm optics sequentially illuminates a location in the sample with the light beam from different angles. The detector receives light returned from the reference arm and the sample illuminated at each angle and generates signals. The processor combines the signals to generate an image, which has a transverse resolution that is higher than the transverse resolution achieved from the signal generated from a single angle.

Abstract: Improved line-field imaging systems incorporating planar waveguides are presented. In one embodiment the optics of the system are configured such that a line of light on the light scattering object is imaged to the planar waveguide in at least one dimension. Embodiments where the waveguide incorporates a beamsplitter of an interferometer, where the beam divider and waveguide are referenced to one or more common surfaces, and wherein the source and waveguide are optically coupled, are also considered. In another embodiment, the planar waveguide is in contact or close proximity to the light scattering object.

Abstract: An OCT system comprises an OCT scan module for retinal scanning and an add-on anterior segment scanning module which includes at least one anterior segment scan lens (11) and an add-on fixation target (15) which is used to maintain the viewing direction of the eye (6) under investigation while achieving anterior segment scanning. Because the anterior segment scan module added to the exterior of an existing OCT system for retinal scanning has an add-on fixation target (15), it is possible to maintain the viewing direction of the eye (6) under investigation while carrying out anterior segment scanning without adjusting the internal beam path of the OCT system, and the OCT system of the present invention can be adapted to patients with only one functioning eye.

Abstract: Various optical systems equipped with diode laser light sources are discussed in the present application. One example system includes a diode laser light source for providing a beam of radiation. The diode laser has a spectral output bandwidth when driven under equilibrium conditions. The system further includes a driver circuit to apply a pulse of drive current to the diode laser. The pulse causes a variation in the output wavelength of the diode laser during the pulse such that the spectral output bandwidth is at least two times larger the spectral output bandwidth under the equilibrium conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods that use interference signal from a sample tissue (e.g. retina) obtained in a self-referenced manner to obtain one or more characteristics about the sample tissue, such as thickness and intensity information, are discussed in the present disclosure. One example method of analyzing the sample tissue using an interferometry system includes illuminating the sample tissue with a beam of light using a spectrally broadband source. Scattered light signal is collected from the sample tissue at a detector. The signal results from optical interference between light scattered from multiple scatterers located at different depths in the tissue. The light signal is dominated by light scattered from a scatterer located within the bulk of the tissue. One or more characteristics of the sample tissue are determined based on the collected signal.

Abstract: The present application describes the addition of various feedback mechanisms including visual and audio feedback mechanisms to an ophthalmic diagnostic device to assist a subject to self-align to the device. The device may use the visual and non-visual feedback mechanisms independently or in combination with one another. The device may provide a means for a subject to provide feedback to the device to confirm that an alignment condition has been met. Alternatively, the device may have a means for sensing when acceptable alignment has been achieved. The device may capture diagnostic information during the alignment process or may capture after the alignment condition has been met.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing visual field testing using light field displays are described. The light field display (201, 202; 801; 504; 601-604; 704; 801), that can correct for the focus and cylindrical refractive error of the subject, can be used to perform a variety of visual field testing strategies by rendering visual stimuli to the eye (203). The light field display may be included near the subject's eye, or reimaged by a relay optical system (802). Several embodiments of head and arm mounted systems (711; 704) including a near eye light field display (704) are presented.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sub-aperture correlation based wavefront measurement in a thick sample and correction as a post processing technique for interferometric imaging to achieve near diffraction limited resolution are described. Theory, simulation and experimental results are presented for the case of full field interference microscopy. The inventive technique can be applied to any coherent interferometric imaging technique and does not require knowledge of any system parameters. In one embodiment of the present application, a fast and simple way to correct for defocus aberration is described. A variety of applications for the method are presented.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sub-aperture correlation based wavefront measurement in a thick sample and correction as a post processing technique for interferometric imaging to achieve near diffraction limited resolution are described. Theory, simulation and experimental results are presented for the case of full field interference microscopy. The inventive technique can be applied to any coherent interferometric imaging technique and does not require knowledge of any system parameters. In one embodiment of the present application, a fast and simple way to correct for defocus aberration is described. A variety of applications for the method are presented.

Abstract: Efficient interferometer designs for optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems are presented. One example interferometer design includes two polarization dependent beamsplitters and a non-polarization dependent combiner. The first polarization dependent beamsplitter transmits light in a first polarization state to a sample arm of the OCT system and transmits light in a second polarization state different from the first polarization state to a reference arm of the system. The second polarization dependent beamsplitter transmits light returning from a sample to the non-polarization dependent combiner. The combiner combines light returned from the sample and the light that has passed through the reference arm, which is then detected at a detector. Another example interferometer design includes free space optics comprising a non-reciprocal beamsplitting element in a beam path from a light source to a sample.

Abstract: Systems and methods that use interference signal from a sample tissue (e.g. retina) obtained in a self-referenced manner to obtain one or more characteristics about the sample tissue, such as thickness and intensity information, are discussed in the present disclosure. One example method of analyzing the sample tissue using an interferometry system includes illuminating the sample tissue with a beam of light using a spectrally broadband source. Scattered light signal is collected from the sample tissue at a detector. The signal results from optical interference between light scattered from multiple scatterers located at different depths in the tissue. The light signal is dominated by light scattered from a scatterer located within the bulk of the tissue. One or more characteristics of the sample tissue are determined based on the collected signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improved interferometric imaging are presented. One embodiment is a partial field frequency-domain interferometric imaging system in which a light beam is scanned in two directions across a sample and the light scattered from the object is collected using a spatially resolved detector. The light beam could illuminate a spot, a line or a two-dimensional area on the sample. Additional embodiments with applicability to partial field as well as other types of interferometric systems are also presented.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing visual field testing using light field displays are described. The light field display (201, 202; 801; 504; 601-604; 704; 801), that can correct for the focus and cylindrical refractive error of the subject, can be used to perform a variety of visual field testing strategies by rendering visual stimuli to the eye (203). The light field display may be included near the subject's eye, or reimaged by a relay optical system (802). Several embodiments of head and arm mounted systems (711; 704) including a near eye light field display (704) are presented.

Abstract: Efficient interferometer designs for optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems are presented. One example interferometer design includes two polarization dependent beamsplitters and a non-polarization dependent combiner. The first polarization dependent beamsplitter transmits light in a first polarization state to a sample arm of the OCT system and transmits light in a second polarization state different from the first polarization state to a reference arm of the system. The second polarization dependent beamsplitter transmits light returning from a sample to the non-polarization dependent combiner. The combiner combines light returned from the sample and the light that has passed through the reference arm, which is then detected at a detector. Another example interferometer design includes free space optics comprising a non-reciprocal beamsplitting element in a beam path from a light source to a sample.

Abstract: Improved line-field imaging systems incorporating planar waveguides are presented. In one embodiment the optics of the system are configured such that a line of light on the light scattering object is imaged to the planar waveguide in at least one dimension. Embodiments where the waveguide incorporates a beamsplitter of an interferometer, where the beam divider and waveguide are referenced to one or more common surfaces, and wherein the source and waveguide are optically coupled, are also considered. In another embodiment, the planar waveguide is in contact or close proximity to the light scattering object.

Abstract: An OCT system comprises an OCT scan module for retinal scanning and an add-on anterior segment scanning module which includes at least one anterior segment scan lens (11) and an add-on fixation target (15) which is used to maintain the viewing direction of the eye (6) under investigation while achieving anterior segment scanning. Because the anterior segment scan module added to the exterior of an existing OCT system for retinal scanning has an add-on fixation target (15), it is possible to maintain the viewing direction of the eye (6) under investigation while carrying out anterior segment scanning without adjusting the internal beam path of the OCT system, and the OCT system of the present invention can be adapted to patients with only one functioning eye.

Abstract: A novel imaging method, line-field holoscopy is presented. A line of light is projected across an object to be investigated through an imaging system. The light scattered from the investigated object is combined with reference radiation. The combined light is projected onto a detector providing a confocal restriction in one dimension. Astigmatic optics in the return path transform the light asymmetrically such that at the detector, the line focus is imaged to the confocal restriction, while the orthogonal direction is defocused. Embodiments including a swept source with linear detection array, and spectrometer based systems utilizing a 2D detector array are described. The data may be reconstructed to a B-scan by two-dimensional Fourier transform or other reconstruction method with or without combination of more complex algorithms.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sub-aperture correlation based wavefront measurement in a thick sample and correction as a post processing technique for interferometric imaging to achieve near diffraction limited resolution are described. Theory, simulation and experimental results are presented for the case of full field interference microscopy. The inventive technique can be applied to any coherent interferometric imaging technique and does not require knowledge of any system parameters. In one embodiment of the present invention, a fast and simple way to correct for defocus aberration is described. A variety of applications for the inventive method are presented.