Abstract: A alteration caused in a nerve fiber layer could not accurately be displayed. There is provided a tomographic imaging apparatus including a generation means for generating a nerve fiber bundle map, a designation means for designating an arbitrary nerve fiber bundle in the nerve fiber bundle map, and a display control means for causing display means to display a parameter of the designated nerve fiber bundle.

Abstract: A method for processing polarization data includes steps of acquiring a plurality of sets of polarization data items, converting the set of polarization data items into a representation including parameters of amplitude and phase, and averaging the converted set of polarization data items.

Abstract: Provided is a method for easily improving image quality in an optical tomographic imaging apparatus. An optical tomographic image generation method of generating a tomographic image of an object includes: acquiring a signal; performing Fourier transform; and obtaining the tomographic image. The optical tomographic image generation method further includes one of the steps of combining a plurality of the signals acquired within a predetermined time and combining a plurality of the signals acquired within a predetermined time after performed the Fourier transform thereon.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for analyzing a plurality of images acquired of an eye to be inspected includes a photoreceptor cell analysis unit configured to analyze an area of each photoreceptor cell in a first image, a fundus analysis unit configured to analyze a characteristic of a fundus from a second image, an image associating unit configured to associate the first image with the second image, a characteristic value calculation unit configured to calculate a value of the characteristic for the area of the each photoreceptor cell from the association, and a display unit configured to display an image based on the value of the characteristic calculated for the each photoreceptor cell.

Abstract: An optical tomographic imaging method of picking up a cross-sectional image of an object comprises scanning a predetermined region of the object with spots of a plurality of measurement lights in the same direction so as to irradiate different positions of the object with different spots, detecting interference signals formed by the plurality of return lights reflected or scattered by the object and a plurality of corresponding reference lights reflected by a reference mirror, and executing an arithmetic process on the detected interference signals based on a displacement amount between the different spot positions using interference signals corresponding to at least two of the spots out of the respective interference signals. The region to be scanned has a length smaller than the sum of diameters of the spots in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction.

Abstract: A method for processing polarization data includes steps of acquiring a plurality of sets of polarization data items, converting the set of polarization data items into a representation including parameters of amplitude and phase, and averaging the converted set of polarization data items.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes changing unit for changing a positional relation of irradiation positions of a plurality of measuring beams to be radiated onto an object. The imaging apparatus includes scanning unit for scanning the plurality of measuring beams in the positional relation which has been changed by the changing unit, and acquiring unit for acquiring an optical coherence tomographic image of the object on the basis of the plurality of measuring beams.

Abstract: Provided is an optical tomographic imaging apparatus that is capable of shortening a period of time of focusing at multiple focus positions when images split in a depth direction are obtained by zone focusing. The optical tomographic imaging apparatus includes: a focus position setting device for splitting a zone within a predetermined imaging depth range into multiple focus zones so as to set multiple focus positions; a reference position setting device for setting at least two reference positions in an imaging depth direction within the predetermined imaging depth range; and a focus controlling device for performing control so as to perform focusing at the multiple focus positions sequentially based on focus position information generated by the focus position setting device and a focus condition of in-focus at the at least two reference positions set in advance by the reference position setting device.

Abstract: A schematic eye is used for the evaluation of the optical system of an optical coherence tomography apparatus which captures a tomogram of the fundus. The eye includes a first optical member which irradiated light from the optical system strikes and a second optical member which irradiated light from the first optical member strikes. A plurality of layers having different scattering intensities in the incident direction of irradiated light are formed on the second optical member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical tomographic image generating method including: obtaining signals for a plurality of frames; obtaining respective complex number data by performing Fourier transformation of the signals for the plurality of frames; synthesizing the plurality of frames using the respective complex number data; generating a tomographic image based on the synthesized data. This configuration enables easy enhancement of the image quality in an optical coherence tomographic imaging apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical tomographic image generating method including: obtaining signals for a plurality of frames; obtaining respective complex number data by performing Fourier transformation of the signals for the plurality of frames; synthesizing the plurality of frames using the respective complex number data; generating a tomographic image based on the synthesized data. This configuration enables easy enhancement of the image quality in an optical coherence tomographic imaging apparatus.

Abstract: An optical tomographic imaging apparatus includes a first splitting unit configured to split a first beam and a second beam respectively into a reference beam and a measuring beam, an interference unit configured to acquire a first interference beam and a second interference beam by combining return beams being acquired by irradiating an inspection object with the respective measuring beams split by the splitting unit and the respectively corresponding reference beams, a second splitting unit configured to split the first interference beam into a third interference beam and a fourth interference beam, a selection unit configured to select either the second interference beam or the fourth interference beam, and an imaging unit configured to generate a tomographic image from the third interference beam and the second interference beam, or from the third interference beam and the fourth interference beam.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for analyzing a plurality of images acquired of an eye to be inspected includes a photoreceptor cell analysis unit configured to analyze an area of each photoreceptor cell in a first image, a fundus analysis unit configured to analyze a characteristic of a fundus from a second image, an image associating unit configured to associate the first image with the second image, a characteristic value calculation unit configured to calculate a value of the characteristic for the area of the each photoreceptor cell from the association, and a display unit configured to display an image based on the value of the characteristic calculated for the each photoreceptor cell.

Abstract: An image forming method uses an optical coherence tomography as to an optical axis direction of plural pieces of image information of an object. First image information of an object is obtained at a first focus with respect to an optical axis direction to then object. A focusing position is changed by dynamic focusing from the first focus to a second focus along the optical axis. The second image information of the object is obtained at the second focus. A third image information, tomography image information of the object and including a tomography image of the first focus or the second focus, is obtained by Fourier domain optical coherence tomography. A tomography image or a three-dimensional image of the object is formed in positional relation, in the optical axis direction, between the first image information and the second image information using the third image information.

Abstract: An optical tomographic imaging method is provided in which light from a light source is split into a measuring beam and a reference beam, the measuring beam being moved by a scanning optical system and guided to an object to be examined, the reference beam being guided to a reference mirror, and in which a tomogram of the object is generated from a return beam of the measuring beam reflected or scattered by the object and the reference beam reflected by the reference mirror. The method includes acquiring longitudinal sectional information on the object, calculating depth-position information on the object from the longitudinal sectional information, and acquiring a three-dimensional surface image of the object by controlling a reference-path length defined by the reference mirror and a scanning operation of the scanning optical system in accordance with the depth-position information on the object.

Abstract: Provided is an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus suppressing the effect of a motion artifact caused by a movement of an eye to be inspected, comprising: a scanning unit for scanning, with first and second measuring beams, at least a part of an overlap area of scan areas thereof in an inspected eye, at different times, respectively; an image acquiring unit for acquiring first and second images of the inspected eye based on first and second return beams resulting from the first and second measuring beams being applied via the scanning unit and reflected by the inspected eye; an identification unit for identifying an image including a motion artifact from each of the first and second images; and an image forming unit for forming an image of the inspected eye based on the first and second images other than the images identified by the identification unit.

Abstract: Provided is an optical tomographic imaging apparatus that is capable of shortening a period of time of focusing at multiple focus positions when images split in a depth direction are obtained by zone focusing. The optical tomographic imaging apparatus includes: a focus position setting device for splitting a zone within a predetermined imaging depth range into multiple focus zones so as to set multiple focus positions; a reference position setting device for setting at least two reference positions in an imaging depth direction within the predetermined imaging depth range; and a focus controlling device for performing control so as to perform focusing at the multiple focus positions sequentially based on focus position information generated by the focus position setting device and a focus condition of in-focus at the at least two reference positions set in advance by the reference position setting device.

Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus comprises: a first optical system which irradiates the same region on a retina with a plurality of illumination light beams through separate positions on a pupil of an eye to be examined; and an image generation unit configured to generate a two-dimensional image of the retina based on return light from the eye.

Abstract: Provided is an optical tomographic imaging apparatus that is capable of shortening a period of time of focusing at multiple focus positions when images split in a depth direction are obtained by zone focusing. The optical tomographic imaging apparatus includes: a focus position setting device for splitting a zone within a predetermined imaging depth range into multiple focus zones so as to set multiple focus positions; a reference position setting device for setting at least two reference positions in an imaging depth direction within the predetermined imaging depth range; and a focus controlling device for performing focusing at the multiple focus positions sequentially based on focus position information generated by the focus position setting device and a focus condition of an in-focus state for the at least two reference positions set in advance by the reference position setting device.

Abstract: An image forming method uses an optical coherence tomography as to an optical axis direction of plural pieces of image information of an object. First image information of an object is obtained at a first focus with respect to an optical axis direction to then object. A focusing position is changed by dynamic focusing from the first focus to a second focus along the optical axis. The second image information of the object is obtained at the second focus. A third image information, tomography image information of the object and including a tomography image of the first focus or the second focus, is obtained by Fourier domain optical coherence tomography. A tomography image or a three-dimensional image of the object is formed in positional relation, in the optical axis direction, between the first image information and the second image information using the third image information.