Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a dividing unit configured to divide light from a light source into reference light and measurement light; a first dichroic mirror arranged in a measurement optical path for guiding the measurement light to an object to be examined; a second dichroic mirror arranged in a reference optical path for guiding the reference light to a reference object; and a light receiving unit configured to receive interference light between the measurement light passing through the first dichroic mirror and the reference light passing through the second dichroic mirror.

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: The present invention improves projection displays of volume data. Using the Minimum Intensity Projection (MinIP), fluid filled regions or other regions of hyporeflective tissue are displayed. By limiting the projection to partial volumes within the volume, differences in the scattering intensity within specific regions are isolated. In this way, hyperreflectivity of weakly scattering tissue can be assessed.

Abstract: An instrument for measuring aspheric optical surfaces includes both an optical wavefront sensor and a single-point optical profilometer. The optical wavefront sensor measures surface height variations throughout one or more areas of an aspheric test surface. The single-point profilometer measures surface height variations along one or more traces on the aspheric test surface. At least one of the traces intersects at least one of the areas, and respective spatial frames of reference for the traces and areas are relatively adapted to each other by minimizing differences between points of nominal coincidence between the areas and traces.

Abstract: Embodiments include apparatuses and methods for spectral domain polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography including a reference assembly for detection of the polarization sensitive spectral interferograms formed by vertically and horizontally polarized beam components. Interference signals between the reference and sample beams may be modulated at a constant frequency.

Abstract: An “angle-resolved” version of FD-OCT is used to measure reflectance properties. An inspection apparatus comprises an illumination source configured to provide an illumination beam, an interferometer configured to use the illumination beam to illuminate a target on a substrate at an incidence angle and to use radiation reflected from the substrate with a reference beam derived from the illumination beam to produce an output beam, a sampling device arranged to select a portion of the output beam, a spectrometer configured to receive the selected portion of the output beam and to measure a spectrum of the received selected portion of the output beam, and a processor configured to determine from the measured spectrum reflectance properties of the target such as raw spectrometer spectral data, the Fourier transformed data, the extracted intensity components or carrier phase or the calculated complex reflectance.

Abstract: A method for reducing noise in a tomographic image, includes: acquiring phase information of a noise component signal, the signal being provided as a signal corresponding to a noise component of the tomographic image and included in a spectrum interference signal output from a detector of a swept source optical coherence tomography device; acquiring a tomographic image in response to a spectrum interference signal with a corrected phase deviation based on the acquired phase information; and reducing the noise component of this tomographic image.

Abstract: A system and method for determining volume-related parameters of a biological tissue, such as ocular tissue, include a light source for projecting light towards the biological tissue, a receiver for receiving light reflected from the biological tissue at two spectral wavelengths, and an image acquisition system in communication with the receiver for forming an image from the reflected light at each wavelength. A processor applies a mathematical model to the image which compares the absorption of light by the biological tissue at a selected image point at each of the two spectral wavelengths to determine the volume-related parameters, such as the relative thickness and material properties, of the biological tissue at that location.

Abstract: A method of forming an image of a target that comprises illuminating a target with light, maneuvering an optical unit having at least one diffractive element in front of the target through a plurality of positions, capturing, during the maneuvering, a plurality of spectrally encoded frames each from a portion of the light that is scattered from a different of a plurality of overlapping segments along a track traversing an image plane of the target, and combining the plurality of spectrally encoded frames to form a composite multispectral image of at least a portion of said target.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a full-field optical coherence tomography system (300) for imaging an object (319), comprising a light source (301), a first interferometric device having means for splitting an input light beam and comprising at least a reflecting surface (307), a second interferometric device having means for splitting the spectrally modulated output beam and comprising at least a reflecting surface, a multichannel acquisition device (321), the system (300) being characterized in that at least one of the interferometric devices includes at least a focusing optical element arranged to focus at least one of the input beams or at least one of the output beams onto the corresponding reflecting surface of the corresponding interferometric device.

Abstract: A monolithic optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe is provided. The probe includes a first section having a groove, an optical fiber in the groove, and a second section having a reflective surface. The optical fiber is in optical communication with the reflective surface.

Abstract: A surface emitting laser includes a lower reflector, an active layer, a gap portion, an upper reflector, and a driving unit. The lower reflector, the active layer, the gap portion, and the upper reflector are arranged in that order. The surface emitting laser is capable of varying a wavelength of emitted light by changing a distance between the upper and lower reflectors. The driving unit moves one of the upper and lower reflectors in an optical axis direction of the emitted light. At least one of the upper and lower reflectors includes a stacked body in which first layers and second layers are alternately stacked, the second layers having a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the first layers, outermost layers of the stacked body being the first layers, and a third layer provided on at least one end of the stacked body.

Abstract: To provide a wavelength tunable light source which can both ensure operation speed and reduce a drive voltage. A wavelength tunable light source according to the present invention includes a pair of reflectors at least one of which is a movable reflector, an active layer provided between the pair of reflectors, and a beam on part of which the movable reflector is formed and which is supported by a support member. The beam includes a blade part projecting between the support member and the movable reflector in a direction intersecting a stretching direction of the beam, and a center of gravity of the beam in the stretching direction is located at a distance less than half a length of the beam in the stretching direction.

Abstract: An interferometer and a method of monitoring a downhole environment are described. The interferometer includes a coherent light source to emit pulses of light on a fiber, and a plurality of reflectors arranged on the fiber to reflect light from the coherent light source, each of the plurality of reflectors comprising broad band fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), the fiber being rigidly disposed within a cable that is rigidly attached in the downhole environment. The interferometer also includes a processor to process a reflection signal resulting from the light reflected by two or more of the plurality of reflectors.

Abstract: An integrated swept wavelength tunable optical source uses a narrowband filtered broadband signal with an optical amplifier and self-tracking filter. This source comprises a micro optical bench, a source for generating broadband light, a tunable Fabry Perot filter, installed on the bench, for spectrally filtering the broadband light from the broadband source to generate a narrowband tunable signal, an amplifier, installed on the bench, for amplifying the tunable signal. The self-tracking arrangement is used where a single tunable filter both generates the narrowband signal and spectrally filters the amplified signal. In some examples, two-stage amplification is provided. The use of a single bench implementation yields a low cost high performance system. For example, polarization control between components is no longer necessary.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an OCT apparatus configured to generate to electromagnetic (e.g., optical) signals having two different polarization states. Two or more silicon optical amplifiers (SOAs) can be configured to maintain a respective polarization state in an optical input signal provided from a light source (e.g., a broadband light source). The different polarization states can be combined by an optical combiner (e.g., a polarization maintaining fiber coupler) and provided to drive a reference arm and a sample arm implemented in an OCT system.

Abstract: A non-destructive inspection apparatus includes a light source generating light, an optical coupler which divides the light, irradiates the divided light to a reference part and a sample part, generates coherent light, and transmits the coherent light to a detecting part, the reference part which phase-scans the irradiated light and reflects the light, the sample part which irradiates the light incident from the optical coupler to a display panel, and scans and reflects the light reflected from the display panel, the detecting part which obtains an image signal of the display panel from the coherent light, a transferring part which moves a position of the sample part, and the control part which generates an image of the display panel based on the image signal of the display panel transmitted from the detecting part and detects a foreign substance, and controls movement of the transferring part.

Abstract: Provided is a wavelength-variable laser including an SOA which controls not a shape of a gain spectrum itself in the SOA but a shape of a gain spectrum obtained in the entire SOA to enable inhibition of output fluctuations. The wavelength-variable laser including an SOA includes: a wavelength selection mechanism for selectively reflecting a wavelength; an SOA for amplifying light, the SOA being configured to reflect light that enters a first end facet by a second end facet opposite to the first facet and to cause light amplified in an active layer to exit from the first facet; and a reflecting member provided outside the SOA, the reflecting member forming a resonator in a pair with the second facet, in which the second facet has a multilayer film to control of a shape of gain spectrum obtained in the entire SOA, the multilayer film having a reflectance depending on wavelength.

Abstract: An optical probe system having a probe with an optical guide (G) having a distal end. The optical guide (G) is mounted inside a housing (H) so that the distal end is displaceable with respect to the housing (H). A set of actuators (A), e.g. electromagnetic drive coils, can displace the distal end by application of a drive signal (Vx, Vy). A control unit (CU) generates the drive signal (Vx, Vy) so as to provide a scanning frequency which varies according to an amplitude of the drive signal (Vx, Vy). With such probe system it is possible to scan a field of view with a scanning frequency that varies with the scanning radius. Taking into account the maximum allowable drive current, it is possible to increase scanning speed compared to scanning at the mechanical resonance frequency of the optical system, since small radii can be scanned at a high scanning frequency.

Abstract: Provided are a tomography image generating method and an apparatus for generating a tomography image. The method of generating a tomography image includes, in response to a depth scan operation performed on an object, generating a candidate tomography image by using an interference signal acquired by the performed depth scan operation, determining a pixel pattern by using the generated candidate tomography image; and when the depth scan operation performed on the object is completed, generating a final tomography image of the object by using a finally determined pixel pattern. The generating the candidate tomography image and the determining are parallel processed by at least one processor during the depth scan operation being repeatedly performed.

Abstract: A light source system includes: a plurality of gain mediums configured to output a corresponding plurality of lights having different center wavelengths from each other; a first light source part configured to connect the plurality of gain mediums to each other in parallel and emit the plurality of lights; a wavelength-swept filter unit configured to sweep wavelengths of the plurality of lights output by the plurality of gain mediums and compensate for spectroscopic optical paths of the plurality of lights; a second light source part configured to connect the first light source part to the wavelength-swept filter unit in series and feed the wavelength-swept lights back to the plurality of gain mediums; a combiner configured to combine the wavelength-swept lights and output a combined wavelength-swept; and a controller configured to control an output magnitude and a wavelength region of the wavelength-swept lights.

Abstract: An optical coherence tomography apparatus includes a multi-beam configuration unit comprising at least a first optical path having a first numerical aperture and a second optical path having a second numerical aperture. The multi-beam configuration unit orients the second optical path in a selected orientation in space relative to the first optical path. A scan system illuminates a sample with non-polarized light received from the multi-beam configuration unit and directs light returning from the sample to the first optical path and the second optical path. The multi-beam configuration unit directs light returning from the sample, along the first optical path and the second optical path, to an optical pathway leading to a processing system. The processing system performs optical coherence tomography motion analysis based on interference between light returning from the sample and a first reference signal.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes an irradiation unit configured to irradiate a measurement object with a measuring beam, a restriction unit configured to restrict the measuring beam from being incident on the measurement object and to reflect or scatter the measuring beam, and a polarization control unit configured to control, based on the measuring beam reflected or scattered by the restriction unit, polarization of the measuring beam.

Abstract: An optical coherence tomography imaging system includes a Fourier domain optical coherence tomography sensor system, a signal processing system configured to communicate with the Fourier domain optical coherence tomography sensor system to receive detection signals therefrom and to provide imaging signals, and an image display system configured to communicate with the signal processing system to receive the imaging signals. The signal processing system includes a parallel processor configured to calculate structure information and Doppler information from the detection signals in real time such that the imaging signals provide a real time display of combined structure and flow of an object under observation.

Abstract: A device for optical coherence tomography comprises a light generator, a dispersive medium, an optical coupler and a detector. The light generator is adapted to generate input pulses of coherent light, each input pulse having an input pulse width. The dispersive medium has an input that is optically coupled to the light generator and an output for output pulses. The dispersive medium is adapted to stretch the input pulse width to an output pulse width by chromatic dispersion. The optical coupler is adapted to couple the output pulses from the output into a reference arm and into a sample arm. The optical coupler is adapted to superimpose light returning from the reference arm and from the sample arm. The detector is adapted to detect an intensity of interference of the superimposed light with a temporal resolution of a fraction of the output pulse width.

Abstract: A technique for optical coherence tomography is provided. As to a device aspect of the technique, an imaging device comprises a base defining a rotation axis, a scanning and focusing assembly mounted to the base for rotation about the rotation axis, and a drive unit for rotationally driving the scanning and focusing assembly about the rotation axis. The scanning and focusing assembly includes a focusing device for focusing a beam of imaging radiation to produce a focused beam of imaging radiation having a focus, a scanning member for scanning the beam of imaging radiation, and a controller coupled to the drive unit and the scanning member and configured to control the scanning member to cause movement of the focus along a predetermined trajectory with respect to the scanning and focusing assembly.

Abstract: Devices, arrangements, endoscopes, catheters and methods adapted to propagate at least one electro-magnetic radiation are provided. In particular, a waveguide apparatus specifically configured may be utilized to split the electro-magnetic radiation into a plurality of beams that are intended to illuminate a biological sample, and impart a unique associated characteristic unto each of the beams. The beams may be intended to illuminate a biological sample at distinct locations, and impart a unique associated characteristic unto each of the beams. In addition, a control apparatus may be provided which is configured to control at least one of the fibers and which can be input to the fibers so as to modify the unique associated characteristics of the beams being propagated along the fibers, and thereby modify the characteristics of the distinct locations on the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the optical performance characteristics and dimensions of an optical element comprising a low coherence interferometer and a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor comprising a light source, a plurality of lenslets, and a sensor array is disclosed. The low coherence interferometer is configured to direct a measurement beam along a central axis of the optical element, and to measure the thickness of the center of the optical element. The light source of the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor is configured to emit a waveform directed parallel to and surrounding the measurement beam of the interferometer, through the plurality of lenslets, and to the sensor array. A method for measuring the optical performance characteristics and dimensions of a lens using the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical coherence tomography apparatus includes a light source unit that emits light including lights emitted from swept sources, which have different center wavelengths and partially overlapping output spectral ranges, the lights having the respective output spectral ranges and being temporally separated from each other, a dividing unit that is connected to the light source unit and that divides the light emitted from the light source unit, a wavelength selecting unit that is connected to the dividing unit and that selects light having a predetermined wavelength from a range in which the output spectral ranges overlap, a time detecting unit that is connected to the wavelength selecting unit and that detects times at which the swept sources oscillate at the predetermined wavelength, and a wavenumber detecting unit that is connected to the dividing unit and that detects times at which the lights from the swept sources have the same wavenumber.

Abstract: A swept source OCT system and related method are disclosed. The system comprises a control device for operating a tunable light source in response to an electronic sweep control signal such that the tunable light source carries out wave length sweeps with a repetition rate fsweep, which depends on the frequency of the sweep control signal. The system further comprises a detection device for the time-resolved detection of an interference signal from a sample beam and a reference beam with the help of a detection cycle signal. The sweep control signal and the detection cycle signal are phase-locked, or means for creating a signal or signal sequence are provided, said signal or signal sequence being characterising for the frequency relationship and/or the relative phase position of the sweep control signal and detection cycle signal.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for obtaining interference and optical coherence tomography images from an object. The system comprises a wideband source, an optical mask for extending the depth of field, a a liquid crystal tunable filter and a phase modulator all of which are uniquely integrated in a Linnik interferometer microscope. The system has several imaging modes: in the time domain mode the device may operate either with wideband illumination or with quasi monochromatic illumination. The monochromatic illumination can be varied in wavelength along a wide spectral region thus allowing true spectroscopic imaging in high resolution and with high speed. Due to the liquid crystal tunable filter and the optical mask, the frequency domain mode is also accessible. The method of obtaining the optical coherence tomography images, both in the time and in the frequency domains, using the liquid crystal retarder is described in detail.

Abstract: A method for rapid OCT image acquisition includes acquiring by OCT a plurality of compressive measurements (y) representing a set of under-sampled OCT data in a Dirac domain below a Nyquist rate by sampling an object of interest at randomly spaced vertical and horizontal lines in a Cartesian geometry using a raster scan, and recovering a 3D volumetric OCT image (f) from the compressive measurements (y) using compressive sampling. The method may also include recovering the 3D volumetric OCT image (f) from the compressive measurements (y) based at least in part on a sparsifying matrix (S) capable of transforming the 3D volumetric OCT image (f) into a sparse representation, such as a matrix representation of the 3D volumetric OCT image (f) in a shift-invariant wavelet transform domain. The method may also be applied to radial OCT scan patterns.

Abstract: Systems for imaging a sample are provided. The system includes an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging portion having an associated OCT path defined by one set of optical elements between an OCT signal delivery optical fiber and the sample; an image capture portion having an associated image capture path defined by a second set of optical elements between an image capture device and the sample, different from the OCT path; and an illuminator portion having an associated illumination path defined by a third set of optical elements between an illumination source and the sample. The OCT path, the image capture path, and the illuminator path have at least one optical element in common, and the respective paths differ from each other by at least one optical element. The OCT path and the image capture path share a common intermediate conjugate image plane.

Abstract: A system for optical coherence tomography includes a source of optical radiation, an optical fiber, and a graded index fiber attached to a distal end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber and the graded index fiber are together configured to provide a common path for optical radiation reflected from a reference interface at a distal end of the graded index fiber and from a target.

Abstract: Methods for determining improving quantitative and qualitative motion contrast information collected with optical coherence tomography (OCT) data are presented. In one embodiment, flow within a cross-sectional area of a sample is calculated independent of the Doppler and en face angles using a bidirectional OCT system. In another embodiment, motion contrast images are improved by averaging motion contrast information collected from a bidirectional OCT system.

Abstract: A clear image of a target to be measured is obtained by suppressing influence of a reflected beam from the surface of the target or a measurement target holding unit. A laser beam emitted from a light source is split into a signal beam, reference beam, and control beam. The signal beam is focused onto the target with an objective lens, so the target is irradiated with the signal beam. The amount of defocus of the control beam is controlled with a defocus control unit, and the phase of the control beam is controlled with a phase control unit. A signal beam reflected or scattered by the target is combined with the control beam to generate a controlled signal beam, and the controlled signal beam is combined with the reference beam. A plurality of interference beams with different phases are generated with interference optics, and phase diversity detection is performed.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a device for optical coherence tomography (OCT) includes a signal detection device and a computer arrangement. The signal detection device is designed to detect an interference signal (G(?)) for an object to be imaged in an optical frequency range (?). The computer arrangement is designed to determine intermediate signals (G1(k), G2(k)) in a spatial frequency range (k) from the intermediate signal (G(?)), whereby each of the intermediate signals (G1(k), G2(k)) is dispersion-compensated for a different depth (z1, z2) of the object. A locally resolved image signal (FFT1, FFT2) is determined for each of the intermediate signals (G1(k), G2(k)) by applying a Fourier transformation to the particular intermediate signal (G1(k), G2(k)), A tomography signal (G(z)) is determined from the image signals (FFT1, FFT2).

Abstract: An optical coherence analysis system uses a laser swept source that is constrained to operate in a stable mode locked condition by modulating a drive current to the semiconductor optical amplifier as function of wavelength or synchronously with the drive voltage of the laser's tunable element based on stability map for the laser.

Abstract: Provided is a photoacoustic microscope, including: an objective lens configured to collect excitation light into a specimen, the excitation light in a wavelength range that is absorbed by an object to be observed; a detection light optical system configured to (i) form an image of a point light source of detection light in a middle portion of a pupil of the objective lens, the detection light having a wavelength that is different from the wavelength range of the excitation light, and (ii) emit the detection light onto the specimen by means of the objective lens; an optical scanning unit configured to deflect the excitation light and the detection light that enter the objective lens, for scanning the specimen; and a light detection unit configured to detect reflected light of the detection light that is reflected by the specimen.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented which allow the detection of the presence, type, and misalignment of optical components in the optical train of an optical coherence tomographic instrument to be determined from the use of OCT depth information.

Abstract: A portable optical tomography design for performing elastographic deformation mapping of tissues comprises a coherence light source providing one light beam; a scanning microscope comprising a waveguide having two terminals, a coupler disposed on one terminal, an actuating member connected to the waveguide or the coupler, a first optical reflection member, a beam splitter, and a Fourier-domain spectrometer. The waveguide is actuated by the actuator to traverse a horizontal and vertical motion to prescribe a two-dimensional plane for scanning the tissue sample. Optical fiber is used to connect above elements therebetween. The Fourier-domain spectrometer is coupled with the beam splitter and comprises a second reflection member and an interferogram capturing member. An interferogram produced from the Fourier-domain spectrometer is carried over to a digital signal processor and subsequently an optical coherence tomography image device to generate a three-dimensional image for the scanned tissue.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes an optical waveguide including an active layer having at least two gain peaks and a pair of clad layers sandwiching the active layer and electrodes disposed in a guided wave direction of the optical waveguide. The electrodes include a first electrode nearest the emitting end and a second electrode next thereto. The light emitting device includes a grating section in the vicinity of the optical waveguide between the first and second electrodes. The grating section reflects or absorbs a beam having a wavelength other than peak wavelengths corresponding to the two gain peaks in a spectrum of the beam generated by driving the second electrode. The beam generated by driving the second electrode and having the selected wavelength is guided to a region of the optical waveguide where the first electrode is disposed and is combined with a beam generated by driving the first electrode.

Abstract: Imaging systems are provided allowing examination of different object regions spaced apart in a depth direction by visual microscopy and by optical coherence tomography. An axial field of view and a lateral resolution is varied depending on which object region is examined by the imaging system. The proposed imaging systems are in particular applicable for thorough examination of the human eye.

Abstract: An optical tomographic image acquiring device which can suppress the occurrence of an artifact, and which can obtain an exact optical tomographic image of a measurement object includes a light source, a detector, an analysis unit, a circulator, a coupler, condensing lenses, optical fibers, and a reference mirror. Let ?k be a maximum value of intervals in wavenumber of lights received by adjacent two light receiving elements in the detector, an optical path length L0ref from the coupler to the detector via the reference mirror and an optical path length L0obj from the coupler to the detector via the measurement object satisfy |L0obj?L0ref|<?/?k, and an optical path length L1ref from the coupler to the detector via the condensing lens and an optical path length L1obj from the coupler to the detector via the condensing lens satisfy |L1obj?L1ref|>>?/?k.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a structure in which a sensor includes a first area and a second area upon which dispersed first and second lights are focused. The first and second areas are disposed in a dispersion direction or a direction perpendicular to the dispersion direction. A distance between the first and second areas is adjusted by using a distance between a plurality of fiber ends from which a plurality of combined lights exit and an optical magnification at a detecting section.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to devices for the completely automated detection and characterization of a resin flash in a part consisting of a composite material, the device including an OCT measuring head including an OCT measuring module, a manipulator capable of moving the OCT head in space, a control for the manipulator, and a computer including a memory for acquiring the definition of the geometry of the area to be tested, for recording the measurements, for storing a criterion file, and for performing calculations pertaining to the comparison of the recording with the criterion file. The disclosure also relates to a method for detection and characterization of such a resin flash.

Abstract: A small and inexpensive optical measurement apparatus is provided in which noise due to optical interference such as inter-layer crosstalk or speckle is suppressed.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein involve low-coherence interferometry (LCI) techniques which enable acquisition of structural and depth information regarding a sample of interest. In one embodiment, a “swept-source” (SS) light source is used in LCI to obtain structural and depth information about a sample. The swept-source light source can be used to generate a reference signal and a signal directed towards a sample. Light scattered from the sample is returned as a result and mixed with the reference signal to achieve interference and thus provide structural information regarding the sample. Depth information about the sample can be obtained using Fourier domain concepts as well as time domain techniques. Several LCI embodiments employing a swept-source light source are disclosed herein. In another embodiment disclosed herein, an a/LCI system and method is provided that is based on a time domain system and employs a broadband light source.

Abstract: A system for motility contrast imaging a biological target within tissue comprising a CCD array; an illumination source for generating an incoming beam; a first beam splitter for receiving the incoming beam and producing an object beam and a reference beam; a second beam splitter for illuminating a multitude of biological targets with the object beam and for directing backscattered object beams towards the CCD array; a computer-controlled delay stage for zero-path-matching the reference beam to the backscattered object beams; a reference beam that intersects the backscattered object beams at an angle to produce a series of interference fringes that modulate Fourier-domain information; and a computer for receiving a time series of Fourier-domain information. The interference fringes between the backscattered object beam and the reference beam are recorded by the CCD array and passed to the computer which constructs a digital hologram at successive times.

Abstract: An efficient method of evaluating the level of contrast of an OCT dataset is presented. The method develops a metric to segregate useful and not-so-useful data in one or more OCT B-scans, in order to reduce spurious subsequent analyses of the data by downstream segmentation algorithms. It is designed to be fast and efficient and is applied to determining autofocus of an OCT instrument real-time and in identifying a real image from its complex conjugate twin.