Optical coherence tomography with dynamic coherent focus

US6057920A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Adolf Friedrich Fercher · Pressbaum, AT
• Franz Lexer · Axams, AT
• Harald Sattmann · Stockerau, AT

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 30, 1999
• Grant date: May 2, 2000
• Expiry date: Mar 30, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01B9/04
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In coherence tomography, an interferometric measurement light beam scans the measurement object and is focused for improving the transverse resolution. In order to achieve a high transverse resolution over the entire object depth, the focal displacement and the change in path length in the measurement light beam for maintaining the coherence of the focus is achieved by one and the same moving optical element in the measurement light beam. The present invention achieves this by a particularly simple and easily adjustable arrangement which is characterized by especially low light loss in the measurement beam path.