Optical coherence tomography laser with integrated clock

US8564783B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Axsun Technologies, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Dale C. Flanders · Lexington, US
• Walid A. Atia · Lexington, US
• Bartley C. Johnson · North Andover, US
• Mark E. Kuznetsov · Lexington, US
• Carlos R. Melendez · Dracut, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 2, 2009
• Grant date: Oct 22, 2013
• Expiry date: May 31, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S5/02415
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A frequency swept laser source for TEFD-OCT imaging includes an integrated clock subsystem on the optical bench with the laser source. The clock subsystem generates frequency clock signals as the optical signal is tuned over the scan band. Preferably the laser source further includes a cavity extender in its optical cavity between a tunable filter and gain medium to increase an optical distance between the tunable filter and the gain medium in order to control the location of laser intensity pattern noise. The laser also includes a fiber stub that allows for control over the cavity length while also controlling birefringence in the cavity.