Optical coherence tomography technique

US9562759B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• WaveLight GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Klaus Vogler · Eckental, DE
• Henning Wisweh · Hannover, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 26, 2011
• Grant date: Feb 7, 2017
• Expiry date: Dec 13, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01B2290/20
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical coherence tomography device comprises a light generator, a dispersive medium, an optical coupler and a detector. The light generator is adapted to generate a series of 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 of each of the output pulses by chromatic dispersion. The optical coupler is adapted to couple the output pulses into a reference arm and a sample arm. The optical coupler is further adapted to superimpose light returning from the reference arm and 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.