Imalux Corporation

Laser Abrasive Technologies, LLC

Felix Isaakovich Feldchtein

Grigory Valentinovich Gelikonov

Valentin Mikhailovich Gelikonov

Gregory B Altshuler

Paul G Amazeen

Bryan Robert Hotaling

Scott A Leclerc

John A MacNeill

Andrei Vyacheslavovich Belikov

Paul Dunleavy

Stephanie A S Harrington

James Varney

Alexey Victorovich Myakov

Sergey M Piyevsky

J Lloyd Breedlove

Alexander Vybornov

Combined modular laser display screen and base

A surgical device based on the concept of controlling the laser power during laser surgery based on optical and other signals from the tip and the tissue is described. A laser surgical system generally comprises several basic components, such as a laser, a delivery system, a tip and a control system. A tip may be considered as a particular case of a thermo-optical tip (TOT). TOT is an optical and mechanical element which could be used to modify or treat soft and hard tissues, including cutting, coagulation, vaporization, carbonization, and ablation of tissues.

Dental surgical laser with feedback mechanisms

Variants of an interferometric device are developed for examining internal structures of objects by means of optical coherence tomography, which allow for controlling a boundary location of the observation range. The device also allows for correcting a distortion of the tomographic image of the object under study, caused by lateral scanning, due to aberrations of the optical path length for the low-coherence optical radiation directed towards the object. Embodiments of the device include either one, or two fiber-optic controlled scanners, which in different combinations perform a function of in-depth scanning of the coherence window of low-coherence optical radiation within the observation range, a function of controlling a boundary location of the observation range, and a function of compensating the optical path length aberration for the low-coherence optical radiation directed towards the object, caused by lateral scanning.

Optical coherence tomography device and method having improved boundary control and distortion correction

Provided are common path frequency domain and time domain OCT systems and methods that use non-specular reference reflection for obtaining internal depth profiles and depth resolved images of samples. Further provided is a delivering device for optical radiation, preferably implemented as an optical fiber probe with a partially optically transparent non-specular reflector placed in the vicinity of an associated sample. High frequency fringes are substantially reduced and a stable power level of the reference reflection is provided over the lateral scanning range. The partially optically transparent non-specular reflector is implemented as a coating placed on the interior surface of the optical probe window including spots of a metal, or a dielectric coating, separated by elements of another coating or just spaces of a clean substrate. In an alternative embodiment, the scattering elements are made 3-dimensional, having, for example, a spherical shape.

Common path systems and methods for frequency domain and time domain optical coherence tomography using non-specular reference reflection and a delivering device for optical radiation with a partially optically transparent non-specular reference reflector

Polarization sensitive common path OCT/OCR devices are presented. Optical radiation from a source is converted into two cross-polarized replicas propagating therethrough with a predetermined optical path length difference. The two cross-polarized replicas are then delivered to an associated sample by a delivering device, which is, preferably, an optical fiber probe. A combination optical radiation is produced in at least one secondary interferometer by combining a corresponding portion of an optical radiation returning from the associated sample with a reference optical radiation reflected from a tip of an optical fiber of the optical fiber probe. Subject to a preset optical path length difference of the arms of the at least one secondary interferometer, a cross-polarized component, and/or a parallel-polarized component of the combined optical radiation, are selected. The topology of the devices allows for time domain, as well as for frequency domain registration.

Polarization-sensitive common path optical coherence reflectometry/tomography device

An optoelectronic probe system with all-optical coupling includes an optoelectronic measuring console coupled with an optoelectronic probe via an optical connector. A supplemental optical signal having an operative wavelength other than an operative wavelength of the regular optical part of the optoelectronic measuring console is communicated to the optoelectronic probe along with the output signal from the optoelectronic measuring console. The supplemental optical signal is then selected by a wavelength-division multiplexer, converted to an electrical signal and used for powering respective components of the optoelectronic probe. Auxiliary signals are also used for identification and storing calibration parameters of the optoelectronic probe, counting events, such as number of sessions used, time in use, and the like.

Optoelectronic probe system with all-optical coupling

In common path time domain OCT/OCR devices optical radiation from a source is first split into two replicas, which are then delivered to an associated sample by an optical fiber probe. The tip of the optical fiber probe serves as a reference reflector and also serves as a combining element that produces a combination optical radiation by combining an optical radiation returning from the associated sample with a reference optical radiation reflected from the reference reflector. The topology of the devices eliminates the necessity of using Faraday mirrors, and also allows for registering a cross-polarized component of the optical radiation reflected or backscattered from the associated sample, as well as a parallel-polarized component.

Common path time domain optical coherence reflectometry/tomography device

The invention relates to studies of internal structures of objects with the aid of optical means. According to the invention an optical system () of the delivering device for low coherence optical radiation, in a particular embodiment, an optical fiber probe (), includes at least two lens components (), (), which have a positive focal power and are positioned substantionally confocally. This ensures a constant propagation time for the low coherence optical radiation propagating from a given point of the transverse scanning surface () or () to a corresponding conjugate point of the image plane (). That provides elimination of the transverse scanning related aberration of the optical path length for low coherence optical radiation directed towards the object () both for a flat transverse scanning surface () and for a transverse scanning surface () having a curvature. In another embodiment, together with the substantionally confocal arrangement of lens components (), (), the longitudinal scanning is performed by varying the optical path length for the low coherence optical radiation propagating from the transverse scanning surface () to the optical system (), i.e., from the end face () of the distal part () of the optical fiber () to the optical system (). To achieve this, a device for longitudinal scanning () is incorporated into the optical fiber probe (). This ensures a corresponding shift of the focusing position of the low coherence optical radiation during longitudinal scanning, i.e., allows for alignment of the focusing position of the low coherence optical radiation with the position of the coherence gate and, consequently, their simultaneous movement.

Method for obtaining the image of an object, device for carrying out said method and device for delivering low coherent optical radiation

Common path frequency domain optical coherence reflectometry/tomography devices include a portion of optical fiber with predetermined optical properties adapted for producing two eigen modes of the optical radiation propagating therethrough with a predetermined optical path length difference. The two replicas of the optical radiation outgoing from the portion of the optical fiber are then delivered to an associated sample by an optical fiber probe. The tip of the optical fiber serves as a reference reflector and also serves as a combining element that produces a combination optical radiation by combining an optical radiation returning from the associated sample with a reference optical radiation reflected from the reference reflector. The topology of the devices allows for registering a cross-polarized or a parallel-polarized component of the optical radiation reflected or backscattered from the associated sample. Having the optical path length difference for the two eigen modes of the optical radiation (which is an equivalent of an interferometer offset in previously known devices) differ from the reference offset in the devices of the present invention allows for relieving the requirements to the spectral resolution of the FD OCT engine and/or data acquisition and processing system, and substantially eliminates depth ambiguity problems.

Common path frequency domain optical coherence reflectometry/tomography device

Common path frequency domain optical coherence reflectometry/tomography devices with an additional interferometer are suggested. The additional interferometer offset is adjusted such, that it is ether less than the reference offset, or exceeds the distance from the reference reflector to the distal boundary of the longitudinal range of interest. This adjustment allows for relieving the requirements to the spectral resolution of the frequency domain optical coherence reflectometry/tomography engine and/or speed of the data acquisition and processing system, and eliminates depth ambiguity problems. The new topology allows for including a phase or frequency modulator in an arm of the additional interferometer improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the devices. The modulator is also capable of substantially eliminating mirror ambiguity, DC artifacts, and autocorrelation artifacts. The interference signal is produced either in the interferometer or inside of the optical fiber probe leading to the sample.

Common path frequency domain optical coherence reflectometer and common path frequency domain optical coherence tomography device

The present invention relates to an optical fiber magnetic scanning arrangement for a miniature optical fiber probe and can be applied for optical beam delivery in various optical imaging techniques. The arrangement is of the type where an optical fiber is rigidly fixed to a current conductor and serving as a flexible cantilever with a capability for the distal part of the optical fiber of being deflected in a direction substantially orthogonal to its own axis. New designs of the magnetic system are less critical to the shape and dimensional tolerances of scanner elements and assembly. These designs provide a potential for a less difficult assembly process and for further miniaturization. According to one aspect of the invention the permanent magnet system includes at least a first permanent magnet with a magnetization direction that is substantially aligned with the own axis of the optical fiber. The current conductor loop is placed adjacent to the one of the end faces of the first permanent magnet. According to another aspect of the invention the permanent magnet system includes at least a first permanent magnet piece with a magnetization direction that is substantially orthogonal to the own axis of the optical fiber. The permanent magnet piece extends in a direction substantially aligned with the own axis of the optical fiber and has an inner surface, the current conductor loop being adjacent to at least a part of the inner surface of the first permanent magnet piece. According to another aspect of the invention the permanent magnet system includes a permanent magnet of a hollow cylinder type with a substantially radial magnetization direction. The permanent magnet cylinder extends in a direction substantially aligned with the own axis of the optical fiber. The current conductor loop is placed inside the permanent magnet cylinder. A miniature optical fiber probe, which incorporates the optical fiber lateral scanner of the invention, will inherit all its benefits.

Optical fiber lateral scanner for a miniature optical fiber probe

An optical measurement device calibration tool includes an optical probe suitable for calibrating various optical imaging devices, for example, low coherence reflectometers and optical coherence tomography devices. In a preferred embodiment the calibration tool comprises a container containing a calibration substance with stable optical scattering and absorption properties. The calibration substance includes a gel, paste or grease substance and is covered a protective seal, which is at least partially transparent providing optical contact between the optical probe and the calibration substance. The protective seal is covered with a viscous complementary material. Another protective seal made at least partially removable is placed above the viscous complementary material and may serve as a cover for the container. The calibration tool maintains the advantages of calibration tools using liquids and solid states as calibration substance and is more cost-effective and more convenient for calibrating optical measuring devices such as in medical applications.

Calibration tool for an optical measuring device with an optical fiber probe

The present invention relates to the study of internal structure of objects by optical means. The invention presents a bi-directional sampling optical path for the low coherent optical radiation directed to the sample, i.e. a bi-directional sampling arm, and two unidirectional reference beams directed along a reference path designed as a loop. One of the reference beams propagates clockwise and the other propagates counterclockwise in the reference loop. The beam splitters non-reciprocal or polarization-dependent and by placing polarization-changing elements between the beam splitters and/or into the sampling arm and the reference loop. Thus the developed method and optical interferometer make possible to ensure highly efficient use of optical source power together with optimal signal-to-noise ratio for a given optical source power and are simple and cost effective.

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Cleveland, OH, United States of America

Felix Isaakovich Feldchtein