Patent ID: 6809866
Filing Date: 2004-10-26
Classification: A61B,G01N,G02B

Abstract:
An optical imaging apparatus comprising:a low-coherence optical system which guides low-coherence light from a low-coherence light source to a subject portion and further guides return light from the subject portion to light receiving means; light separating means arranged to said low-coherence optical system, which separates the low-coherence light from said low-coherence light source into instrumentation light and reference light; horizontal scanning means arranged to said low-coherence optical system, which horizontally scans said subject portion with the instrumentation light separated by said light separating means; reference light reflecting means arranged to said low-coherence optical system, which reflects the reference light separated by said light separating means and returns the reflected light to said light separating means; an objective optical system arranged to said low-coherence optical system, which condenses the instrumentation light horizontally scanned by said horizontal scanning means to said subject portion and further captures return instrumentation-light from said subject portion; optical path length interlockingly adjusting means which interlockingly matches the length of an optical path of said instrumentation light to that of said reference light; a single drive system that simultaneously drives both said objective optical system and said reference light reflecting means; and signal processing means which performs signal processing of an electronic signal converted photoelectrically by said light receiving means and obtains a surface image or a tomogram of said subject portion.