Patent ID: 6552796
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: A61B,G01B

Abstract:
A system for performing optical imaging on a sample, comprising:an optical radiation source; a sample arm terminating in a probe assembly, the probe assembly comprising a first scanning mechanism that controls the transverse or angular position on a sample at which imaging is performed, the sample position being selectively varied by the first scanning mechanism to scan a sample in at least one transverse or angular dimension; a reference arm comprising a reference optical reflector; a first optical path optically coupling the optical radiation source to the probe assembly and a second optical path optically coupling the optical radiation source to the reflector, the optical source applying optical radiation through the first optical path and the probe assembly to a sample and through the second optical path to the reflector; a second scanning mechanism that determines a longitudinal range relative to the probe assembly from which imaging information is obtained; a starting point adjustment device that determines a point with respect to a sample at which imaging information collection is to be started; a controller that controls the second scanning mechanism, wherein imaging information is obtained only from a longitudinal range that contains a selective portion of a sample from which it is desired that imaging information be obtained; an optical combiner that combines reflections from the sample received through the first optical path and reflections from the reflector received through the second optical path, the resulting combined optical output having optical interference fringes; a detector that detects the output; and a processor that processes the detected output to obtain a selected image of the sample.