Patent ID: 8913248

Claim:
An optical coherence tomography (OCT) system, the system comprising: a light source arranged to generate a beam of radiation wherein the wavelength of the beam varies over time; a balanced detector with at least first and second photodetectors for acquiring data; at least one coupler functioning to direct a first portion of the beam to a sample and to direct a second portion of the beam to a reference arm, and for causing the light from the reference arm and the light reflected from the sample to be combined and for directing a portion of the combined light to the first photodetector and for directing a portion of one of the combined light, the source light, or light returning from the reference arm to the second photodetector and wherein the splitting ratio of the coupler varies as a function of the wavelength of the beam; and a means for compensating for the spectral dependence of the coupler to spectrally balance the light falling on the first and second photodetectors prior to data acquisition.