Patent ID: 8094320

Claim:
A method of generating images in an OCT apparatus from a target in a coordinate system wherein depth is defined by a Z direction and an en-face image plane lies in an X-Y plane, wherein an object light beam is returned from the target and interferes with a reference light beam, and wherein image information is obtained from a depth Zn in the target, with a resolution that depends on the coherence length of the light, by varying the optical path difference between the object and reference beams, comprising: transversely scanning the target with the object beam over a plurality of image points in at least one scanning line in the X-Y plane, wherein the number of image points is defined by the resolution of the apparatus; spreading the reference beam and the object beam returned from each individual image point on the target during each transverse scan onto a linear array of detector elements so that for each individual image point the reference beam and object beam interfere simultaneously over the array of detector elements and the optical path difference varies across the array such that the optical path difference is different at each detector element in the array; for each said individual image point storing a subset of data points obtained from each detector element of the array; processing said subsets of data points obtained from each detector element of the array to derive image information extending over a range of depths in the target for each said individual image point; and processing a set of said data points comprising a plurality of said subsets, wherein each subset is obtained from each image point in a scanning line to produce sectional image information along a line in the X-Y plane extending in the z-direction into said target.