Scanner

Details Scanner Scanner

2001-06-20

2002-07-16

Manuel, George (Department: 3737)

Optics: eye examining, vision testing and correcting

Eye examining or testing instrument

Objective type

C356S497000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06419360

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a scanner for optical coherence tomography for linear scanning of an object with electromagnetic radiation.
A scanner of this kind is known from EP 0 581 871 B1, particularly from FIGS. 3B, 3C, 3D and 6, and from U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,162, particularly from FIG. 1.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has as its object to further improve a scanner of the category concerned.
This object is attained by a deflecting element which is rotatable around a rotation axis and which deflects radiation coming from a radiation source toward the object of study and effects, by its rotation, a linear scanning of the object of study. A beam-forming optics is arranged between this deflecting element and the object of study, and concentrates the radiation coming from the deflecting element toward the object. The rotation axis of the rotatable deflecting element is parallel to the direction of incidence of the radiation. The scanner according to the invention is mechanically constructed in a simple manner and can be especially compact. Furthermore, expanded possibilities of use result from the invention. The scanner according to the invention can, for example, be compact enough to be constructed as a hand-held scanner, in particular.
In a particular embodiment, the beam-forming optics includes a telecentric scanning objective, so that the exact focusing state of the scanning beam has no effect on the position of the scan line in the object.
In a further embodiment, a collimator for the incident radiation is arranged on the side of the rotatable deflecting element remote from the object. The scanning radiation can thereby be optimized in relation to the beam forming optics. A beamsplitter is arranged on the object side of the telecentric scanning objective. In this manner, the scanned region of the object of study can be made visible to an operator. This is useful for the control or guiding of a scanner constructed as a hand-held device.
When the beamsplitter is dichroic, scanning radiation lying outside the visible wavelength region, e.g. in the infrared, can be efficiently concentrated onto the object, and at the same time the scan line can be optimally observed.
The observation conditions for an operator can be further optimized with a magnifying optics arranged on the side of the beamsplitter remote from the object. Particularly reliable monitoring of the scan line can be attained with an end window on the object side, marked with the scan line or scanning line.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5537162 (1996-07-01), Hellmuth et al.
patent: 5795295 (1998-08-01), Hellmuth et al.
patent: 5847827 (1998-12-01), Fercher
patent: 0 581 871 (1998-12-01), None

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