JP2022154235A - Oct apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an OCT apparatus which can suitably acquire OCT data.SOLUTION: An OCT apparatus comprises: an OCT optical system having a wavelength sweeping light source, a light divider which divides light from the wavelength sweeping light source into measurement light and reference light and a detector which detects a spectral interference signal of the measurement light and the reference light guided to a tissue of a subject eye; a calculation controller which acquires OCT data of the subject eye by performing calculation processing on the spectral interference signal; and a calibration optical system which has a wavelength-selective wavelength extraction member that extracts light in a prescribed wavelength included in a sweeping range of the wavelength sweeping light source and detects light in the prescribed wavelength of the light from the wavelength sweeping light source via the wavelength extraction member. The OCT apparatus corrects a deviation of correspondence between the wavelength and the time for the light emitted from the wavelength sweeping light source in the wavelength sweeping on the basis of the detection timing of the light in the prescribed wavelength in the wavelength sweeping.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

The present disclosure relates to an OCT apparatus that obtains OCT data of an eye to be examined.

In recent years, SS-OCT (Swept Source OCT) is being utilized in the field of ophthalmology. SS-OCT has a wavelength swept light source as an OCT light source, and acquires OCT data by sampling and further processing spectral interference signals of measurement light and reference light guided to the tissue of the eye to be examined at high speed. (See Patent Document 1).

JP 2018-124188 A

With a wavelength swept light source, the correspondence between time and wavelength or wavenumber for light emitted during wavelength sweeping may shift due to aging, environmental temperature, and the like. Such a deviation can cause quality degradation, distortion, and the like of OCT data.

In view of the above-described problems of the conventional technology, the technical problem of the present disclosure is to provide an OCT apparatus that can suitably acquire OCT data.

An OCT apparatus according to a typical embodiment of the present disclosure includes a swept wavelength light source, a light splitter that splits the light from the swept wavelength light source into measurement light and reference light, and the an OCT optical system comprising: a detector that detects a spectral interference signal between the measurement light and the reference light; an arithmetic controller that performs arithmetic processing on the spectral interference signal to acquire OCT data of an eye to be examined; and the wavelength sweep. a wavelength-selective wavelength extracting member for extracting light of a predetermined wavelength included in a sweeping range of a light source, and extracting the light of the predetermined wavelength out of the light from the wavelength-swept light source through the wavelength extracting member; and a calibration optical system for detecting the deviation between the time and the wavelength of the light emitted from the wavelength swept light source during the wavelength sweep, based on the detection timing of the light of a predetermined wavelength during the wavelength sweep. to correct.

It is a figure which shows an example of the OCT apparatus which concerns on a present Example. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of control performed by a control unit as calibration; It is an example of mapping information of each wave number component obtained based on the FPN signal. It is a figure explaining correct|amending the wavenumber mapping state of each wavenumber component based on correction|amendment information. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of control performed by a control unit when acquiring correction information; It is a figure which shows an example of an FPN generation optical system. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an FPN signal generated by an FPN generation optical system; FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining that the signal frequency at which the FPN signal is detected changes depending on the sweep frequency; FIG. 4 is a Fourier transform of the second FPN signal when the swept frequency of the wavelength swept light source is the second swept frequency; FIG. FIG. 5 is a flow chart of control performed by a control unit to calibrate correction information; It is a figure explaining correction|amendment of a correspondence gap by calibrated correction information. It is a figure explaining correction|amendment of a correspondence gap by calibrated correction information. FIG. 4 illustrates a spectral interference signal acquired by calibration optics; FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a calibration interference signal acquired by a calibration optical system; It is a figure which shows the example of a modification of an FPN generation optical system. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the FPN generation optical system and the reference optical system; It is a figure which shows the example of a modification of an FPN generation optical system.

[Overview]
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. The items classified in <> below can be used independently or in conjunction with each other. For example, in some embodiments, multiple items may be combined as appropriate. Also, for example, items described with respect to one embodiment may apply to other embodiments.

For example, the invention described in the first embodiment and the invention described in the second embodiment may be implemented simultaneously. Either the invention described in the first embodiment or the invention described in the second embodiment may be implemented.

<First embodiment>
The OCT apparatus according to the first embodiment can appropriately acquire calibration data corresponding to each sweep frequency in an apparatus capable of changing a plurality of sweep frequencies.

The OCT apparatus according to the first embodiment includes an OCT optical system, and can acquire OCT data by arithmetically processing the spectral interference signal output from the first detector of the OCT optical system with an image processor. good.

<OCT optical system>
The OCT optics may be, for example, Fourier domain OCT optics. For example, the OCT apparatus may be a swept-wavelength OCT (SS-OCT: Swept Source OCT).

The OCT optical system may split light emitted from the swept wavelength light source into measurement light and reference light by a light splitter. In the OCT optical system, the first detector may detect a spectral interference signal between the reflected light of the measurement light from the subject's eye and the reference light.

For example, the swept wavelength light source may be a swept wavelength light source whose sweep frequency is variable between a first sweep frequency and a second sweep frequency lower than the first sweep frequency. In this embodiment, the sweep frequency indicates the number of sweeps per unit time. For example, the imaging range in the depth direction of the OCT apparatus may be changed by changing between the first sweep frequency and the second sweep frequency. For example, the first sweep frequency is a sweep frequency for acquiring a tomographic image of the fundus of the eye to be examined, and the second sweep frequency is a sweep frequency for acquiring a tomographic image of the entire eyeball of the eye to be examined. may Also, the imaging time and measurement sensitivity may be changed by changing the sweep frequency between the first sweep frequency and the second sweep frequency. For example, the OCT apparatus may be selectively set to a first imaging mode for imaging at a first sweep frequency and a second imaging mode for imaging at a second sweep frequency.

<FPN generation optical system>
In the OCT apparatus, FPN generation optics are provided. The FPN generation optical system includes, for example, an optical member for generating a first FPN and a second FPN, and a second detector capable of detecting the first FPN signal and the second FPN signal. and may be an optical system. In the first embodiment, when the sweep frequency is the same condition, the position where the second FPN is generated is a position farther from the zero delay position than the position of the first FPN. Note that in this embodiment, the zero-delay position is a depth position where the optical path lengths of the measurement light and the reference light match in the OCT image.

Also, a part of the configuration is shared between the FPN generation optical system and the OCT optical system. For example, the second detector of the FPN generation optics doubles as the first detector of the OCT optics. In other words, the FPN generating optical system guides the light from the light source to the FPN generating optical member and guides the light via the optical member to the first detector.

The OCT apparatus may include a driver that changes the optical distance between the position corresponding to the zero delay position and the position of the optical member. In this embodiment, the position corresponding to the zero-delay position is the position where the optical path length from the light source through the optical member to the detector coincides with the optical path length of the reference optical path when the optical member is arranged. . That is, the position corresponding to zero delay is the position where FPN is generated at the zero delay position when the optical member is arranged. In this embodiment, the position corresponding to the zero delay position is called the origin position.

For example, the driving section changes the optical distance by changing the optical path length of the FPN generation optical system or the optical path length of the reference optical path. For example, the driver may change the optical distance between a first distance produced by a first FPN and a second distance produced by a second FPN. For example, the driver may change the optical distance to a first distance when the wavelength swept light source is at a first sweep frequency and to a second distance when it is at a second sweep frequency.

Further, the FPN generation optical system includes, for example, a first optical member for generating the first FPN. Also, the FPN generation optical system includes, for example, a second optical member for generating a second FPN. For example, the first optical member and the second optical member are used together.

For example, the first optical member and the second optical member may be separate bodies. In that case, the first optical member and the second optical member are arranged such that the optical distance from the origin position to the second optical member is longer than the optical distance from the origin position to the first optical member. may be placed.

<Correction of mapping state>
The OCT apparatus may include an arithmetic controller for obtaining correction information for correcting the mapping state of each wavenumber component. The arithmetic controller may obtain the first correction information based on the first FPN. For example, the arithmetic controller performs arithmetic processing on the spectral interference signal using the first correction information in the case of the first sweep frequency. Thereby, in the case of the first sweep frequency, the mapping state of each wavenumber component is corrected. For example, the mapping state of each wavenumber component is corrected so that the correspondence between the sampling points and the wavenumbers of light (2π/λ, where λ is the wavelength of light) becomes linear (see FIG. 4).

Similarly, the arithmetic controller may obtain second correction information based on the second FPN. In addition, the arithmetic controller performs arithmetic processing on the spectral interference signal using the second correction information in the case of the second sweep frequency. Thereby, in the case of the second sweep frequency, the mapping state of each wavenumber component is corrected.

For example, the arithmetic controller may acquire the correction information in advance before acquiring the OCT data of the subject's eye.

Further, for example, the FPN generation optics may generate a third FPN when the swept wavelength light source is at a first swept frequency, and a fourth FPN when the swept wavelength light source is at a second swept frequency. may be generated. For example, when the position of the first FPN and the position of the third FPN are compared under the same condition of the sweep frequency, the position of the first FPN and the position of the third FPN are different. may be generated. The same applies to the relationship between the second FPN and the fourth FPN.

In this case, for example, the arithmetic controller converts the first correction information based on the difference information between the mapping information of each wavenumber component based on the first FPN and the mapping information of each wavenumber component based on the third FPN. may be obtained. Alternatively, the second correction information may be obtained based on difference information between the mapping information of each wavenumber component based on the second FPN and the mapping information of each wavenumber component based on the fourth FPN. According to this, the dispersion component included in the mapping state of each wavenumber component can be corrected (see FIG. 3).

Further, the arithmetic controller may acquire the correction information while the measurement light is blocked. In this case, for example, the OCT optical system may be detachably provided with a blocking member for blocking the measurement light. For example, the arithmetic controller acquires the first correction information based on the first FPN detected by the second detector with the blocking member inserted in the OCT optical system. Similarly, for example, the arithmetic controller acquires the second correction information based on the second FPN detected by the second detector with the blocking member inserted in the OCT optical system.

According to the above configuration, for example, even when the sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source is changed, the FPN signal can be acquired properly by changing the signal frequency at which the FPN is detected. For example, in this embodiment, an electrical filter for cutting DC components is provided between the detector and the arithmetic controller to protect the arithmetic controller. In this embodiment, the frequency region cut by this electrical filter is called a zero delay region. For example, in this embodiment, an FPN can be generated at a signal frequency such that the envelope of peaks formed upon Fourier transform does not fall within the zero-delay region.

Therefore, the generated FPN can be used to satisfactorily acquire the correction information. Therefore, OCT data can be preferably acquired.

Further, for example, the FPN generation optics may comprise a light intensity adjuster. For example, the light intensity adjuster adjusts the intensity of light emitted from the FPN generation optics based on the swept frequency of the wavelength swept light source. For example, the light intensity adjuster adjusts the light intensity so that the FPN signal is within the dynamic range of the first detector. According to this, even when the sweep frequency is changed and the intensity of the light from the wavelength swept light source is changed, the first detector can appropriately detect the FPN signal.

<Second embodiment>
The OCT apparatus according to the second embodiment appropriately corrects the correspondence deviation between time and wave number when the wavelength swept light source sweeps the wavelength.

An OCT apparatus according to the second embodiment includes an OCT optical system. The OCT optical system described in the first embodiment is also used in the second embodiment.

<Calculation controller>
The OCT apparatus may include an arithmetic controller that processes the detected spectral interference signal to obtain OCT data of the subject's eye. Further, the arithmetic controller may correct a deviation in correspondence between time and wave number (hereinafter referred to as a deviation in correspondence) with respect to the light emitted from the wavelength swept light source. For example, by correcting the correspondence deviation, the inclination of the graph of the mapping state of each wavenumber component is corrected (see FIG. 12(a)). Further, by correcting the correspondence deviation, the shift (parallel movement) of the graph of the mapping state of each wavenumber component is corrected (see FIG. 12(b)).

<Calibration optical system>
The OCT apparatus may be equipped with calibration optics to correct for correspondence deviations. The calibration optical system has a wavelength-selective wavelength extraction member that extracts light of a predetermined wavelength from the light included in the swept range of the wavelength-swept light source. For example, the calibration optical system detects light of a predetermined wavelength from the light swept by the wavelength-swept light source via the wavelength extraction member.

For example, the wavelength-selective wavelength extraction member may be removably provided in the calibration optics. For example, in this embodiment, the spectral interference signal detected by the arithmetic controller with the wavelength extraction member inserted in the calibration optical system is used as the calibration interference signal. The arithmetic controller may correct the correspondence deviation based on the detection timing of the predetermined wavelength in the calibration interference signal.

Note that the wavelength extracting member is retracted with respect to the optical axis except when acquiring the correcting interference signal for correcting the correspondence deviation.

For example, the OCT apparatus may include a light guide optical system that guides the measurement light to the eye to be examined.

For example, at least one of the FPN generation optical system and the light guide optical system and the calibration optical system may share a part of the optical system. In that case, at least one of the FPN generating optical system and the light guiding optical system is provided with a wavelength extraction member.

For example, calibration optics acquire a calibrating interference signal that is used to correct for correspondence deviations. For example, the calibration interference signal is a spectral interference signal of the light from the swept-wavelength light source through the wavelength-extraction member and the reference light acquired by the detector from the time the swept-wavelength light source begins to sweep until it finishes sweeping. be. For example, in the calibration interference signal, a spectral interference signal is generated by the light of the predetermined wavelength and the reference light at the sampling point corresponding to the timing when the wavelength swept light source emits the light of the predetermined wavelength. Note that, for example, a part of the member may be shared between the calibration optical system and the OCT optical system. For example, the detector provided in the calibration optical system and the detector provided in the OCT optical system may be used together. In that case, the calibration optics direct light of a given wavelength through the wavelength extraction member to said detector of the OCT optics.

<Removal of correspondence deviation (calibration)>
In this embodiment, the sampling point at which the spectral interference signal of the light of the predetermined wavelength and the reference light is detected in the calibration interference signal is called the detection timing. For example, the arithmetic controller processes the calibration interference signal to obtain detection timing. For example, the arithmetic controller calibrates correction information for correcting the mapping state of each wavenumber component based on the detection timing. For example, the arithmetic controller corrects the mapping state of each wavenumber component by performing arithmetic processing using the calibrated correction information, thereby correcting the correspondence deviation included in the mapping state of each wavenumber component. Note that in the present disclosure, arithmetic processing for calibrating correction information is referred to as calibration processing.

For example, a wavelength extraction member for extracting light of a predetermined wavelength provided in the calibration optical system extracts light of a predetermined first wavelength and light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. It may be a wavelength extracting member capable of In this case, the arithmetic controller may calibrate the correction information using the detection timing at which the light of the first wavelength is detected and the detection timing at which the light of the second wavelength is detected. According to this, when the mapping state of each wavenumber component is corrected, the correction information can be calibrated so that the correspondence deviation is corrected.

Note that, for example, the correction information may be calibrated before acquiring the OCT data of the subject's eye. In this case, acquisition of correction information based on the FPN and calibration of the correction information based on the detection timing may be performed before the OCT data of the subject's eye is acquired.

For example, the OCT apparatus changes the optical path length difference between the measurement optical path through which the measurement light passes and the reference optical path through which the reference light passes between a predetermined first optical path length difference and a second optical path length difference. A change means may be provided.

For example, the changing means may change the optical path length of the FPN generation optical system. Also, the changing means may change the optical path length of the reference optical system. For example, the changing means changes the optical path length difference by changing at least one of the optical path length of the FPN generation optical system and the optical path length of the reference optical system.

For example, the arithmetic controller may control the detection timing of the predetermined wavelength when the optical path difference is the first optical path difference and the detection timing of the predetermined wavelength when the optical path difference is the second optical path difference. You may correct|amend correspondence gap based on. For example, the arithmetic controller adds the interference signal obtained when the optical path difference is the first optical path difference and the interference signal obtained when the optical path difference is the second optical path difference. . According to this, the signal intensity of the spectral interference signal generated at the detection timing of the predetermined wavelength increases. Therefore, the arithmetic controller can acquire the detection timing of the predetermined wavelength more accurately.

That is, the arithmetic controller controls the calibration interference signal detected by the detector when the optical path difference is the first optical path difference and the calibration interference signal detected by the detector when the optical path difference is the second optical path difference. The correspondence deviation may be corrected by performing a calibration process using the signals.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to appropriately correct the deviation in the correspondence between time and wave number for the light from the wavelength swept light source, so that the OCT data of the subject's eye can be preferably obtained.

[Example]
An example of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described based on the drawings. 1 to 13 are diagrams according to examples of the first and second embodiments. The items classified by <> below can be used independently or in association with each other.

<OCT optical system>
In this embodiment, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is used as the OCT apparatus 1 . The OCT apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has, for example, a wavelength-swept OCT (SS-OCT: SWEPT Source-OCT) as a basic configuration, and includes a wavelength-swept light source 102, an OCT optical system 100, an arithmetic controller (arithmetic control unit, (hereinafter referred to as a control unit) 70. In addition, the OCT apparatus 1 is provided with a memory 72, a display unit 75, a front image observation system and a fixation target projection system (not shown). The controller 70 is connected to the swept wavelength light source 102 , the OCT optical system 100 , the memory 72 and the display 75 .

The OCT optical system 100 guides the measurement light to the subject's eye E using the light guiding optical system 150 . The OCT optical system 100 guides reference light to the reference optical system 110 . The OCT optical system 100 causes the detector (light receiving element) 120 to receive interference signal light obtained by interference between the measurement light reflected by the subject's eye E and the reference light. Furthermore, the OCT optical system 100 of this embodiment includes an FPN generation optical system 200 (details will be described later). The OCT optical system 100 also includes a calibration optical system 300 (details will be described later). In addition, in this embodiment, the FPN generation optical system 200 and the calibration optical system 300 are used together. The OCT optical system 100 is mounted in a housing (apparatus main body) (not shown), and the housing is three-dimensionally moved with respect to the subject's eye E by a well-known alignment movement mechanism via an operation member such as a joystick. Alignment with respect to the eye E to be examined may be performed by this.

The OCT optical system 100 employs the SS-OCT method, and a wavelength tunable light source (wavelength scanning light source) that changes the emission wavelength at high speed with time is used as the wavelength swept light source 102 . The wavelength swept light source 102 is composed of, for example, a laser medium, a resonator, and a wavelength selective filter. Examples of the wavelength selection filter include a combination of a diffraction grating and a polygon mirror, and a filter using a Fabry-Perot etalon.

Also, in this embodiment, the swept wavelength light source 102 can change the swept frequency. In this embodiment, the sweep frequency indicates the number of sweeps per unit time. For example, the swept wavelength light source 102 can change the sweep frequency between a first predetermined sweep frequency H1 (eg, 200 kHz) and a second predetermined sweep frequency H2 (eg, 25 kHz). Note that the number of changeable sweep frequencies is not limited to two.

For example, by changing the sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source 102, the imaging range of the OCT apparatus 1 is changed in the depth direction.

A coupler (splitter) 104 is used as an optical splitter and splits the light emitted from the wavelength swept light source 102 into a measurement optical path and a reference optical path. The coupler 104, for example, guides the light from the wavelength swept light source 102 to the optical fiber 105 on the measurement light path side and guides the light to the reference optical system 110 on the reference light path side.

A coupler (splitter) 130 splits the light (measurement light) from the optical fiber 105 into an optical path of the light guide optical system 150 and an optical path of the FPN generation optical system 200 . That is, the measurement optical path is provided with the light guide optical system 150 and the FPN generation optical system 200 . Coupler (splitter) 130 may be a beam splitter or a circulator.

<Light guide optical system>
The light guiding optical system 150 is provided to guide the measurement light to the eye E to be examined. The light guiding optical system 150 may include, for example, an optical fiber 152, a coupler 153, a collimator lens 154, an optical scanner 156, and an objective lens system 158 in sequence. In this case, the measurement light passes through the optical fiber 152 and the coupler 153 and is turned into a parallel beam by the collimator lens 154 and directed to the optical scanner 156 . The light that has passed through the optical scanner 156 is applied to the subject's eye E via the objective lens system 158 . The measurement light is applied to both the anterior segment and the posterior segment of the eye, and is scattered and reflected by each tissue.

The optical scanner 156 may scan the eye E to be examined with measurement light in the XY directions (transverse directions). The optical scanner 156 is, for example, two galvanometer mirrors, the reflection angles of which are arbitrarily adjusted by a drive mechanism. The luminous flux emitted from the wavelength swept light source 102 changes its reflection (traveling) direction and scans the fundus in an arbitrary direction. As the optical scanner 156, for example, an acoustooptic device (AOM) that changes the traveling (deflecting) direction of light may be used in addition to a reflecting mirror (galvanomirror, polygon mirror, resonant scanner).

In this case, scattered light (reflected light) from the subject's eye E due to the measurement light passes through the objective lens system 158, the optical scanner 156, the collimator lens 154, the coupler 153, the optical fibers 152 to 130, the optical fiber 112, and the coupler 350. reach. The scattered light is combined with the reference light at coupler 350 and interferes.

Further, for example, the light guiding optical system 150 may be provided with a shutter 151 that can be inserted into and removed from the optical axis. For example, the shutter 151 is inserted with respect to the optical axis when correction information, which will be described later, is obtained.

Note that the shutter 151 is an example of a blocking member for blocking the light originating from the light guide optical system 150, and is not limited to this. For example, a light absorbing member may be provided as the blocking means. In that case, for example, the control unit 70 controls the optical scanner 156 to guide the light incident on the light guide optical system 150 (or the return light from the eye to be examined) to a light absorbing member, so that the light derived from the light guide optical system 150 is of light can be blocked.

<Reference optical system>
The reference optical system 110 generates reference light that is combined with reflected light obtained by reflection of the measurement light on the eye E to be examined. The reference light that has passed through the reference optical system 110 is combined with the light from the measurement optical path at the coupler 350 and interferes. The reference optical system 110 may be of the Michelson type or of the Mach-Zehnder type.

At least one of the measurement light path and the reference light path may be provided with an optical member for adjusting the optical path length difference between the measurement light and the reference light. For example, by integrally moving the collimator lens 154 and the coupler 153, the optical path length of the measurement light may be adjusted, and as a result, the optical path length difference between the measurement light and the reference light may be adjusted. Of course, the optical path length difference between the measurement light and the reference light may be adjusted by moving the optical member arranged in the reference light path.

<Detector>
A detector 120 is provided to detect the interference of light from the measurement and reference paths. Detector 120 may perform balanced detection. In this case, the detector 120 has a plurality of light receiving elements, obtains the difference between the interference signal from the first light receiving element and the interference signal from the second light receiving element, and reduces unnecessary noise contained in the interference signal. . Each light-receiving element is a point sensor having only one light-receiving part, and for example, an avalanche photodiode is used.

<FPN generation optical system>
The FPN generation optical system 200 generates an FPN signal. The FPN signal is used to correct the mapping information of each wavenumber component. In this embodiment, the FPN generating optical system generates a first FPN signal, a second FPN signal, a third FPN signal and a fourth FPN signal.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the FPN generating optical system 200 is arranged at a position branched from the light guide optical system 150 from the coupler (splitter) 130 .

For example, the FPN generation optical system 200 includes an FPN generation member 204 for generating FPN, a driving section 205 for moving the position of the FPN generation member 204 in the optical axis direction, and a detector 121 for detecting FPN. The FPN generation member 204 is an optical member for generating FPN, such as a gold mirror. Further, the detector 121 for detecting FPN is also used as the detector 120 provided in the OCT optical system 100 .

For example, the FPN signal is generated by the light entering the FPN generating optical system 200 and passing through the FPN generating member 204 and interfering with the reference light. The generated FPN signal is detected by detector 120 . Further, a control unit 70 (also serving as an image processor), which will be described later, generates an FPN on the OCT image based on the FPN signal.

For example, in this embodiment, the FPN generation optical system 200 can change the position in the depth direction where the FPN is generated on the OCT image.

For example, the drive section 205 moves the FPN generation member 204 in a direction parallel to the optical axis. Thereby, the optical distance from the origin position P0 to the FPN generation member 204 is changed. The origin position P0 is the position on the optical system where the FPN is generated at the zero delay position on the OCT image when the FPN generating member 204 is arranged in this embodiment.

Since the optical path length of the FPN generating optical system 200 is changed by changing the position of the FPN generating member 204 by the driving unit 205, the optical path length difference between the reference optical system 110 and the FPN generating optical system 200 is changed. The position in the depth direction where the FPN is generated on the OCT image changes depending on the optical path length difference between the reference optical path and the FPN generating optical system. Accordingly, by changing the position of the FPN generation member 204, the drive unit 205 can change the position in the depth direction where the FPN is generated.

It should be noted that, compared to [Modified Example] (see FIG. 15) described later, the optical path length of the FPN generation optical system 200 can be changed without dividing the optical path, so each FPN signal is strong and detection is easy. there is a possibility. In addition, since a plurality of FPN signals do not appear on the OCT image at the same time, there is a possibility that the arithmetic processing performed by the control unit 70 is easy.

For example, the FPN generation optics 200 in this embodiment can generate FPN signals at at least four different depth locations. The FPN signal is used when acquiring correction information for correcting the mapping state of each wavenumber component, which will be described later.

<Calibration optical system>
In this embodiment, the calibration optics 300 are used to correct the deviation of the wavelength-time correspondence of the wavelength-swept light source 102 . In this embodiment, the deviation in the correspondence between the wave number of the wavelength swept light source 102 and time is referred to as the correspondence deviation.

As shown in FIG. 1, for example, the calibration optical system 300 includes a bandpass filter 301 and a notch filter 302 that can be inserted into and removed from the optical axis. Note that the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 are examples of wavelength-selective wavelength extraction members that extract light of a predetermined wavelength included in the sweep range of the wavelength swept light source 102 .

For example, the bandpass filter 301 passes light in a wavelength band including the predetermined wavelengths described above. For example, the notch filter 302 attenuates light in a partial wavelength band among the wavelength bands passed by the bandpass filter 301 . For example, the notch filter 302 attenuates light of wavelengths other than light of a predetermined wavelength in the light that has passed through the bandpass filter 301 . Therefore, by using the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 in combination, light of a predetermined wavelength is selectively extracted.

Also, the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 are examples of wavelength extracting members for extracting light of a predetermined wavelength, and are not limited thereto. For example, similar effects can be obtained by using a fiber Bragg grating as a wavelength extracting member for extracting light of a predetermined wavelength. In this case, by switching between an optical path provided with a fiber Bragg grating and an optical path not provided with the fiber Bragg grating, it is possible to switch whether light of a predetermined wavelength is extracted.

For example, in this embodiment, when the swept wavelength light source 102 sweeps, the band-pass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 filter light of a predetermined first wavelength and light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. and are extracted.

For example, in this embodiment, the FPN generation optical system 200 and the calibration optical system 300 are used together. Alternatively, the calibration optical system 300 may also be used as the light guide optical system 150 , in which case the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 are detachably provided in the light guide optical system 150 .

For example, the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 are inserted with respect to the optical axis when obtaining a calibration interference signal, which will be described later. For example, the bandpass filter 301 and notch filter 302 are retracted with respect to the optical axis except when acquiring the calibration interference signal.

Note that the calibration optical system 300 may be provided on an optical path independent of other optical systems. In that case, the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 do not necessarily have to be detachably provided.

<Control unit>
As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 70 may include a CPU (processor), RAM, ROM, and the like. For example, the CPU of the control unit 70 may control the OCT apparatus 1 . The RAM temporarily stores various information. The ROM of the control unit 70 may store various programs, initial values, and the like for controlling the operation of the OCT apparatus 1 .

The control unit 70 may be electrically connected to a nonvolatile memory (hereinafter abbreviated to memory) 72, a display unit 75, and the like. The memory 72 may be a non-transitory storage medium that can retain stored content even when the power supply is interrupted. For example, a hard disk drive, a flash ROM, a USB memory detachably attached to the OCT apparatus 1, or the like can be used as the memory 72 . The memory 72 may store a control program for controlling OCT data acquisition and OCT image capture. In addition, the memory 72 may store OCT images generated from OCT data as well as various information related to imaging. The display unit 75 may display an OCT image generated from OCT data.

For example, the control unit 70 may drive the driving unit 205 provided in the FPN generation optical system 200 to control the position of the FPN generation member 204 .

For example, the controller 70 may be connected to the swept wavelength light source 102 . For example, the controller 70 may change the sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source 102 between the first sweep frequency H1 and the second sweep frequency H2.

For example, when the sweep frequency is the first sweep frequency H1, a tomographic image of the fundus of the subject's eye E is captured. For example, when the sweep frequency is the second sweep frequency H2, a tomographic image of the entire eyeball of the eye E to be examined is captured. Note that the method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-75640 can be used as a method for changing the imaging range in the depth direction according to the sweep frequency.

For example, the mode in which the sweep frequency is the first sweep frequency H1 may be set as the first imaging mode, and the mode in which the sweep frequency is the second sweep frequency H2 may be set as the second imaging mode. In that case, the control section 70 may also serve as selection means for selecting the shooting mode. For example, the control unit 70 may select the shooting mode based on a signal input by the operator to the control unit 70 via input means (for example, a switch) (not shown).

Note that the imaging mode is not limited to the mode in which the imaging range is changed for each sweep frequency. For example, changing the sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source 102 may change the imaging time and imaging sensitivity. For example, the shooting modes may be a first shooting mode in which shooting is performed with standard sensitivity and a second shooting mode in which shooting is performed with higher sensitivity than in the first shooting mode. For example, the shooting mode may be a first shooting mode in which shooting is performed in a standard time and a second shooting mode in which shooting is performed in a shorter time than in the first shooting mode.

Also, the control unit 70 may control insertion and removal of the shutter 151 . Furthermore, the control unit 70 may control insertion and removal of the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 .

Also, the control unit 70 may be used as an image processor that performs arithmetic processing on the spectral interference signal detected by the detector 120, acquires OCT data, and generates an OCT image.

For example, the control unit 70 may also serve as an arithmetic controller that obtains correction information based on the FPN signal on the OCT data (details will be described in [Operation]). In that case, the memory 72 may store an arithmetic processing program for obtaining correction information for correcting the mapping state of each wavenumber component.

Further, for example, the control unit 70 may also serve as an arithmetic controller that calibrates the correction information based on the interference signal for calibration (details will be described in [Operation]). In that case, the memory 72 may store a calibration processing program for calibrating the correction information.

[motion]
The OCT apparatus 1 configured as described above performs calibration in order to correct the mapping state of each wavenumber component and the correspondence deviation. For example, the control of the control unit 70 when calibration is performed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of control performed by the control unit 70 when calibration is performed.

In this embodiment, as calibration, acquisition of correction information using FPN (step S110) and calibration of correction information using a calibration interference signal (step S120) are performed.

For example, calibration is performed before OCT data of eye E to be examined is acquired. In that case, later-described correction information obtained by calibration may be held in the memory 72 . According to this, it is possible to omit the time for performing calibration at the time of imaging, so that corrected OCT data can be obtained in a shorter time.

The details of the calibration in this embodiment will be described below.

<S110: Acquisition of Correction Information>
In this embodiment, the control unit 70 acquires correction information for correcting the mapping state of each wavenumber component based on the FPN generated by the FPN generation optical system 200 . For example, when obtaining OCT data of the subject's eye E after calibration, OCT data in which the mapping state of each wavenumber component is corrected is obtained by performing arithmetic processing using the correction information.

In this embodiment, the correction of the mapping state of each wavenumber component includes correction so that the correspondence between the sampling points and the wavenumbers (2π/λ) of light becomes linear in the OCT data.

Further, in this embodiment, the correction of the mapping state of each wavenumber component includes correction so as to remove the dispersion component included in the OCT data.

FIG. 3 is an example of mapping information of each wavenumber component obtained based on the FPN signal. FIG. 3(a) is mapping information of each wavenumber component obtained based on the first FPN signal. FIG. 3(b) is mapping information of each wavenumber component obtained based on the third FPN signal. FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining that the wavenumber mapping state of each wavenumber component is corrected based on the correction information.

For example, when the swept frequency of the wavelength-swept light source 102 changes, the mapping state of each wavenumber component and the dispersion component included in the signal component may change.

In this embodiment, the control unit 70 obtains correction information for each sweep frequency in order to appropriately correct the mapping state of each wavenumber component even when the sweep frequency is changed. For example, the control unit 70 obtains the first correction information to correct the mapping state of each wavenumber component when the sweep frequency is the first sweep frequency H1, and obtains the first correction information when the sweep frequency is the second sweep frequency H2. Second correction information is obtained to correct the mapping state of each wavenumber component.

The control performed by the control unit 70 when acquiring the first correction information and the second correction information will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flow chart of control performed by the control unit 70 to acquire correction information (step S110).

<S111: Acquisition of first correction information>
For example, the control unit 70 uses at least two FPNs out of the FPNs generated by the FPN generation optical system 200 to obtain correction information. Further, the control unit 70 acquires correction information for each sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source 102 . In this embodiment, when the sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source 102 is the first sweep frequency H1, the control unit 70 performs arithmetic processing based on the first FPN signal and the third FPN signal, Acquire the first correction information. The FPN generation optical system 200 and the generated FPN signal in this case will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the FPN generation member 204 of the FPN generation optical system 200. As shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the FPN signal generated by the FPN generating optical system 200. FIG.

In this embodiment, the drive unit 205 moves the FPN generation member 204 along the optical axis to change the optical distance from the origin position P0 to the FPN generation member 204 . For example, if the FPN generating member 204 is positioned at a first distance D1, a first FPN signal is generated. Similarly, a second FPN signal if the FPN generating member 204 is positioned at the second distance D2 and a third FPN signal if the FPN generating member 204 is positioned at the third distance D3. A fourth FPN signal is generated when the generating member 204 is positioned at a fourth distance D4.

Note that the first distance D1, the second distance D2, the third distance D3, and the fourth distance D4 are experimentally predetermined positions.

First, the control unit 70 controls the drive unit 205 to move the position of the FPN generation member 204 so that the distance from the origin position P0 becomes a predetermined first distance D1 (see FIG. 6).

For example, in this embodiment, the signal frequency of the first FPN signal is assumed to be the first signal frequency f1. The first signal frequency f1 is desirably a low frequency such that it does not enter the zero delay position when the first FPN signal is Fourier transformed, for example. This is because when the FPN signal is detected from the spectral interference signal, the lower the frequency of the FPN signal, the less the noise and the more accurate analysis can be performed.

When FPN generating member 204 is positioned at first distance D1, light is emitted from swept wavelength light source 102 at first swept frequency H1, and detector 120 detects a spectral interference signal including the first FPN signal. To detect.

The control unit 70 obtains φ(k) in the spectral interference signal at the position corresponding to the first FPN by analyzing the generated OCT image. k is the wavenumber, and φ(k) is the change in the phase φ of the spectral interference signal according to the sweep wavelength (wavenumber). For example, the wavenumber mapping information is information representing the correspondence between k and φ(k).

φ(k) may be represented by a function in which the horizontal axis is wavenumber k and the vertical axis is phase φ. Polynomial fitting may be performed on φ(k) in the wavenumber k region where the signal intensity (amplitude) is large, and φ(k) in the wavenumber k region where the signal intensity is small may be obtained by extrapolation or interpolation. For example, φ(k) may be obtained from the arc tangent of the ratio between the real part RealF and the imaginary part ImagF of the Fourier transform value (intensity value) F at the depth position corresponding to FPN. Here, the arc tangent of the ratio between the real part and the imaginary part of the Fourier transform value is calculated by Arc Tangent processing, and φ(k) is obtained.

Note that methods described in JP-A-2013-156229 and JP-A-2015-68775 can be used as a method of obtaining φ(k) from FPN and a method of obtaining mapping information of each wavenumber component from FPN.

For example, in this embodiment, the control unit 70 processes the first FPN to obtain the first wavenumber mapping information φ1(k) (see FIG. 3(a)).

The controller 70 then moves the FPN generating member 204 to a third distance D3 (see FIG. 6).

Here, the signal frequency of the third FPN signal generated by the FPN generating member 204 placed at the third distance D3 is assumed to be the third signal frequency f3. The third signal frequency f3 is a signal frequency different from the first signal frequency f1. For example, the third FPN with the third signal frequency f3 is generated at a position deeper than the tomographic image of the eye E to be examined in the depth direction. Therefore, the tomographic image of the subject's eye E and the third FPN do not overlap, and the FPN signal can be obtained with high accuracy. Note that the third signal frequency f3 is not limited to this. For example, when the return light from the light guiding optical system 150 is blocked by the shutter 151, a tomographic image of the subject's eye E does not appear on the OCT image. Therefore, it is not always necessary to generate the FPN at a position deeper than the tomographic image of the eye E to be examined in the depth direction.

For example, the third FPN may be generated at a position distinguishable from the first FPN when the control unit 70 obtains the mapping information of each wavenumber component. For example, the third FPN is generated at a position 1 mm or more away from the first FPN in the depth direction.

When FPN generating member 204 is positioned at third distance D3, light is emitted from swept wavelength light source 102 at first swept frequency H1, and detector 120 acquires a spectral interference signal including a third FPN signal. . Thereafter, the control unit 70 processes the third FPN in the same manner as the first FPN to obtain the third wavenumber mapping information φ3(k) (see FIG. 3(b)).

Next, the control unit 70 obtains difference information Δφ1-3(k) between the first wavenumber mapping information φ1(k) and the third wavenumber mapping information φ3(k) as the first correction information. (See Figure 4). Note that the difference information may be obtained as phase difference information of each wavenumber component. When obtaining the difference information Δφ(k), the third FPN advances the phase faster, so the difference information may be obtained by Δφ1−3(k)=φ3(k)−φ1(k). . By obtaining the difference information, it is possible to cancel the dispersion component included in the mapping information of each wavenumber component.

When the wavelength swept light source 102 sweeps the wavelength at the first sweep frequency H1, the controller 70 corrects the mapping state of each wavenumber component based on the first correction information (see FIG. 4). As for the method of correcting the mapping state of each wavenumber component from the difference information of the mapping information of the wavenumber component, the method described in JP-A-2018-124188 can be used.

<S112: Acquisition of Second Correction Information>
As described above, in this embodiment, the control unit 70 uses the second correction information to correct the mapping state of each wavenumber component when the wavelength swept light source 102 sweeps the wavelength at the second sweep frequency H2. Ask.

Here, when the wavelength is swept at the second sweep frequency H2, the first FPN signal may not be obtained properly. The reason for this will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram explaining that the signal frequency at which the FPN signal is detected changes for each sweep frequency. FIG. 8(a) shows the Fourier transform of the first FPN signal for the first sweep frequency H1. Also, FIG. 8(b) shows the Fourier transform of the first FPN signal in the case of the second sweep frequency H2.

For example, when the sweep frequency changes, the signal frequency at which FPN is detected also changes.

For example, assume that the first FPN signal is detected as an interference signal with a signal frequency of 100 MHz when the sweep frequency is a first sweep frequency H1 (200 kHz for explanation).

Here, for example, when the sweep frequency is changed to the second sweep frequency H2 (25 kHz for explanation), the sweep frequency is multiplied by 25/200=1/8. Therefore, in the case of the second sweep frequency H2, the first FPN signal is detected as an interference signal with a signal frequency of 100 MHz.times.1/8=12.5 MHz. Numerical values used in the calculation are values used for convenience of explanation, and are not limited to these values.

As in the above example, when the sweep frequency is changed from the first sweep frequency H1 to the second sweep frequency H2, which is lower than the first sweep frequency H1, the signal frequency at which FPN is detected becomes lower. .

For example, a first FPN signal detected at a first signal frequency f1 at a first sweep frequency H1 is detected at a signal frequency obtained by multiplying the first signal frequency f1 by H2/H1 at a second sweep frequency H2. (See FIG. 7). Similarly, the third FPN signal detected at the third signal frequency f3 at the first sweep frequency H1 has a signal frequency H2/H1 at the second sweep frequency H2 corresponding to the third signal frequency f3. Detected at doubled signal frequency.

As described above, when the sweep frequency is the first sweep frequency H1, the lower the first signal frequency f1, the easier the analysis. On the other hand, for example, the lower the first signal frequency f1, the lower the envelope EV1 of the peak of the first FPN signal when the sweep frequency is set to the second sweep frequency H2. occur. This increases the possibility that the envelope EV1 of the peak of the first FPN signal will enter the zero delay region (see FIG. 8(b)). The zero-delay region will be explained below.

In this embodiment, a filter 71 is provided between the detector 120 and the controller 70 . This filter 71 removes an electrical DC component to protect the control section 70 . For example, the filter 71 removes signals in a region from zero delay to a predetermined frequency (10 MHz, for example). In this embodiment, the area removed by filter 71 is called the zero-delay area.

For example, in the present embodiment, the envelope EV1 of the peak of the first FPN signal for the second sweep frequency H2 may fall into the zero-delay region and be cut by filter 71 . In this case, it is difficult to obtain appropriate correction information from the first FPN signal.

As described above, when acquiring the second correction information, there are cases where the first FPN signal cannot be acquired appropriately. Similarly, when acquiring the second correction information, the third FPN signal may not be acquired appropriately.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source 102 is the second sweep frequency H2, the control unit 70 performs arithmetic processing based on the second FPN signal and the fourth FPN signal. By doing so, the second correction information is acquired.

For example, the controller 70 changes the position of the FPN generating member 204 to a second distance D2 and generates a second FPN signal. In this embodiment, the second FPN signal is the signal frequency that is not cut by filter 71 when the sweep frequency is brought to the second sweep frequency H2. FIG. 9 shows the Fourier transform of the second FPN signal when the swept frequency of the wavelength swept light source 102 is the second swept frequency H2.

For example, when the sweep frequency is the second sweep frequency H2, the signal frequency at which the second FPN signal is detected is the signal frequency at which the first FPN signal is detected when the sweep frequency is the first sweep frequency H1. signal frequency (eg, 100 MHz) (see FIG. 7). Note that the signal frequency at which the second FPN signal is detected is not limited to this. Just do it.

When the position of FPN generating member 204 is changed to a second distance D2, light is emitted from swept wavelength light source 102 and detector 120 acquires a spectral interference signal including a second FPN signal. Thereafter, the control unit 70 processes the second FPN signal to obtain second wavenumber mapping information φ2(k) in the same manner as in step S111.

Next, the control unit 70 drives the driving unit 205 to move the FPN generating member 204 to the fourth distance D4 so that the fourth FPN is generated. For example, when the sweep frequency is the second sweep frequency H2, the signal frequency at which the fourth FPN signal is detected is the signal frequency at which the third FPN signal is detected when the sweep frequency is the first sweep frequency H1. is the signal frequency (see FIG. 7). In addition, the signal frequency at which the fourth FPN signal is detected is not limited to this. good.

After that, the controller 70 processes the fourth FPN signal to obtain fourth wavenumber mapping information φ4(k) in the same manner as in step S111.

Further, the control unit 70 obtains the difference information Δφ2−4(k) between the second wavenumber mapping information φ2(k) and the fourth wavenumber mapping information φ4(k) as the second correction information. Ask.

When the wavelength swept light source 102 sweeps the wavelength at the second sweep frequency H2, the controller 70 corrects the mapping state of each wavenumber component based on the second correction information.

According to steps S111 and S112 described above, the first correction information for correcting the mapping state of each wavenumber component when the sweep frequency is the first sweep frequency H1 and the first correction information for correcting the mapping state of each wavenumber component when the sweep frequency is the second sweep frequency H2 and second correction information for correcting the mapping information of each wavenumber component in the case of .

When acquiring OCT data, the control unit 70 performs arithmetic processing based on the first correction information or the second correction information, so that the nonlinearity and , variance components and can be corrected (see FIG. 4).

Note that the control unit 70 may insert the shutter 151 into the light guiding optical system 150 when acquiring the correction information. According to this, it is possible to suppress the influence of the light from the light guide optical system 150 on the correction information, so that the correction information can be preferably obtained. The light derived from the light guide optical system 150 is, for example, scattered light (return light) from the eye E to be examined.

<S120: Calibration of Correction Information>
Next, the controller 70 corrects the correspondence deviation using the calibration optical system 300 . In the present embodiment, the correspondence shift refers to the shift in correspondence between time and wave number of light emitted during wavelength sweeping of the wavelength swept light source 102, as described above. For example, correspondence deviation may occur due to environmental factors such as aging and temperature.

For example, the correction information acquired in step S110 may be obtained based on the FPN acquired in the presence of this correspondence deviation. In this case, in the spectral interference signal acquired by the detector 120, the correction information and the wavelength (or wavenumber) value deviate, making it difficult to perform appropriate correction.

For example, in this embodiment, the controller 70 performs calibration on the correction information. For example, when acquiring OCT data of an eye to be examined in this embodiment, the control unit 70 performs arithmetic processing using calibrated correction information. As a result, the correspondence deviation included in the mapping state of each wavenumber component is corrected. Note that in the present disclosure, arithmetic processing for calibrating correction information is referred to as calibration processing.

The control of the controller 70 for calibrating the correction information will be described with reference to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. FIG. FIG. 10 is a flow chart of control performed by the control unit 70 for calibrating the correction information (step S120). 11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining how the correspondence deviation of the mapping state of each wavenumber component is corrected by the calibrated correction information. FIG. 11 shows mapping information of each wavenumber component when arithmetic processing is performed using correction information before calibration, and mapping information of each wavenumber component when arithmetic processing is performed using correction information after calibration. ,It is shown. 12A and 12B are diagrams for explaining that the correspondence deviation included in the wavenumber mapping state is corrected by performing the calibration.

Note that, for example, in this embodiment, due to the correspondence shift, the graph of the mapping information of each wavenumber component based on the correction information before calibration and the mapping information of each wavenumber component based on the correction information after calibration shown in FIG. A change in the slope of the graph occurs between the graph of For example, in this embodiment, due to the correspondence shift, the graph of the mapping information of each wavenumber component based on the correction information before calibration and the graph of the mapping information of each wavenumber component based on the correction information after calibration shown in FIG. A shift (translation) of the graph occurs between and .

<S121: Insertion of bandpass filter>
First, the control unit 70 inserts the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 into the optical axis of the calibration optical system 300 (also used as the FPN generation optical system 200).

In this embodiment, the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 are used to filter light of a predetermined first wavelength included in the sweep range of the wavelength swept light source 102, light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, is selectively extracted.

<S122: Acquisition of interference signal for calibration>
With the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 inserted in the calibration optics 300, when the swept wavelength light source 102 sweeps at the first sweep frequency H1, the swept light passes through the calibration optics 300. , light of a first wavelength and light of a second wavelength are extracted.

The extracted light is combined with the reference light at coupler 350 and detected by detector 120 as a spectral interference signal. In this example, the spectral interference signal from the extracted light and the reference light is referred to as the calibration interference signal. For example, the spectrum interference signal by the light extracted when the sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source is swept at the first sweep frequency H1 and the reference light is referred to as a first calibration interference signal. For example, the first calibration interference signal is a calibration interference signal G1 by the light of the first wavelength and the reference light, and a calibration interference signal G2 by the light of the second wavelength and the reference light. is included.

In this embodiment, the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 are retracted with respect to the optical axis of the FPN generating optical system 200 except when obtaining the interference signal for calibration.

The calibration interference signal will be explained using FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the first interference signal for calibration.

As a first interference signal for calibration, the light of the first wavelength and the reference light are applied to the sampling point (first detection timing) T1 corresponding to the timing when the wavelength swept light source 102 emits the light of the first wavelength. A calibrating interference signal G1 is detected.

For example, it is technically difficult to extract only light of the first wavelength with the bandpass filter 301 and notch filter 302 . Therefore, the interference signal G1 for calibration includes, in addition to the component of the interference signal of the light of the first wavelength and the reference light, the component of the interference signal of the light other than the first wavelength and the reference light. .

For example, in this embodiment, light having a wavelength closer to the first wavelength is easier to pass through the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 . For this reason, for example, the calibration interference signal G1 is an interference signal with a chevron waveform, with the peak being the interference signal between the light of the first wavelength and the reference light.

Similarly, at a sampling point (second detection timing) T2 corresponding to the timing when the wavelength swept light source 102 emits the light of the second wavelength, an interference signal G2 for calibration by the light of the second wavelength and the reference light is obtained. is detected.

It is assumed that the FPN generation member 204 of the FPN generation optical system 200 is arranged at the first distance D1 when acquiring the first interference signal for calibration. In this embodiment, the optical path length difference between the optical path length of the calibration optical system 300 and the optical path length of the reference optical system 110 when the FPN generation member 204 is arranged at the first distance D1 is defined as the first optical path length Let it be the length difference. Further, the first distance D1 is an example of the position of the FPN generation member 204, and is not limited to this.

After acquiring the first interference signal for calibration, the control unit 70 then acquires the second interference signal for calibration. For example, the control unit 70 drives the driving unit 205 to move the FPN generation member 204 from the first distance D1 to another distance. For example, the controller 70 moves the FPN generating member 204 to the second distance D2.

For example, in this embodiment, the optical path length difference between the optical path length of the calibration optical system 300 and the optical path length of the reference optical system 110 when the FPN generation member 204 is at the second distance D2 is the second optical path length difference. and Note that the second distance D2 is an example of the distance at which the FPN generation member 204 is arranged, and is not limited to this.

For example, in this embodiment, the driving unit 205 also serves as a changing unit that changes the optical path length difference between the reference optical path and the measurement optical path.

When the position of the FPN generating member 204 is moved to the second distance D2, the swept wavelength light source 102 sweeps at the first sweep frequency H1. Detector 120 thereby detects the second calibration interference signal as well as the first calibration interference signal.

Here, when detecting the second interference signal for calibration, the wavelength is swept at the same first sweep frequency H1 as when obtaining the first interference signal for calibration. The timing of emission is also the same. Therefore, a calibration interference signal G1 having a waveform different from that of the first calibration interference signal is generated on the second calibration interference signal at the same first detection timing T1 as the first calibration interference signal. . Similarly, on the second interference signal for calibration, a calibration interference signal G2 with a waveform different from that of the first interference signal for calibration is generated at the same detection timing as that for the first interference signal for calibration.

In this embodiment, the control unit 70 retracts the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 from the calibration optical system 300 when acquisition of the interference signal for calibration is completed.

<S123: Acquisition of Detection Timing>
A method of acquiring the detection timing will be described with reference to FIG. 14 . FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the waveform of the calibration interference signal G1.

In this embodiment, the swept wavelength light source 102 outputs a sweep start signal to the control section 70 at the timing of starting the sweep. For example, the control unit 70 causes the sampling point of the detector 120 at the timing when the sweep start signal is input from the wavelength swept light source 102 to correspond to the sweep start sampling point T0.

In this embodiment, for example, the first detection timing T1 and the second detection timing T2 are obtained based on the sweep start sampling point T0.

For example, the control unit 70 obtains a sampling point (first detection timing) T1 at which the calibration interference signal G1 is detected based on the first calibration interference signal and the second calibration interference signal. For example, the first detection timing T1 is a sampling point at which the peak of the calibration interference signal G1 exists. For example, the first detection timing T1 is a sampling point at which there is an interference signal between the light of the first wavelength and the reference light.

Here, depending on the optical path length difference between the reference optical path and the measurement optical path, the signal strength of the calibration interference signal G1 may be low. For example, the calibration interference signal G1 in this case is referred to as calibration interference signal G1.1 (see FIG. 14). For example, when the signal intensity of the spectral interference signal due to the light of the first wavelength and the reference light is low, it may be difficult to detect the peak. In this case, since the peak cannot be detected appropriately, there is a possibility that the control section 70 cannot accurately obtain the first detection timing T1.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the controller 70 processes a plurality of calibration interference signals to increase the signal strength of the spectral interference signal of the light of the first wavelength and the reference light.

For example, in the present embodiment, absolute values are taken and then averaged for the first calibrating interference signal and the second calibrating interference signal. According to this, the signal strength of the calibration interference signal G1 is cumulatively added. Therefore, the control unit 70 can accurately detect peaks. Therefore, the control unit 70 can accurately acquire the first detection timing T1.

Note that the calibration interference signal used in the calibration process is not limited to the first calibration interference signal and the second calibration interference signal. For example, as the number of calibrating interference signals used in the calibration process increases, the signal intensity of the spectral interference signal due to the light of the first wavelength and the reference light can be increased, so peak detection becomes easier. It is possible to obtain the first detection timing T1 with high accuracy.

For example, the method of obtaining the first detection timing T1 is not limited to this. For example, the sampling point when the signal strength of the interference signal increases by a predetermined value or more may be set as the first detection timing T1. That is, the sampling point at which the peak rises in the first interference signal for calibration may be set as the first detection timing T1. It should be noted that the sampling point may be when the signal strength of the interference signal has decreased by a predetermined value or more. That is, the sampling point at which the peak falls in the interference signal for calibration may be set as the first detection timing T1.

Similarly to the first detection timing T1, the controller 70 detects a sampling point (second detection timing) T2 at which the calibration interference signal G2 is detected.

<S124: Acquisition of Correspondence Deviation>
The control unit 70 detects the correspondence deviation and obtains the number of sampling points ΔT1-2 included between the first detection timing T1 and the second detection timing T2 (see FIG. 13).

For example, the control unit 70 obtains the amount of change between the value of ΔT1-2 and the previously obtained value. For example, the value obtained in advance is the value of ΔT1-2 obtained when the OCT apparatus 1 is shipped from the factory. Note that the value obtained in advance is not limited to this example, and may be the value of ΔT1-2 obtained before this calibration.

For example, when the value of ΔT1-2 decreases, the time from the emission of the light of the first wavelength to the emission of the light of the second wavelength is shortened. Therefore, it is considered that the sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source 102 has increased from the intended sweep frequency. Also, when the value of ΔT1-2 increases, it is considered that the sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source 102 has decreased from the desired sweep frequency.

For example, the control unit 70 corrects the value of ΔT1−2, thereby correcting the deviation of the sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source 102 . To explain using a figure, the slope of the graph of the mapping state of each wavenumber component is corrected (see FIG. 12(a)).

Further, for example, after the sweep frequency is corrected, the control unit 70 determines the value of the number of sampling points ΔT0-1 between the sampling point T0 at which the sweep is started and the sampling point T1. Calculate the amount of change from the value. According to this, after the sweep frequency is corrected, the difference in the timing at which light of a predetermined wavenumber is detected is obtained. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a change in wavelength (wave number) at which the swept wavelength light source 102 starts sweeping.

For example, if the value of ΔT0-1 decreases with the sweep speed corrected, it is considered that the wavelength at the start of wavelength sweeping has increased. For example, when the value of ΔT0-1 increases with the sweep speed corrected, it is considered that the wavelength (wavenumber) at the start of wavelength sweeping has decreased.

For example, the controller 70 corrects the amount of change in ΔT0−1, thereby correcting the wavelength deviation when the wavelength swept light source 102 starts sweeping. To explain using a figure, the shift (parallel movement) of the graph of the mapping state of each wavenumber component is corrected (see FIG. 12(b)). It should be noted that the wavelength (wave number) at which the swept wavelength light source 102 starts sweeping is similarly performed using the number of sampling points ΔT0-2 between the sampling point T0 and the sampling point T2, not limited to ΔT0-1. change can be sought.

<S125: Correction of correspondence deviation>
The control unit 70 corrects the first correction information so that the amount of change between the value of ΔT1−2 and the previously obtained value is corrected. According to this, the inclination of the graph of the mapping state of each wavenumber component is corrected (see FIG. 12(a)).

Further, the control unit 70 corrects the first correction information so that the amount of change between the value of ΔT0-1 and the previously obtained value is corrected. According to this, the shift (parallel movement) of the graph of the mapping state of each wavenumber component is corrected.

As a result, in imaging (S200), which will be described later, it is possible to acquire the mapping state of each wavenumber component in which the correspondence deviation has been corrected (see FIG. 11).

The control unit 70 also corrects the correspondence deviation in the second correction information by replacing the first sweep frequency H1 with the second sweep frequency H2 and executing steps S121 to S125.

Through step S120, the mapping state of each wavenumber component is corrected for correspondence deviation (see FIG. 11).

In addition, since the control unit 70 can acquire the change over time of the wavelength sweep of the wavelength swept light source 102 by directly analyzing the spectral interference signal without using an OCT image or the like, it is possible to accurately correct the deviation.

As described above, in this embodiment, the controller 70 performs calibration by executing steps S110 and S120. Calibrated correction information is thereby obtained for each sweep frequency. The control unit 70 acquires OCT data of the subject's eye by performing arithmetic processing using this calibrated correction information.

For example, the control unit 70 takes an image of the subject's eye E after retracting the shutter 151 with respect to the optical axis. For example, as described in [Configuration], the imaging range is changed for each sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source 102 . For example, when light is emitted from the wavelength swept light source 102 , a spectral interference signal between the reference light and the return light from the eye E to be examined is detected by the detector 120 .

For example, the first correction information is used for arithmetic processing of the spectral interference signal obtained when the sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source 102 is the first sweep frequency H1. Also, the second correction information is used for arithmetic processing of the spectral interference signal obtained when the sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source 102 is the second sweep frequency H2.

Specifically, for example, when the sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source 102 is the first sweep frequency H1, the control unit 70 sets the first correction information obtained in step S110 and calibrated in step S120. Acquire OCT data based on Further, when the sweep frequency of the swept wavelength light source 102 is the second sweep frequency H2, the control unit 70 calculates OCT data based on the second correction information obtained in step S110 and calibrated in step S120. get.

As a result, the mapping state of each wavenumber component can be appropriately corrected according to the sweep frequency of the wavelength swept light source 102, so that OCT data can be preferably acquired.

Note that the method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2018-124188 can be used as a method of acquiring OCT data by applying the correction information to the arithmetic processing of the spectral interference signal.

[Modification]
For example, in the present embodiment, the case where the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 are provided in the FPN generation optical system 200 has been described. good. In this case, the calibration optical system 300 is also used as the light guide optical system 150 . In addition, in the case of obtaining the calibration interference signal with this configuration, the detector 120 includes light from the calibration optical system 300 (light guide optical system 150), light from the FPN generation optical system 200, and reference light. to detect interfering signals. Therefore, by changing the position of the FPN generation member 204 of the FPN generation optical system 200 by the control unit 70, the first interference signal for calibration and the second interference signal for calibration can be obtained.

For example, in this embodiment, the first interference signal for calibration and the second interference signal for calibration are used to correct the correspondence deviation in step S120. may be only the first calibration interference signal. This shortens the time required to correct the correspondence deviation.

In addition to the first calibration interference signal and the second calibration interference signal, a calibration interference signal may be used to correct the correspondence deviation. In this case, for example, in step S122, the control unit 70 drives the driving unit 205 to change the position of the FPN generation member 204, and the wavelength is swept by the wavelength swept light source 102, whereby the interference signal for calibration is generated. is obtained. Further, by using more interference signals for calibration, the peak position can be obtained with higher accuracy in step S124, so that the correspondence deviation can be corrected with higher accuracy.

For example, in the present embodiment, the correction information is calibrated based on the interference signal for calibration in order to correct the correspondence deviation. good too. In that case, for example, the control unit 70 performs the same process as the calibration process performed on the correction information in step S125. The OCT data of the eye E to be examined may be processed. Further, in that case, calibration may be performed after the OCT data of the subject's eye E is acquired and before the OCT image is generated.

For example, in this embodiment, the position of the FPN generating member 204 is changed by driving the driving unit 205 in order to generate FPN at different positions. is not limited to

For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the FPN generation optical system 200 may be provided with a plurality of FPN generation members to generate FPN at different positions. For example, when generating four FPNs, the FPN generating member 204a is positioned at a position corresponding to the first distance D1 in this embodiment, the FPN generating member 204b is positioned at a position corresponding to the second distance D2, and the third distance The FPN generation member 204c may be arranged at a position corresponding to D3, and the FPN generation member 204d may be arranged at a position corresponding to the fourth distance D4. Also in this case, path splitting members (eg, beam splitters) 203a, 203b, 203c may be provided to direct light to each of the FPN generating members.

Further, for example, by changing the optical path length of the reference optical system 110, the position where the FPN is generated may be changed. FIG. 16 shows an OCT optical system in which a reference mirror 114 is used in the reference optical system 110. FIG. In this case, light emitted from the swept wavelength light source 102 is split by a coupler (splitter) 104 into a measurement optical path and a reference optical path. The light incident on the reference optical system 110 is guided to the optical fiber 117 by the circulator 113 , reflected by the reference mirror 114 , and incident on the coupler 351 . Also, the light incident on the measurement optical path enters the coupler 351 via the light guide optical system 150 (and the FPN generation optical system 200) and the optical fiber 112. FIG. The light from the reference optical path and the light from the measurement optical path are combined by the coupler 351 and the interference is detected by the detector 120 .

For example, the drive unit 115 moves the reference mirror 114 in the optical axis direction to change the optical path length of the reference optical system 110 . Thereby, the optical path length difference between the optical path length of the reference optical system and the optical path length of the FPN generation optical system 200 is changed, and the position where the FPN is generated is changed. The drive unit 115 may have the same configuration as the drive unit 205 described above.

For example, in this case, the origin position P0 is the position of the reference mirror such that the FPN occurs at the zero-delay position of the OCT image.

Further, for example, the optical distance from the origin position P0 to the reference mirror 114 is set by the driving unit 115 to the first distance D1 for generating the first FPN signal and the second distance D1 for generating the second FPN signal. It may vary between distance D2, a third distance D3 at which a third FPN signal is generated, and a fourth distance D4 at which a fourth FPN signal is generated. According to this, the optical path length of the reference light is changed.

Note that the method for changing the optical path length of the reference optical path is not limited to this. For example, a configuration may be employed in which a plurality of optical fibers having different lengths are provided as reference optical paths, and the generated FPN is changed according to the length of the passing optical fibers.

In this embodiment, the case where the first correction information corresponding to the first sweep frequency H1 and the second correction information corresponding to the second sweep frequency are acquired in step S110 has been described. The first correction information and the second correction information may not necessarily be obtained during the same calibration.

Further, for example, when the first correction information is acquired when the first imaging mode for imaging at the first sweep frequency is performed, and when the second imaging mode for imaging at the second sweep frequency is performed may be configured such that the second correction information is acquired at .

Further, in the present embodiment, a case has been described in which acquisition of correction information for each sweep frequency (step S110) and calibration of correction information (step S120) are performed as a series of calibrations. Acquisition of correction information and calibration of correction information need not necessarily be performed at the same time of calibration. For example, the correction information may be acquired as calibration, and the correction information may not be calibrated. Similarly, calibration of correction information may be performed as calibration, and acquisition of correction information may not be performed. In this case, the control unit 70 may calibrate the correction information acquired before the calibration (for example, the correction information acquired at the time of shipment from the factory) as calibration of the correction information.

Further, for example, when the OCT apparatus 1 acquires correction information for each sweep frequency and does not calibrate the correction information, the calibration optical system 300 (the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302) is omitted. good too.

Note that the control unit 70 may insert the shutter 151 into the light guiding optical system 150 when acquiring the correction information. According to this, it is possible to suppress the influence of the light from the light guide optical system 150 on the correction information, so that the correction information can be preferably obtained. The light derived from the light guide optical system 150 is, for example, scattered light (return light) from the eye E to be examined.

Further, in this embodiment, when acquiring correction information, the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302 are retracted with respect to the optical axis of the FPN generation optical system 200 . As a result, the FPN signal can be obtained without being affected by the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302, so that the correction information can be obtained.

The intensity of light emitted from the swept wavelength light source 102 changes based on the swept frequency.

For example, the FPN generation optical system 200 may be provided with a light intensity adjuster 209 as shown in FIG. The light intensity adjuster 209 adjusts the intensity of light from the FPN generating optical system 200 so that it falls within a predetermined range. For example, the light intensity adjuster 209 adjusts the light so that the interference signal (that is, the FPN signal) due to the light from the FPN generation optical system 200 is included in the signal intensity range (dynamic range) in which the detector 120 can detect the signal. Adjust the intensity of the

According to this, even if the intensity of the light emitted from the wavelength swept light source 102 changes when the sweep frequency is changed, the detector 120 can appropriately acquire the FPN signal.

For example, the light intensity adjuster 209 is composed of a lens and a driving section that drives the lens in the optical axis direction. For example, the light intensity adjuster 209 may include a filter that attenuates light and an insertion/removal portion that inserts/removes the filter with respect to the optical axis. Also, for example, the light intensity adjuster may be an attenuator.

For example, the operation of light intensity adjuster 209 is predetermined for each sweep frequency. Also, the operation of light intensity adjuster 209 may be controlled based on the signal strength of the signal detected by detector 120 .

In this embodiment, by combining the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302, an interference signal including the calibration interference signal G1 and the calibration interference signal G2 is obtained as the first calibration interference signal. I explained the case.

For example, instead of the bandpass filter 301 and the notch filter 302, the calibration optical system 300 includes a first bandpass filter for obtaining the calibration interference signal G1 and a first bandpass filter for obtaining the calibration interference signal G2. Two bandpass filters may be provided. Note that the first bandpass filter selectively passes the light of the first wavelength. A second bandpass filter selectively passes light of a second wavelength.

In this case, the wavelength is swept while either the first bandpass filter or the second bandpass filter is selectively inserted with respect to the optical axis, and the interference signal for calibration is acquired.

For example, when the wavelength is swept with the first bandpass filter inserted into the optical axis and the second bandpass filter removed from the optical axis, at the first detection timing T1, An interference signal A is obtained from which the calibration interference signal G1 is generated.

For example, when the second bandpass filter is inserted with respect to the optical axis and the wavelength is swept with the first bandpass filter removed with respect to the optical axis, at the second detection timing T2, Interference signal B is obtained from which calibration interference signal G2 is generated.

For example, the control unit 70 may acquire the first interference signal for calibration by superimposing the interference signal A and the interference signal B that are respectively acquired.

Of course, the second calibration interference signal can also be obtained in the same manner.

1 OCT device 70 Arithmetic controller 100 OCT optical system 102 Wavelength swept light source 110 Reference optical system 120 Detector 150 Light guide optical system 200 FPN generation optical system 204 FPN generation member 205 Driving unit 300 Calibration optical system 301 Bandpass filter 302 Notch filter

Claims (6)

A swept wavelength light source, a light splitter for splitting the light from the swept wavelength light source into measurement light and reference light, and detecting a spectral interference signal between the measurement light and the reference light guided to the tissue of the eye to be examined. an OCT optical system comprising a detector;
an arithmetic controller that obtains OCT data of an eye to be examined by arithmetically processing the spectral interference signal;
a wavelength-selective wavelength extracting member for extracting light of a predetermined wavelength included in the sweep range of the wavelength swept light source, wherein light of the predetermined wavelength out of the light from the wavelength swept light source is extracted by the wavelength extracting member; a calibration optic that detects via
An OCT apparatus characterized by correcting a deviation in correspondence between time and wavelength of the light emitted from the wavelength swept light source during the wavelength sweep based on detection timing of light of a predetermined wavelength during the wavelength sweep. . The calibration optical system guides the light of the predetermined wavelength through the wavelength extracting member to the detector of the OCT optical system, thereby generating an interference signal for calibration by the light of the predetermined wavelength and the reference light. , causing the detector to detect
2. The OCT apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said arithmetic controller corrects said deviation based on detection timing of said interference signal for calibration during wavelength sweeping. The wavelength extraction member is a wavelength extraction member for extracting light of a predetermined first wavelength and light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength from the light from the wavelength swept light source. ,
2. The arithmetic controller corrects the deviation based on detection timing of the light of the first wavelength and detection timing of the light of the second wavelength during wavelength sweeping. Or the OCT apparatus according to 2. Having an FPN generation optical system with an optical element for generating FPN,
The arithmetic controller is
Acquiring correction information for correcting the mapping state of each wavenumber component based on the FPN,
correcting the correction information obtained in advance based on the detection timing of the predetermined wavelength before obtaining the OCT data of the eye to be inspected;
4. The OCT apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the OCT data in which the deviation is corrected is obtained based on the corrected correction information. The calibration optical system has the wavelength extracting member insertable and removable with respect to an optical axis through which the light from the wavelength swept light source passes,
Claims 1 to 4, wherein the arithmetic controller corrects the deviation based on detection timing of the predetermined wavelength detected with the wavelength extracting member inserted in the calibration optical system. The OCT apparatus according to any one of . Modification to change the optical path length difference between the measurement optical path through which the measurement light passes, the reference optical path through which the reference light passes, and the measurement optical path and the reference optical path to at least a first optical path length difference and a second optical path length difference. have the means to
The arithmetic controller controls detection timing of a predetermined wavelength when the optical path difference is the first optical path difference, and detection timing of the predetermined wavelength when the optical path difference is the second optical path difference. The OCT apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the deviation is corrected based on and.

Images