Optical imaging system

Abstract

An optical imaging system ( 1 ) for in-vivo retinal imaging, the system ( 1 ) comprising: an optical source ( 3 ) for generating incoherent light in a plurality of wavelength bands; an optical imaging sub-system ( 6 ) configured to split light from said optical source ( 3 ) into a plurality of beams, to introduce a path difference between said beams of light, and recombine those beams to form interference fringes that are imaged on a subject ( 21 ); and an image capture device ( 29 ) configured to capture light from the subject ( 21 ) being imaged, and to form an image of said subject ( 21 ).

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system comprising:
 an optical source for generating incoherent light in a plurality of wavelength bands;   an optical imaging sub-system configured to split light from said optical source into a plurality of beams, to introduce a path difference between said beams of light, and recombine those beams to form interference fringes that are imaged on a subject; and   an image capture device configured to capture light from the subject being imaged, and to form an image of said subject.   
     
     
         37 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 36 , wherein said optical source is configured to generate separate incoherent red, green and blue beams of light. 
     
     
         38 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 37 , wherein said optical source comprises one or more light emitting elements configured to generate red light, one or more light emitting elements configured to generate green light, and one or more light emitting elements configured to generate blue light. 
     
     
         39 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 38 , wherein said optical source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes each configured to generate red light, a plurality of light emitting diodes each configured to generate green light, and a plurality of light emitting diodes each configured to generate blue light. 
     
     
         40 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 36 , further comprising a diffuser operable to diffuse light from said optical source, and thereby generate diffuse incoherent light for illuminating said optical sub-system. 
     
     
         41 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 36 , wherein said optical imaging subsystem comprises a Michelson interferometer having a first branch, a second branch and a beamsplitter for directing incident light to each of said branches. 
     
     
         42 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 41 , comprising a prism located in said second branch of the interferometer, said prism being configured to split incident light into a plurality of beams where each said beam predominantly comprises light of a said wavelength range. 
     
     
         43 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 42 , comprising a plurality of mirrors configured to be illuminated by light from said prism, each said mirror being for reflecting light of a said wavelength range. 
     
     
         44 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 43 , wherein each said mirror is configured only to reflect light of a predetermined wavelength range, one said mirror being provided for each said wavelength range in the light emitted by the optical source. 
     
     
         45 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 44 , wherein the angular position of each said mirror relative to the prism and the distance between said each said mirror and said prism can be adjusted. 
     
     
         46 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 38 , wherein said image capture device comprises a camera, for example an RGB CCD camera. 
     
     
         47 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 46 , wherein said one or more red light emitting elements are selected to generate red light in a wavelength range that complements the red wavelength range detectable by said image capture device, said one or more green light emitting elements are selected to generate green light in a wavelength range that complements the green wavelength range detectable by said image capture device, and said one or more blue light emitting elements are selected to generate blue light in a wavelength range that complements the blue wavelength range detectable by said image capture device. 
     
     
         48 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 46 , wherein said image capture device is configured to capture light reflected from said subject. 
     
     
         49 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 48 , comprising a beamsplitter configured to direct light reflected from said subject to said image capture device. 
     
     
         50 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 49 , wherein light from said optical sub-system passes through said beamsplitter to said subject. 
     
     
         51 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 50 , comprising a quarter-wave plate between the beamsplitter and the subject. 
     
     
         52 . An in-vivo retinal imaging system according to  claim 51 , comprising an imaging lens between the beamsplitter and the image capture device, the imaging lens being configured to focus light on said image capture device. 
     
     
         53 . An in-vivo retinal imaging method comprising:
 operating an optical source to generate incoherent light in a plurality of wavelength bands;   splitting light from said optical source into a plurality of beams, introducing a path difference between said beams of light, and recombining those beams to form interference fringes that are imaged on a subject;   capturing light from the subject being imaged, and   forming an image of said subject.