SBIR-STTR Award

Rainbow Communications, together with the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic of University of California at Irvine, proposes to investigate MicroElectro Mechanical System (MEMS) and Optical Frequency-Domain Reflectometry (OFDR) based field-deployable imaging system to assess potential retinal injuries. Rainbow_s proposed portable Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Fundus camera integrated imaging system will provide the following unique features: (1) Rapidly and precisely detect retinal lesions by combining OCT and fundus camera into a rugged and small package with fast sampling characteristics; (2) Field-portable with a handheld probe by using OFDR and MEMS two-axis scanning mirror to eliminate the application of bulky spectrometer and scanning mirrors; (3) High sampling rate (30 frame per 1 second) and very small size by using high stiffness PZT as piezoelectric actuator for Fiber Fabry-Perot Tunable Filter (FFP-TF); (4) Multi-functional imaging (Conventional OCT and Doppler OCT) capability to provide more detailed information; (5) Low cost and high anti-interference by using optic fiber and MEMS components. Phase I will develop, model, and simulate the MEMS and OFDR based field-portable imaging system concept, and demonstrate the feasibility. In Phase II, a practical portable imaging system will be developed and tested for animal and human models

Rainbow Communications, together with the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic of University of California at Irvine, proposes to investigate MicroElectro Mechanical System (MEMS) and Optical Frequency-Domain Reflectometry (OFDR) based field-deployable imaging system to assess potential retinal injuries. In Phase II, the following unique features and improvements will be added: First, the development of an ultra-broadband laser source in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) enables ultra-high axial resolution. Second, to maintain the required level of signal to noise ratio (SNR) for clinical applications, the imaging speed for Time Domain OCT (TD-OCT) will be limited. Fourier-domain OCT (FD-OCT) has the advantage of high sensitivity that allows increased imaging speed without compromising imaging performance. Third, to overcome the problem of co-registration, 3-D imaging rather than 2-D imaging should be acquired. High speed swept source will increase imaging speed by almost two orders of magnitude. Fourth, to incase lateral resolution, adaptive optics is required to minimize the distortion of eye. Finally, adding functional capability so that physiological parameter such as blood flow can be quantified. A portable OCT and fundus camera combined imaging system will be provided at the end of the Phase II.

Keywords:
OCT, MEMS, BROADBAND SOURCE, FUNDUS CAMERA, RETINAL INJURY, ADAPTIVE OPTICS, 3-D IMAGING.