Optical coherence tomography with multiple sample arms

Abstract

A multiplexed OCT imaging system includes a plurality of sample arms, an imaging engine, and an optical controller. The sample arms are optically coupled to the imaging engine via the optical controller; the optical controller multiplexes optical signals from the sample arms to permit some of the sample arms to operate sequentially or simultaneously.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multiplexed OCT imaging system comprising:
 a plurality of sample arms;   at least one imaging engine; and   an optical controller,   wherein the sample arms are optically coupled to the at least one imaging engine via the optical controller, the optical controller multiplexing optical signals from the sample arms to permit at least some of the sample arms to operate simultaneously and activating a new imaging engine upon detecting a new sample arm coupled to the newly activated imaging engine.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the activation occurs upon a detection of a demand issued by a user. 
     
     
         3 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical controller is a switch matrix balancing loads among activated imaging engines to minimize the number of image-engine activations. 
     
     
         4 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one imaging engine comprises a broadband light source. 
     
     
         5 . The imaging system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one imaging engine further comprises a spectrometer-based OCT interferometer for separating different bands of the broadband light within the sample arms.