Summary for publication
The research targeted modalities to transform a commercial grade digital camera or the camera in a smart phone into a depth resolved imaging instrument. The activity aimed to identify technical solutions to perform optical coherence tomography (OCT) of much lower cost than currently commercially available OCT systems. We performed research along three versions of low cost, functional OCT systems, assembled as proof of concepts. The strategy was to respond to needs of three possible markets that can be addressed by developing an adapter that can take advantage of devices inside a commercial grade digital camera or in a camera in a smart phone: 1. En-face depth resolved, high transversal resolution microscope; 2. Fast cross sectioning imager for telemedicine; 3. Swept source volumetric analyser using a low cost external optical source.
The main results
The research team has demonstrated operation of a low cost assembly in both spectrometer (Sp) based as well as in swept source (SS) based, using a Nikon commercially available, low cost digital camera. An original configuration was devised with a diffraction grating that can be placed between two lenses, allowing comparative evaluation of the SP-OCT and SS-OCT configurations.
In addition to the initial plan, inspired by the low cost adapters on the market for imaging the eye and ear, the team has devised a novel type of adapter that can make also transition between the object investigated and a fibre bundle. A patent application was submitted to protect the novel configuration, that can serve all three markets envisaged at the time of application.
Societal: The activity has created more accessible technology, that will open novel diagnosing modalities, such as for telemedicine or for difficult environments. The POC adapter will entice a wide range of customers to develop other novel aspects of OCT technology that cannot yet be anticipated. The activity has also shown what parameters can be compromised for reduced costs.
