Multi-modal and multi-scale clinical retinal imaging system with pupil and retinal tracking

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Accurate retinal imaging is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring eye diseases.
• Existing instruments may lack multi-modality, multi-scale capabilities, or high resolution.
• Adaptive optics (AO) can correct aberrations for enhanced image quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a compact, multi-modal, and multi-scale retinal imaging instrument.
• To integrate scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT angiography (OCTA) functionalities.
• To incorporate adaptive optics (AO) for high-resolution cellular imaging and retinal tracking for motion compensation.

Main Methods:

• Integration of SLO, OCT, and OCTA imaging modalities into a single compact system.
• Utilization of adaptive optics (AO) for aberration correction and high lateral resolution.
• Implementation of 3D self-alignment using motorized translation stages and pupil tracking.
• Incorporation of SLO-based retinal tracking to compensate for eye motion during OCT imaging.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of a compact, multi-modal, and multi-scale retinal imaging instrument.
• Successful integration of SLO, OCT, and OCTA with AO correction for high-resolution imaging.
• Validation of the system's capabilities through imaging of healthy volunteers and patients.

Conclusions:

• The presented instrument offers a versatile and compact solution for advanced retinal imaging.
• The combination of multi-modality, multi-scale imaging, AO, and retinal tracking enhances diagnostic potential.
• This technology has the potential to improve clinical assessment and management of various retinal conditions.