On-chip OCT for Ophthalmology applications

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Sinoora Inc. proposes to develop an on-chip spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) system for ophthalmic applications. Phase I will concentrate on demonstrating the passive optical components of the OCT system on a single chip. The passive components include a spectrometer, coupler and an interferometer. These on- chip components will then be integrated with an off-chip broadband source and detector array to demonstrate OCT functionality. In Phase II, Sinoora will also integrate the broadband source and Si detector array on the spectrometer chip to enable a complete on-chip SD-OCT optical engine in a 'memory-stick' format. The proposed optical engine can then be integrated with OCT scanner head (with lightdelivery and collection optics) and processing software to allow a low-cost ultra-compact SD-OCT system. The final OCT system will thus provide similar performance to current bulky OCT systems at a greatly reduced cost and size. Operating at 850 nm, S