OPTICAL INTERFERENCE TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGE OBSERVING APPARATUS

摘要

An optical interference tomographic image observing apparatus is provided so as to detect the static or dynamic structure at a deep portion of a living body or the like and provide a multidimensional image thereof for observation. The optical interference tomographic image observing apparatus includes a rotary prism apparatus which includes a Littrow reflector prism (1) having a 90-degree vertex and disposed near a circumference of a rotary body (4) in such a manner that a surface facing the vertex extends substantially perpendicular to a tangential line of the circumference, the prism having a characteristics such that when a light beam impinges the surface, the light beam is reflected in a direction parallel to the incidence direction. Through utilization of the characteristics, the reflection point can be scanned in a predetermined direction as the rotary body (4) rotates; and a delay reflection light beam is periodically generated when the rotary body rotates in the travel direction of the light beam and a progressive reflection light beam is periodically generated when the rotary body rotates in the opposite direction.