OPTICAL AMPLIFICATION IN COHERENT OPTICAL FREQUENCY MODULATED CONTINUOUS WAVE REFLECTOMETRY

摘要

The present invention relates to an apparatus for optical coherence reflectometry, in particular for optical coherence tomography, wherein the apparatus for optical coherence reflectometry comprises a wavelength scanning laser source for providing a light signal, and splitting means for dividing said light signal into a sample light field and a reference light field, wherein the sample light field is directed to the sample being measured, and the light reflected from the sample is amplified without correspondingly amplifying the light reflected in the reference light field. Thereby, it is possible to direct substantially all light energy from the first reflected light field to the detectors, and to obtain fully the utilisation of the amplification of the first reflected light field. The optical amplifier inserted in the sample reflected light field is different from the source so that the effect of the light source may be regulated independent of the degree of amplification. In particular when using the apparatus in coherent optical FMCW reflectometry certain safety regulations for the power density towards the sample has to be observed to reduce the risk of damages to the sample under examination, such as biological tissue. The apparatus may be used for a variety of purposes, in particular for obtaining optical biopsies of transparent as well as non-transparent tissues.