Wavefront correction and high-resolution in vivo OCT imaging with an objective integrated multi-actuator adaptive lens.

Adaptive optics is rapidly transforming microscopy and high-resolution ophthalmic imaging. The adaptive elements commonly used to control optical wavefronts are liquid crystal spatial light modulators and deformable mirrors. We introduce a novel Multi-actuator Adaptive Lens that can correct aberrations to high order, and which has the potential to increase the spread of adaptive optics to many new applications by simplifying its integration with existing systems. Our method combines an adaptive lens with an imaged-based optimization control that allows the correction of images to the diffraction limit, and provides a reduction of hardware complexity with respect to existing state-of-the-art adaptive optics systems. The Multi-actuator Adaptive Lens design that we present can correct wavefront aberrations up to the 4th order of the Zernike polynomial characterization. The performance of the Multi-actuator Adaptive Lens is demonstrated in a wide field microscope, using a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor for closed loop control. The Multi-actuator Adaptive Lens and image-based wavefront-sensorless control were also integrated into the objective of a Fourier Domain Optical Coherence Tomography system for in vivo imaging of mouse retinal structures. The experimental results demonstrate that the insertion of the Multi-actuator Objective Lens can generate arbitrary wavefronts to correct aberrations down to the diffraction limit, and can be easily integrated into optical systems to improve the quality of aberrated images.

[1]  G. Vdovin,et al.  Liquid-crystal adaptive lenses with modal control. , 1998, Optics letters.

[2]  G. Vdovin,et al.  Multichannel liquid-crystal-based wave-front corrector with modal influence functions. , 1998, Optics letters.

[3]  Roberto Ragazzoni,et al.  Adaptive-optics corrections available for the whole sky , 2000, Nature.

[4]  Shin‐Tson Wu,et al.  Variable-focus liquid lens by changing aperture , 2005 .

[5]  Duncan Graham-Rowe,et al.  Liquid lenses make a splash , 2006 .

[6]  Luca Poletto,et al.  Push-pull membrane mirrors for adaptive optics. , 2006, Optics express.

[7]  A. K. Agarwal,et al.  Adaptive liquid microlenses activated by stimuli-responsive hydrogels , 2006, Nature.

[8]  I. Grulkowski,et al.  Acousto-optic interaction of a Gaussian laser beam with an ultrasonic wave of cylindrical symmetry. , 2007, Applied optics.

[9]  Robert J Zawadzki,et al.  Adaptive optics-optical coherence tomography: optimizing visualization of microscopic retinal structures in three dimensions. , 2007, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision.

[10]  Geunyoung Yoon,et al.  Requirements for discrete actuator and segmented wavefront correctors for aberration compensation in two large populations of human eyes. , 2007, Applied optics.

[11]  M. Booth.  Wavefront sensorless adaptive optics for large aberrations. , 2007, Optics letters.

[12]  Adaptive fluidic PDMS-lens with integrated piezoelectric actuator , 2008, 2008 IEEE 21st International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems.

[13]  Yuli D. Chashechkin,et al.  Schlieren visualization of vortices and internal waves generated by vertical stroke oscillations of a disk , 2008, J. Vis..

[14]  Gleb Vdovin,et al.  Correction of low order aberrations using continuous deformable mirrors. , 2008, Optics express.

[15]  Euan McLeod,et al.  High-speed varifocal imaging with a tunable acoustic gradient index of refraction lens. , 2008, Optics letters.

[16]  James Gao,et al.  High-speed switchable lens enables the development of a volumetric stereoscopic display. , 2009, Optics express.

[17]  Eric Betzig,et al.  Adaptive optics via pupil segmentation for high-resolution imaging in biological tissues , 2010, Nature Methods.

[18]  David R. Williams,et al.  Optical properties of the mouse eye , 2011, Biomedical optics express.

[19]  Austin Roorda,et al.  Adaptive optics for studying visual function: a comprehensive review. , 2011, Journal of vision.

[20]  David Williams.  Imaging single cells in the living retina , 2011, Vision Research.

[21]  Nicolas Chateau,et al.  Biomedical imaging: New view of the eye , 2011 .

[22]  D. De Rossi,et al.  Bioinspired Tunable Lens with Muscle‐Like Electroactive Elastomers , 2011 .

[23]  David Williams,et al.  Adaptive optics retinal imaging in the living mouse eye , 2012, Biomedical optics express.

[24]  Yifan Jian,et al.  Adaptive optics optical coherence tomography for in vivo mouse retinal imaging , 2013, Journal of biomedical optics.

[25]  D. Clarke,et al.  Tunable lenses using transparent dielectric elastomer actuators. , 2013, Optics express.

[26]  Alfredo Dubra,et al.  Adaptive Optics Retinal Imaging – Clinical Opportunities and Challenges , 2013, Current eye research.

[27]  Maciej Wojtkowski,et al.  Microscopic OCT imaging with focus extension by ultrahigh-speed acousto-optic tunable lens and stroboscopic illumination. , 2014, Optics express.

[28]  Krzysztof Palczewski,et al.  Noninvasive two-photon microscopy imaging of mouse retina and retinal pigment epithelium through the pupil of the eye , 2014, Nature Medicine.

[29]  Yifan Jian,et al.  Wavefront sensorless adaptive optics optical coherence tomography for in vivo retinal imaging in mice. , 2014, Biomedical optics express.

[30]  Michelle Cua,et al.  In vivo imaging of human photoreceptor mosaic with wavefront sensorless adaptive optics optical coherence tomography. , 2015, Biomedical optics express.