Enabling High Speed Swept-Source OCT with Advanced Data Acquisition

Why It Matters

By eliminating host‑CPU bottlenecks and providing deterministic, low‑latency data handling, Teledyne’s digitizers accelerate the development of next‑generation SS‑OCT systems, expanding clinical adoption and market growth.

Key Takeaways

• ADQ3 series supports up to 5 GSPS sampling for SS‑OCT
• Integrated FWOCT firmware offloads k‑linearization, reducing CPU load
• Analog bandwidth up to 2.5 GHz preserves high‑frequency fringe fidelity
• PCIe, USB 3.2, and PXIe options simplify system integration
• Low‑latency processing enables real‑time OCT image reconstruction

Pulse Analysis

Swept‑source OCT has become a cornerstone of modern diagnostic imaging, offering unprecedented speed and depth compared with spectral‑domain counterparts. Its longer 1050 nm wavelength penetrates scattering tissue, making it ideal for ophthalmic choroid visualization and emerging cardiology, dermatology, and dental applications. As semiconductor‑based tunable lasers drive down component costs, manufacturers are racing to pair these sources with digitizers capable of handling the resulting gigahertz‑level interferometric data streams.

The digitizer is the bottleneck in any SS‑OCT platform. Developers demand multi‑GS/s sampling, 1‑2 GHz analog bandwidth, and high ENOB to faithfully capture fringe signals without distortion. Teledyne’s ADQ3‑series meets these specs with up to 5 GSPS and 2.5 GHz front‑end performance, while its FWOCT firmware performs k‑clock interpolation, FIR filtering, and FFT preparation directly on the board. This offloads the host CPU, cuts data‑transfer volumes, and guarantees deterministic, low‑latency processing—critical for real‑time volumetric imaging and OCT‑angiography.

For instrument makers, the combination of flexible interface options (PCIe, USB 3.2, PXIe) and built‑in processing translates into faster time‑to‑market and reduced system complexity. The reduced computational load enables smaller, more portable devices, expanding point‑of‑care deployment. As imaging speed and resolution continue to climb, Teledyne’s digitizer platform positions itself as a strategic enabler for the next wave of high‑performance, cost‑effective SS‑OCT solutions across multiple medical specialties.