SBIR Phase II: Nondestructive/noninvasive three-dimensional imaging with Gabor-domain optical coherence microscopy

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目将探索Gabor域光学相干显微镜(GD-OCM)仪器作为制造过程的一部分对光学材料进行成像和评估的适用性。该项目的直接更广泛的影响是有效地提供有关制造过程中产品质量的定性和定量信息，最初的重点是隐形眼镜制造。GD-OCM在所有三个维度都提供了高速、工业、微米级的分辨率，使隐形眼镜制造商能够用自动完成的一次测量取代多个检查步骤，减少损坏样品和人为错误的机会，最终提高生产率和产量。随之而来的隐形眼镜性能的改善和延长的佩戴效果将对相当大比例的人口产生积极影响。最近对GD-OCM的评估表明，它有能力为各种材料的质量控制提供新的丰富的表征方法，这些材料本来是不可能进行无损表征的，包括梯度折射率聚合物、玻璃和层状结构。此外，GD-OCM将通过其非侵入性光学切片各种材料类型的样品的能力，在广泛的科学领域实现新的进步。该第二阶段项目的目标是确定新出现的GD-OCM技术在制造过程中对隐形眼镜进行无损在线测量的有效性。质量控制和对产品重大缺陷的检测，以及生产产量的相应提高，代表了将GD-OCM仪器引入隐形眼镜生产环境的价值主张。该项目将产生两个主要成果：1)实施强大的生产环境仪器，有效地提供所有三个维度的微米级分辨率，并量化单一仪器以前无法提供的与产量相关的隐形眼镜质量指标；以及2)展示在生产环境中进行检查的技术，以快速准确地监测缺陷，并使用产品相关指标量化隐形眼镜质量。这种无损的在线光学检测系统不仅可以对隐形眼镜的工艺控制和成品率产生重大影响，而且还可以对包括聚合物、塑料和玻璃在内的层状材料的制造产生重大影响。从长远来看，这项技术为组织成像、引导手术和眼病监测提供了新的途径。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will explore the applicability of a Gabor-domain optical coherence microscopy (GD-OCM) instrument to image and evaluate optical materials as part of the manufacturing process. The immediate broader impact of this project is to effectively provide both qualitative and quantitative information about product quality in manufacturing, with an initial focus on contact lens manufacturing. Providing high-speed, industrial, micrometer-level resolution in all three dimensions, GD-OCM enables contact lens manufacturers to replace multiple inspection steps with a single measurement done automatically, reducing the opportunity for damaging the samples and human error, and ultimately leading to increased productivity and yield. The resulting improvements in contact lens performance and extended wear effects are poised to have a positive impact on a significant percentage of the population. Recent evaluations of GD-OCM have indicated its ability to provide a new wealth of characterization methods for quality control of various materials that are otherwise impossible to characterize nondestructively, including gradient refractive index polymers, glass and layered structures. Additionally, GD-OCM will enable new advances in a wide variety of scientific fields via its capability to non-invasively optically section samples of a variety of material types. The objective of this Phase II project is to establish the effectiveness of the emerging GD-OCM technology for nondestructive on-line metrology of contact lenses in manufacturing. Quality control and detection of product-significant defects, and a corresponding increase in production yield, represent the value proposition for the introduction of GD-OCM instrumentation into the contact lens production environment. The project will result in two major outcomes: 1) implementation of a robust production-environment instrument to effectively provide micrometer-level resolution in all three dimensions and quantification of yield-relevant contact lens quality metrics not previously available in a single instrument; and 2) demonstration of the technology for inspection in a production environment to rapidly and accurately monitor defects and quantify contact lens quality using product relevant metrics. This nondestructive, on-line optical inspection system can have significant impact not only on the process control and thereby yield of contact lenses, but also in manufacturing of layered materials in general, including polymers, plastics, and glass. Longer-term, the technology offers new paths for tissue imaging, guided surgery, and monitoring of eye disease.