Integrated photonics for mobile applications
In ophthalmology, OCT is a widespread and non-invasive imaging technique. The use of photonic integrated circuit technology in OCT can benefit from significant size and cost reductions by a high degree of integration.
The technological core of the project, the integrated photonic chip, is designed by researchers from AIT and imec and processed at the fab at imec. Its packaging and interfacing are realized by researchers from Tyndall National Institute which includes the at-chip microfabrication of freeform optics that is developed by Nanoscribe.
Moreover, researchers from Innolume develop a novel akinetically tunable light source that is another key component of the technology. The packaged photonic chip and the light source are integrated in a handheld ophthalmic system that is developed and realized by Carl Zeiss with the support of researchers at the Medical University of Vienna. The handheld system requires a high degree of integration and miniaturization of all the optics, mechanics and electronics, necessary for its clinical evaluation at the Medical University.