Technology
Tracking Laser Tomography – Two Technologies in One Device
SPECTRALIS® is the combination of confocal scanning laser fundus imaging and Spectral-Domain OCT imaging. Actively guiding the OCT scan in real-time creates a new type of imaging: Tracking Laser Tomography.
Any of the five fundus imaging modalities available on the system can be used to direct the Spectral-Domain OCT to an area of interest or across the entire posterior pole. This multi-modality imaging technology gives unprecedented insights into structure and function of the retina.
The Precision of Active Eye Tracking
SPECTRALIS utilizes two separate beams of light to capture two images simultaneously. One beam constantly tracks and images the fundus. It also acts as a reference, guiding the OCT beam. Active Eye Tracking “locks” the OCT to the fundus. The precise alignment of blood vessels from fundus image to the corresponding OCT scan gives the proof.
Active Eye Tracking is of critical importance in 3D volume scans which are susceptible to eye motion artifact.
Active Eye Tracking Makes the Difference
Tracking Change Over Time with AutoRescan™ Knowing where the scan is taken the first time is important; knowing where the scan is taken at follow-up is critical. Using the fundus image like a fingerprint, SPECTRALIS automatically places follow-up scans in precisely the same location.
Eliminating subjective placement of follow-up scans is important for optimizing patient flow and for confidently identifying small change.
Blood vessel alignment across all visits demonstrates precise rescan placement.
Smallest Measurable Change
Reliability of measurements is crucial to accurate diagnosis and effective management of glaucoma and retinal diseases. Active Eye Tracking makes the difference when it comes to repeatability and reproducibility of OCT measurements. In a head-to-head comparison of OCT instruments, SPECTRALIS had the lowest variability and smallest measurable change of 1 micron.
In Vivo Optical Histology
The Insight of Heidelberg Noise Reduction™
TruTrack Active Eye Tracking enables the capture of multiple images in the exact same location. The automatic real time (ART) combination of these images allows for effective discrimination between image “noise” and true signals from real tissue structures. Noise is effectively eliminated and the result are images of outstanding contrast and detail.
Case 1: AMD – Exudative age-related macular degeneration with intraretinal fluid,
retinal pigment epithelial and photoreceptor disruption.
Case 2: Best’s Disease – Presenting with a highly reflective nodular lesion protruding into the subretinal space; photoreceptor disruption on each side of the lesion and subtle areas of subretinal and intraretinal fluid are clearly displayed.
Case 3: CNV with PED – Exudative macular degeneration manifest by a serous
pigment epithelial detachment with overlying subretinal fluid.
Case 4: RAP Lesion – Precise location of retinal angiomatous proliferation
(retinal choroidal anastomosis) breaking through RPE, above a PED.
Case 5: CME – Cystoid macular edema with clear delineation of affected layers of the retina, including subtle subretinal fluid, prominent accumulation of fluid in the outer plexiform layer, and subtle cystic changes in the inner plexiform layer.
Case 6: Macular Hole – Stage 3 macular hole demonstrating full thickness macular defect, subtle intraretinal cystic changes, and attachment of the posterior hyaloid on the edge of the hole.
Confocal Imaging Blocks the Haze
Confocal imaging is the process of shining light on an object, then capturing reflected light by passing the light through a pinhole. The pinhole blocks light not coming from the plane or layer of interest and blocks scattered light which can “fog” the image. The result is focused, high resolution images without glare.
