InGaAs Camera

What InGaAs cameras do is bridge a gap. In the NIR (near infrared) wavelengths in the 950-1700 nm, where silicon detectors lose their sensitivity, the InGaAs sensors shine, offering the experienced user splendid image contrast and quality.

InGaAs cameras lend themselves well to Optical coherence tomography; a non-invasive spectroscopy technique that has been in use for the past two decades. With longer wavelengths in the IR spectrum, living tissue can now be studied in detailed cross sections, penetrating ever deeper into the human body.

OCT is used in dermatology and dentistry to capture cross-sections of lower, hidden layers of living tissue without physical contact or surgically invasive procedures. For example, it can be used for detection of skin cancer, in its early, more treatable stages.

OCT imaging is projected to increasingly change established medical procedures in the upcoming years. However, expansion of its current applications requires the integration of technical advances into validated protocols.

For example, CMOS or CCD image sensors simply cannot detect near-infrared spectral signals, since their sensitivity is limited to the visible spectrum. InGaAs sensors, in contrast, can achieve much higher SWIR sensitivity.

The InGaAs sensor sensitivity extends deep into the NIR (SWIR). They cover a range of wavelengths between 0.9 µm and 1.7 µm, far beyond the reach of CMOS and CCD. Second, ROIC optimizes the analog signal pre-processing by complementing it with integrated digital functionality.

For biomedical applications there are two further considerations: Light must penetrate as deeply as possible into the tissue, and speed and spectral resolution are essential to overcome spectrometric interference.

To learn more about the exciting possibilities opened up by the InGaAs cameras, and explore your options for integrating them into your own intended applications, contact Merkel today!