Wasatch Photonics launches Cobra OCT spectrometer with USB 3.0 interface

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., LOGAN, Utah and DURHAM, N.C. - Professionals using optical coherence tomography (OCT) for imaging applications in areas like ophthalmology, dermatology and material inspection may benefit from a new spectrometer to be demonstrated in San Francisco from Feb. 1-6.

Wasatch Photonics Inc. has launched the Cobra OCT spectrometer, which provides a USB 3.0 interface. Nishant Mohan, director of product management, said the interface improves accessibility and reduces expense for OCT technology.

"Cobra is the first OCT spectrometer that provides the USB 3.0 interface, to our knowledge. This will allow users to do away with expensive camera link cards that were necessary with previous models," he said. "Introducing this spectrometer is an important step in making OCT technology more accessible."

Mohan said Cobra spectrometers are used in spectral-domain OCT. They employ volume phase holographic gratings along with custom optics and electronics design for OCT imaging.

"The high speeds of such spectrometers have so far required the use of an expensive camera link interface," he said. "Recent developments in USB 3.0 have allowed high-speed connections over this popular interface. Wasatch Photonics is using this development to combine the convenience of USB with the performance of Cobra spectrometers as well as our line of Stroker Raman spectrometers."

Mohan said the Cobra OCT spectrometer has been custom designed to provide robust performance.

"Cobra spectrometers have tall pixels, 200 and 500 micrometers high, with options of 2048 and 4096 pixel arrays," he said. "They provide acquisition rates of 40 KHz and 80 KHz."

Wasatch Photonics executives will demonstrate Cobra OCT spectrometers, Raman and Florescence spectrometers at BiOS & SPIE Photonics West at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The company will be at booth #8300 for BiOS, and in South Hall at booth #300 for SPIE Photonics West.

"Spectral-domain OCT is one of the fastest-growing optical diagnostics techniques over the past decade," Mohan said. "It is widely accepted as a critical diagnostic tool in ophthalmology. The annual market size is stated to be more than $300 million."

Wasatch Photonics headquarters are in Logan, Utah. It also has locations in Research Triangle Park in North Carolina and Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette in Indiana.

About Wasatch Photonics Inc.

Founded in 2002, Wasatch Photonics Inc. designs, manufactures and markets high-performance Raman spectrometers, Optical Coherence Tomography systems, and enhanced holographic optics for optical networking, spectroscopy, test and measurement, and medical imaging applications. Their high-performance Volume Holographic Optic Elements and gratings are used in a diverse set of industries, including those in the defense and security, chemical manufacturing, pharmaceutical, medical, energy, education, computer, and electronics markets. Their products are based on proprietary holographic recording media and processing technologies.

About Purdue Research Park

The Purdue Research Park, with four locations across Indiana, has the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The park network is home to about 240 companies that employ about 4,500 people and are located in West Lafayette, Indianapolis, Merrillville and New Albany.

Purdue Research Park contact: Steve Martin, 765-588-3342, sgmartin@prf.org