Photonic Integration
Platform
Our core technology miniaturizes complex optical systems onto a single silicon chip, enabling a new generation of OCT devices.
PIC-OCT
PIC-OCT Architecture
Conventional swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) systems rely on a complex assembly of discrete optical components—including a tunable swept laser, fiber couplers, Mach–Zehnder interferometers (MZI) and k-clock reference paths, balanced photodetectors, and extensive fiber routing. These components must be individually aligned and packaged with high precision, resulting in systems that are bulky, costly, and difficult to scale or miniaturize.
Gateway Photonics replaces this discrete optical assembly with a monolithic photonic integrated circuit (PIC). Leveraging mature CMOS-compatible fabrication, optical waveguides and interferometric structures are lithographically defined and etched directly into silicon with nanometer-scale precision. This integration collapses the core OCT optical engine onto a single chip, enabling dramatic reductions in size, cost, and assembly complexity while improving stability, reproducibility, and manufacturability.
Broadband Waveguides
Ultra-low loss silicon nitride waveguides designed for broad spectral bandwidth, ensuring high-resolution imaging across the entire OCT tuning range.
Low-Loss Edge Couplers
Optimized spot-size converters that minimize coupling loss between the chip and external optical fibers, maximizing system sensitivity.
Interferometer
On-chip Mach-Zehnder interferometer with precise path length matching, eliminating the need for manual alignment and enhancing phase stability.
Parallel OCT Channels
Scalable architecture supporting multiple simultaneous imaging channels for faster volumetric scanning and increased throughput.
k-Clock
Integrated linear-k clock generation for real-time data resampling, removing the need for post-processing linearization.
Balanced Photodetectors
High-bandwidth, low-noise balanced photodiodes integrated directly onto the chip for superior signal-to-noise ratio.
High-Speed Tunable Laser
Next-generation integrated tunable laser source (currently in development) to complete the fully monolithic OCT engine.
Designed for Integration
Our platform is built to be the universal optical engine for any OCT application. We handle the complex photonics so you can focus on clinical value.
Seamless Integration
Standardized electrical and optical interfaces make integration straightforward. Drop our chip into your system and start imaging.
Oncology
Real-time, intraoperative margin assessment. Surgeons can visualize tumor boundaries at the cellular level without waiting for pathology.
Dermatology
Non-invasive "optical biopsy" of skin lesions. Early detection of melanoma and monitoring of inflammatory skin conditions.
Neurology
High-resolution imaging of neural tissue structure. Applications in neurosurgery guidance and research into neurodegenerative diseases.