Optical coherence tomography

About: Optical coherence tomography is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 19051 publications have been published within this topic receiving 477433 citations. The topic is also known as: optical coherent tomography.

Long-wavelength optical coherence tomography at 1.7 µm for enhanced imaging depth

Abstract: Multiple scattering in a sample presents a significant limitation to achieve meaningful structural information at deeper penetration depths in optical coherence tomography (OCT). Previous studies suggest that the spectral region around 1.7 µm may exhibit reduced scattering coefficients in biological tissues compared to the widely used wavelengths around 1.3 µm. To investigate this long-wavelength region, we developed a wavelength-swept laser at 1.7 µm wavelength and conducted OCT or optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) for the first time in this spectral range. The constructed laser is capable of providing a wide tuning range from 1.59 to 1.75 µm over 160 nm. When the laser was operated with a reduced tuning range over 95 nm at a repetition rate of 10.9 kHz and an average output power of 12.3 mW, the OFDI imaging system exhibited a sensitivity of about 100 dB and axial and lateral resolution of 24 µm and 14 µm, respectively. We imaged several phantom and biological samples using 1.3 µm and 1.7 µm OFDI systems and found that the depth-dependent signal decay rate is substantially lower at 1.7 µm wavelength in most, if not all samples. Our results suggest that this imaging window may offer an advantage over shorter wavelengths by increasing the penetration depths as well as enhancing image contrast at deeper penetration depths where otherwise multiple scattered photons dominate over ballistic photons.

Precision of measurement of tissue optical properties with optical coherence tomography

Abstract: Accurate and noninvasive measurement of tissue optical properties can be used for biomedical diagnostics and monitoring of tissue analytes. Noninvasive measurement of tissue optical properties (total attenuation and scattering coefficients, optical thickness, etc.) can be performed with the optical coherence tomography (OCT) technique. However, speckle noise substantially deteriorates the accuracy of the measurements with this technique. We studied suppression of speckle noise for accurate measurement of backscattering signal and scattering coefficient with the OCT technique. Our results demonstrate that the precision of measurement of backscattering signals with the OCT technique can be 0.2% for homogeneously scattering media and 0.7% for skin, if spatial averaging of speckle noise is applied. This averaging allows us to achieve the precision of tissue scattering coefficient measurements of approximately ±0.8%. This precision can be further improved by a factor of 2–3, upon optimization of OCT operating parameters.

Dual-axis confocal microscope for high-resolution in vivo imaging

Abstract: We describe a novel confocal microscope that uses separate low-numerical-aperture objectives with the illumination and collection axes crossed at angle θ from the midline. This architecture collects images in scattering media with high transverse and axial resolution, long working distance, large field of view, and reduced noise from scattered light. We measured transverse and axial (FWHM) resolution of 1.3 and 2.1 μm, respectively, in free space, and confirm subcellular resolution in excised esophageal mucosa. The optics may be scaled to millimeter dimensions and fiber coupled for collection of high-resolution images in vivo.

Slit-lamp-adapted optical coherence tomography of the anterior segment.

Abstract: · Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of a slit-lamp-adapted optical coherence tomography (OCT) system as an in vivo imaging device for routine clinical examination of the anterior segment of the eye. · Patients and methods: In a pilot study, healthy volunteers and patients with different pathologies of the anterior segment were examined with a slit-lamp-adapted OCT system using 100–200 axial scans with 100-Hz line-scan frequency. The scan length is variable up to 7 mm, and the axial depth is 1.5 mm in tissue. · Results: The slit-lamp-adapted OCT system allowed direct biomicroscopic imaging of the measured area. Anatomic structures and morphological changes anterior to the attenuating iris pigment epithelium could be visualized with high accuracy. Biometric analyses of the cornea, the chamber angle, the iris and secondary cataract were possible. Complete demonstration of the chamber angle was difficult due to the backscattering properties of the anterior part of the sclera and the consequent shadowing of the most peripheral part of the iris. · Conclusions: Slit-lamp-adapted OCT is a useful diagnostic tool which allows in vivo microscopic cross-sectional imaging of the anterior segment and precise measurement of ocular structures.