Polarization Sensitive Spectral Interferometric Optical Coherence Tomography for Biological Samples

A spectral interferometric optical coherence tomography (OCT) system which has polarization sensitivity is developed. This system reduces the mechanical scanning dimension by employing the principle of spectral interferometry, and measures a two dimensional cross-sectional image of biological tissue with one dimensional mechanical scanning. Sixteen OCT images with different polarization conditions are measured, and two dimensional distributions of each element of the Müller matrix of a sample to be measured are calculated.     

Polarization-Sensitive Spectral Interferometric Optical Coherence Tomography for Human Skin Imaging

Polarization-sensitive spectral interferometric optical coherence tomography (PS-SI-OCT) is designed for imaging of the inner structure of a biological tissue with polarization properties corresponding to Müller matrix elements. With arbitrary polarization state of incident and reference light, the change of polarization state can be acquired, and the axial structure of the tissue is measured by single detection of the power spectrum, superposition of object and reference light. Using with this OCT system, a cross-sectional Müller matrix images of human skin can be observed.     

OCT图像法测量折射率

基于光程匹配原理提出了一种用光学相干断层成像(OCT)系统获得的图像测量样品折射率的方法。通过分析光程匹配原理,给出用OCT图像法测量样品折射率的原理及过程。以玻璃载波片和黄瓜组织为样品进行实验。实验结果表明,用OCT图像法获得的载玻片和黄瓜组织的折射率测量值分别为1.499和1.353,与发表或已知的折射率结果相吻合,测试结果的随机误差可小于0.01。另外,使用OCT图像法通过短时间所采集的两幅图像可对横向扫描任意位置的折射率同时进行测量。该方法进一步简化了基于光程匹配原理的折射率测量法的过程,缩短了测量时间,是一种快速测量样品折射率的实用方法。     

Process Algorithms for Resolution Improvement and Contrast Enhancement in Optical Coherence Tomography

We proposed two process algorithms for resolution improvement and contrast enhancement in the images of optical coherence tomography (OCT). An OCT system with a non-Gaussian light source spectrum or dispersion mismatch usually results in sidelobes in the interference fringe envelope that may produce artifacts and reduce image contrast. Based on the concept of deconvolution, we proposed two different process algorithms and demonstrated their effectiveness in retrieving sample structures. The effects of the process algorithms were examined by numerical simulations and real OCT scanning images. After processing with the proposed procedures, the effects of sidelobes were tremendously suppressed and the image qualities were improved.     

幅值和相位配准技术及其在光学相干层析血流成像中的应用

频域光学相干层析系统中扫描机构定位精度、 机械抖动及样品移动会造成A扫描信号幅值和相位发生波动, 影响生物组织成像质量. 利用最小灰度差匹配、Lorentzian曲线极值拟合和谱域光程差补偿等方法对A 扫描信号进行幅值配准. 通过对A扫描信号相位分布特征的匹配实现相位差检测与配准. 通过求已配准的A 扫描复信号之差, 消除静态组织对血流成像的影响. 进行了人眼扫描实验, 有效提取了视网膜三维血流图像. 实验结果表明, 提出的幅值及相位配准方法大大减小了系统扫描精度、人眼跳动等因素对生物组织在体成像质量的影响. 快速、精确的相位配准方法也可广泛应用在多普勒OCT、相位显微等与相位分辨有关的光学成像领域. 关键词： 频域光学相干层析 配准 血流成像 相位分布特征     

Birefringence imaging of human skin by polarization-sensitive spectral interferometric optical coherence tomography

We have developed a spectral interferometric optical coherence tomography (OCT) system with polarization sensitivity that is able to measure a two-dimensional tomographic image by means of one-dimensional mechanical scanning. Our system, which has an axial resolution of 32 mum , calculates the distribution of each element of the Müller matrix of a measured object from 16 OCT images. The OCT system successfully reveals the birefringent nature of human skin tissue.     

线照明并行谱域光学相干层析成像系统与缺陷检测应用研究

针对玻璃缺陷在线无损检测的迫切需求,本文报道了一种基于线照明并行谱域光学相干层析成像系统的大视场检测系统.该系统采用快速面阵CMOS相机,单次拍摄即可获取完整的横截面(B-scan)图像.基于线照明面阵探测器的并行谱域光学相干层析成像系统,可以同时获取沿线照明方向各位置处的深度分辨信息,避免了横向扫描机构的应用.研制系统的轴向分辨率为17.9μm,并行方向上的横向分辨率55.7μm,扫描方向上的横向分辨率为24.8μm,轴向扫描速率为128 000 A-scan/s,横向视场为32 mm,空气中成像深度大于6 mm,成像灵敏度达到62 dB以上.利用研制的线照明并行谱域光学相干层析成像系统,开展了不同类型玻璃表面及其内部缺陷的检测应用研究.     

扫频光学相干层析视网膜图像配准去噪算法

多帧叠加平均处理是去除扫频光学相干层析系统散斑噪声、获得较为清晰结构信息的有效方法,但眼睛的震颤、漂移、微眼跳等生理特性和系统光路特性会使图像之间存在错位,导致叠加效果不佳、结构稳定性差,为此本文提出一种基于灰度分布信息和目标几何信息相结合的配准算法。该方法根据图像平均灰度分布提取包含目标信息的感兴趣区域,通过相位相关算法和基于分段拟合的灰度投影算法的双重作用校正图像的平移变换;通过拟合视网膜上边界作为特征点迭代确定最佳旋转参数,并再次重新估计平移参数,实现图像的刚性配准;最后通过轴向扫描一对一映射法以能量函数为约束条件实现图像的非刚性配准。对活体兔眼进行实验,结果表明,本文算法配准后的叠加图像边界清晰,结构信息增强,信噪比和对比度平均有效提高一倍多。本算法适用于强噪声视网膜B-Scans图像的配准,能满足多种类型OCT系统的叠加成像需要,具有较高的鲁棒性和图像配准精度。     

New Phase-Shifting Method Using Two Images

We propose a continuous two-step method (CTSM) to obtain an image from two interference images for the measurement time reduction of optical coherence tomography. Image processing is performed for each pixel in CTSM. The calculated signal intensity has an average and standard deviation after processing since the heterodyne beat signal contains the noise in the measurements. We assume that the heterodyne beat signal contains the random noise in simulations and calculate the influence of the normalized standard deviation (NSD = standard deviation/average) on the random noise intensity for both CTSM and the conventional three-step method (TSM). We found that the NSD of the CTSM is only 1.4 times greater than that of the TSM despite processing only two images.     

Optical coherence tomography based particle image velocimetry (OCT-PIV) of polymer flows

The measurement of spatially resolved velocity distributions is crucial for modelling flow and for understanding properties of materials produced in extrusion processes. Traditional methods for flow visualization such as particle image velocimetry (PIV) rely on optically transparent media and cannot be applied to turbid polymer melts. Here we present optical coherence tomography as an imaging technique for PIV data processing that allows for measuring a sequence of time resolved images even in turbid media. Time-resolved OCT images of a glass-fibre polymer compound were acquired during an extrusion process in a slit die. The images are post-processed by ensemble cross-correlation to calculate spatially resolved velocity vector fields. The results compared well with velocity data obtained by Doppler-OCT. Overall, this new technique (OCT-PIV) represents an important extension of PIV to turbid materials by the use of OCT.     

光学相干层析成像系统的实验研究

介绍了作者研究建立的光学相干层析（ＯＣＴ）成像系统,给出了利用该系统得以的实际生物样品光学相干层析图像,并对系统性能和结果作了分析,讨论了影响系统性能的一些因素及改进方法。     

Weber electrodynamics,part II unipolar induction,Z-antenna

Weber electrodynamics predicts the localized unipolar induction observed by Müller and Kennard; whereas the Maxwell theory, based upon closed current loops and the flux rule, fails. The Weber theory for high frequency fields predicts a zero self torque on the Pappas-Vaughan Z-antenna, as observed. In contrast, the Maxwell theory predicts a sizeable self torque which is not observed.     

Dual observers in operational relativity

We give a tensor formulation of synchronization transformations within special relativity in order to bridge the gap between some philosophical discussions (e.g., by Grünbaum and Winnie) and the analyses given by physicists (e.g., Møller). As an application, we discuss a physical interpretation of the duality between covariant and contravariant indices in the tensor formulation.     

新型成像技术的实验系统研究

光学相干层析成像是一种新型成像技术。超辐射发光二极管和超短脉冲飞秒激光是能满足成像系统要求的理想光源。在开展光学相干层析相关技术研究的基础上 ,建立了国内第一台上述两种光源的成像实验研究装置 ,对系统的横向、纵向分辨率等基本性能进行了测定 ;并对多种实际样品进行了层析成像。     

Quantitative assessment of touch-screen panel by nondestructive inspection with three-dimensional real-time display optical coherence tomography

We investigated the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to measure several materials immersed in optical adhesives. The effects of variations in the concentration, physical characteristics, and thickness of the materials were studied, and these parameters were found to significantly affect the OCT measurement. The materials were selected for their distinct spectral properties in the infrared region. To ensure reliability, we acquired images using a scanning electron microscope after performing the semiconductor production process. We verified the feasibility of the application of OCT for defect inspection and product verification of touch-screen panels.     

Quadrature fringes wide-field optical coherence tomography and its applications to biological tissues

We propose and demonstrate quadrature fringes wide-field optical coherence tomography (QF WF OCT) to expand an optical Hilbert transformation to two-dimensions. This OCT simultaneously measures two quadrature interference images using a single InGaAs CCD camera to obtain en face OCT images. The axial and lateral resolutions are measured at 29 μm in air and 70 μm limited by a pixel size of camera using a superluminescent diode with a wavelength of 1.3 μm as the light source; the system sensitivity is determined to be −90 dB. The area of the en face OCT images is 4.0 mm × 4.0 mm (160 × 160  pixels). The OCT images are measured axially with steps of 10 μm. The en face OCT images of a in vivo human fingertip and a in situ rat brain are three-dimensionally measured up to the depth of about 3 mm with some degradations of a lateral resolution.     

Foveal Pit Morphology Characterization: A Quantitative Analysis of the Key Methodological Steps

Disentangling the cellular anatomy that gives rise to human visual perception is one of the main challenges of ophthalmology. Of particular interest is the foveal pit, a concave depression located at the center of the retina that captures light from the gaze center. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in studying the morphology of the foveal pit by extracting geometrical features from optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. Despite this, research has devoted little attention to comparing existing approaches for two key methodological steps: the location of the foveal center and the mathematical modelling of the foveal pit. Building upon a dataset of 185 healthy subjects imaged twice, in the present paper the image alignment accuracy of four different foveal center location methods is studied in the first place. Secondly, state-of-the-art foveal pit mathematical models are compared in terms of fitting error, repeatability, and bias. The results indicate the importance of using a robust foveal center location method to align images. Moreover, we show that foveal pit models can improve the agreement between different acquisition protocols. Nevertheless, they can also introduce important biases in the parameter estimates that should be considered.     

光学相干断层扫描成像新技术OCT

光学相干层析成像技术（optical coherence tomography,简称OCT）是一种新型成像方法,在生物医学和材料等许多领域有广泛的应用。本文介绍了OCT的基本原理,并给出了用该装置对生物组织样品的成像结果。此外还用计算机图像处理的方法,使得图像分辨率得到了进一步提高。     

Spatial and temporal coherence effects in interference microscopy and full‐field optical coherence tomography

Low‐coherence optical microscopy or optical coherence microscopy uses light with short coherence length. The well‐known case is: “white‐light interferometry”, which became recently more known as: “optical coherence tomography”. However, when lenses and microscope objectives are used to create interferometric images, in what is known classically as “interference microscopy” or today as “full‐field optical coherence tomography” the spatial coherence starts to play a critical role. In this article the coherence effects in low‐coherence optical microscopy are reviewed. As this technology is becoming increasingly publicized due to its importance in three‐dimensional imaging, particularly of scattering biological media and optical metrology, the understanding of the fundamental physics behind it is essential. The interplay between longitudinal spatial coherence and temporal coherence and the effects associated with them are discussed in detail particularly when high numerical apertures are used. An important conclusion of this study is that a high‐contrast, high‐resolution system for imaging of multilayered samples is the one that uses narrowband illumination and high‐NA objectives with an index‐matching fluid. Such a system, when combined with frequency‐domain operation, can reveal nearly real‐time three‐dimensional images, and is thus competitive with confocal microscopy.     

Can ultrasonic sound attenuation measurements elucidate the coupling of “Heavy electrons” to the lattice?

An unusual peak has been found by Müller et al. for the attenuation of longitudinal sound as a function of temperature around 12 K for UPt₃. Breathing mode coupling of the volume strain to the electronic energy states of a narrow band of high density at the fermi energy seems to be the origin of this peak.