Numerical analysis of one-shot full-range FD-OCT system based on orthogonally polarized light

Full-range Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) is generally achieved using a phase shifting algorithm. A novel design is presented for a one-shot full-range Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) system utilizing orthogonally polarized light. The phase-shifted interferograms required to reconstruct the sample structure are obtained using an apochromatic quarter-wave retarder rather than a mechanical scanning operation, and thus the imaging results are free of vibrational-induced errors. The numerical analysis shows that it enhances the quality of high resolution FD-OCT and reduces the acquisition time. Moreover, the simulation results show that the proposed system is robust toward both the presence of noise in the power spectrum of the super luminescent diode (SLD) and a slight non-orthogonality of the two light beams incident on the spectrum analyzers, respectively.     

Imaging through scattering medium by recording 3D “spatial-frequential” interferograms

Speed acquisition for image formation process through scattering medium is a challenge in optical coherence tomography (OCT) approach. Besides time domain (TD), spectral Fourier domain (FD) is now widely studied. By using a swept laser source, we demonstrate that a particular time domain OCT method (optical SISAM correlator) can be simultaneously implemented in a single set-up with the corresponding Fourier domain OCT approach (spectral interferometry). Then, FD-OCT and TD-OCT signals are obtained by processing a 3D “spatial-frequential” interferences pattern. We show that these two numerical approaches can be complementary when imaging in scattering medium is achieved.     

Real-time quadrature projection complex conjugate resolved Fourier domain optical coherence tomography

We present a novel algorithm for full-range imaging by suppression of the complex conjugate artifact in phase-shifting Fourier domain optical coherence tomography. This technique utilizes the projection of multiple phase-shifted interferograms onto an orthogonal basis set to reconstruct the complex interferogram. Full-range imaging with >30 dB suppression of the symmetric artifact is demonstrated using a 3 x 3 fiber coupler swept source OCT system, providing a depth range of 6.6mm with -8 dB roll-off in sensitivity at the depth boundaries relative to DC. Real-time display of full-range images of the anterior segment of the human eye acquired in vivo at a line rate of 6.67 kHz are presented.     

Jones Matrix Imaging of Biological Samples Using Parallel-Detecting Polarization-Sensitive Fourier Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

A polarization-sensitive Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (PS-FD-OCT) system has been developed. By using a two-dimensional CCD camera, this PS-FD-OCT simultaneously obtains two spectral interferograms corresponding to orthogonal polarization components of a probing beam. FD-OCT avoids axial mechanical scanning, therefore, two OCT images are obtained by a single lateral scanning. This system requires only two one-dimensional scannings for determining the Müller matrix images of a sample. In the Müller matrix images, the birefringence properties of the inner surface of a porcine esophagus are revealed.     

A new spectral calibration method for Fourier domain optical coherence tomography

Spectral calibration is important for a Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) system. A new spectral calibration method for FD-OCT is presented. Through the iterated mapping of spectral interferograms detected by an optical spectrum analyzer and the CCD grating spectrometer, multiple groups of calibration coefficients are obtained. By comparing the effects of these coefficients on improving the amplitude of the axial point spread function (PSF), optimum coefficients are obtained. In this method, no additional calibration laser source is needed, reducing the complexity of the system. The cross-sectional images of a glass plate in milk are acquired, and the experimental results indicate that the axial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are effectively improved with the proposed spectral calibration method.     

正弦相位调制的频域光学相干层析成像

提出一种基于正弦相位调制的频域光学相干层析成像,利用正弦相位调制干涉术探测复频域干涉条纹的实部和虚部,重建复频域干涉条纹。对该复频域干涉条纹作逆傅里叶变换后,消除了频域光学相干层析成像中存在的复共轭镜像以及直流背景和自相干噪声。对玻璃片样品进行了层析成像实验。实验结果表明,采用正弦相位调制的频域光学相干层析成像,将可利用的成像深度范围扩大到原来的2倍,实现了全深度探测的频域光学相干层析成像。     

High resolution optical coherence tomography by ?1-optimization

An algebraic optical coherence tomography (OCT) method is presented in this paper for high resolution tomography imaging. The method achieves high resolution by formulating the frequency domain OCT (FD-OCT) into a ?₁-optimization based algebraic reconstruction problem. The performance of the proposed algebraic method is evaluated by simulation and experiment, and compared to the FD-OCT method. It is shown that the proposed method can deliver high resolution beyond the coherence length and imaging depth bigger than the ones of the FD-OCT method. The computational load is greatly reduced compared to the traditional algebraic reconstruction methods.     

In-focus Fourier-domain Optical Coherence Tomography by Complex Numerical Method

We introduce a numerical in-focus Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography(in-focus FD-OCT) which can measure cross-sectional images of samples with the high lateral resolution comparable with the resolution in the focal plane in overall range of measurement. In this method, the lateral resolution is enhanced by lateral signal processing of a complex OCT image obtained with FD-OCT. Quantitative evaluation of this method and application to measurement of a porcine eyeball are presented.     

Use of a scanner to modulate spatial interferograms for in vivo full-range Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography

We report a new yet simple method to achieve full-range complex Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) for in vivo imaging. The method utilizes a scanner that is dedicated for lateral scanning in the system to introduce a constant carrier frequency into the OCT spectral interferograms during the scanning. This is achieved by simply offsetting the sampling beam spot away from the pivot point of the scanning mirror. We demonstrate the method experimentally for in vivo full-range imaging of the anterior segment of a human eye. The method is free from complex conjugate mirror image and self-cross-correlation image artifacts.     

Substance identification by depth resolved spectroscopic pattern reconstruction in frequency domain optical coherence tomography

We analyze a method to extract additional depth resolved spectroscopic information from frequency domain optical coherence tomography (FDOCT) data. The reconstruction of depth resolved spectra is obtained by a Fourier transform of the individual peaks in the complex FDOCT depth profiles. We demonstrate a validation of this concept with theoretical simulations and with accurate experimental studies on a multilayer sample with four different characteristic absorbers. The spatially resolved spectroscopic patterns of all individual sample layers are calculated from the depth resolved reconstructed spectra. With an additional pattern recognition algorithm, these reconstructed patterns are compared automatically to the spectral characteristics of the expected substances. This provides an allocation of the reconstructed spectra to the substances with high reliability. Thus, we present an automated substance identification directly from conventional FDOCT data, which increases significantly the information content of the image.     

In vivo sweat film layer thickness measured with Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT)

While human sweat secretion is accepted as a mechanism by which the body cools off, excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) is now appreciated as a medical condition and the primary site for diagnosis is the palm of the hand. We propose sweat film layer thickness as a potential clinical diagnostic parameter when screening for excessive sweating. In this preliminary study we demonstrate the usefulness of Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) for measurement of sweat film thickness in vivo with micron-scale resolution on the hand of a human volunteer. FD-OCT has a superior image acquisition time and identification of active sweat glands, ducts and pores is also possible.     

多面转镜激光器扫频光学相干层析成像系统的全光谱重采样方法

在多面转镜激光器扫频光学相干层析成像系统中,激光器存在着输出光谱错位与扫频范围波动的问题.目前的重采样方法中,普遍利用互相关运算校正光谱错位,并进行大范围的截取,保证扫频范围的一致性,但这会导致成像信噪比与分辨率的降低.本文用马赫-曾德尔干涉仪(MZI)采集到的干涉信号对扫频范围波动的问题进行了详细的测量与分析,其中干涉信号的解缠相位曲线的非随机性和平行性,表明该类激光器输出光谱的波长分布具备一致性.在此基础上,提出了一种用最长扫频范围的MZI干涉信号,对样品干涉信号进行时域光谱对齐、然后进行一对多插值的重采样方法.实验与分析表明,该方法利用了所有的光谱信号,保证了样品干涉信号的能量利用率,能有效提高图像的信噪比与分辨率.     

用于频域光学相干层析成像的深度分辨色散补偿方法

提出一种深度分辨的色散补偿方法,用于增强频域光学相干层析成像的纵向分辨率。将频域光学相干层析成像采集的干涉谱信号傅里叶变换到空域,获取对应不同深度的干涉谱条纹相位,通过对其进行调整实现对被测样品不同深度处的色散的精确补偿。避免传统方法中采用统一色散系数进行色散补偿所带来的过补偿与欠补偿误差,可以有效消除色散引起的频域光学相干层析成像系统点扩展函数的展宽和扭曲。模拟和实验结果表明,基于深度分辨的色散补偿方法在样品的全深度探测范围内可以达到较佳的补偿效果,可有效提高光学相干层析成像系统的纵向分辨率。     

Fast scanning transmissive delay line for optical coherence tomography

A novel Fourier domain fast scanning optical delay line is proposed in which the walk-off is eliminated by only two passes through a diffraction grating. Working in transmission, the novel delay line is ideal for balanced optical coherence tomography configurations with recirculation of the reference beam. We evaluate theoretically and experimentally its walk-off and dispersion compensation capabilities.     

Fourier domain optical coherence tomography with a linear-in-wavenumber spectrometer

We describe Fourier domain optical coherence tomography equipped with a novel linear-in-wavenumber spectrometer. The presented device linearizes the spectral dispersion of the spectrometer in wavenumber using a specifically designed prism. The spectral linearity in wavenumber makes numerical interpolation into wavenumber unnecessary, reduces computing time, and furthermore results in improvement of the falloff of signal with image range inherent to frequency-domain optical coherence tomography imaging. Experiments demonstrate the improvement of the falloff and agree with the expected results from simulation.     

Complex ambiguity-free Fourier domain optical coherence tomography through transverse scanning

We introduce a simple and cheap method for phase-shifting Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FDOCT) that does not need additional devices and can easily be implemented. A small beam offset at the fast beam-scanning mirror introduces a causal phase shift, which can be used for B-scan-based complex image reconstruction. We derive the conditions for optimal conjugate suppression and demonstrate the method on human skin in vivo for spectrometer-based FDOCT operating at 1300 nm employing a handheld scanner.     

Artifact removal in Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography with a piezoelectric fiber stretcher

We describe an artifact removal setup swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) system that enables high-speed full-range imaging. We implement a piezoelectric fiber stretcher to generate a periodic phase shift between successive A-scans, thus introducing a transverse modulation. The depth ambiguity is then resolved by performing a Fourier filtering in the transverse direction before processing the data in the axial direction. The dc artifact is also removed. The key factor is that the piezoelectric fiber stretcher can be used to generate discrete phase shifts with a high repetition rate. The proposed experimental setup is a much improved version of the previously reported B-M mode scanning for spectral-domain OCT in that it does not generate additional artifacts. It is a simple and low-cost solution for artifact removal that can easily be applied.     

基于受激辐射信号的谱域光学相干层析分子成像方法

鉴于不同生理病理状态下组织复折射率实部的变化不大,传统光学相干层析(OCT)成像技术在分子特异性识别上存在先天不足.为此,本文提出了基于受激辐射信号的OCT成像方法,可在实现传统散射成像的同时,实现基于受激辐射信号的分子成像.在超高分辨率谱域OCT系统的基础上,通过增设光谱分光与调制抽运光支路,建立了基于单宽谱光源的抽运探测谱域OCT系统,详细推导了调制抽运下受激辐射信号的获取与成像公式.利用搭建的抽运探测谱域OCT系统,实现了瞬态受激辐射信号的相干探测.基于同时获取的受激辐射OCT信号和传统OCT信号,成功重构了氮化物粉末构建样品的基于受激辐射信号的分子对比OCT图像.     

Full range complex ultrahigh sensitive optical microangiography

This Letter presents a useful method that combines the full range complex Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) with the ultrahigh sensitive optical microangiography (OMAG) to achieve full range complex imaging of blood flow within microcirculatory tissue beds in vivo. We propose to use the fast scanning axis to realize the full range complex imaging, while using the slow axis to achieve OMAG imaging of blood flow. We demonstrate the proposed method by using a high speed 1310?nm OCT/OMAG system running at 92?kHz line scan rate to image the flow phantoms in vitro, and the blood flows in tissue beds in vivo.     

Structured interference optical coherence tomography

We developed a structured interference optical coherence tomography (SIOCT) to enhance the lateral resolution beyond the diffraction limit. A sinusoidal pattern is created on the interferometric beam with the reference intensity temporally modulated. In the Fourier domain, the high spatial frequencies are shifted into the detectable range, which enhances the lateral resolution beyond the diffraction limit by a factor of 2. The lateral resolution of SIOCT was characterized in our study as ～5.5 μm, surpassing the diffraction limit ～9.6 μm as in conventional Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography. SIOCT was demonstrated on phantoms and ex vivo adipose tissues.