Synthesized optical coherence tomography for imaging of scattering objects by use of a stepwise frequency-modulated tunable laser diode

A technique named synthesized optical coherence tomography (SOCT) has been proposed and developed as an alternative method to the well-known optical coherence tomography for cross-sectional imaging of scattering objects. SOCT is based on the principle of synthesis of an optical coherence function by use of a tunable laser diode. With stepwise frequency modulation of light and synchronous phase modulation, the coherence function is synthesized into a peak at an arbitrary location. The longitudinal scattering distribution of the object under test is thus obtained without a mechanically driven reference. Two-dimensional tomography was demonstrated in a basic experiment with a lateral mechanical scan.     

双光栅快速扫描光学延迟线的色散补偿

光学相干层析成像(OCT)系统的纵向分辨力不仅与光源的带宽有关,而且与系统中两干涉臂间的色散匹配有关。如果色散没有得到精确匹配,将使光学相干层析成像系统的纵向分辨力达不到所预期的理论值。色散问题在超高分辨光学相干层析成像系统中尤为突出。提出了一种基于双光栅快速扫描光学延迟线(RSOD),用于光学相干层析成像系统的色散补偿。该方法中新增的光栅引入了光栅间距这一独立变量,其与常规单光栅快速扫描光学延迟线机构中的光栅离焦量一起,可使光学相干层析成像系统中的群速度色散(GVD)和三阶色散(TOD)同时得到补偿。分析了双光栅快速扫描光学延迟线的色散特性和色散调节原则,并提供了一个典型光学相干层析成像系统中的色散补偿实例。     

Confocal enhanced optical coherence tomography for nondestructive evaluation of paints and coatings

We investigate confocal enhanced optical coherence tomography as a nondestructive evaluation tool for imaging with improved image contrast and depth resolution through a highly scattering paint layer. The depth responses provided by confocal microscopy, optical coherence tomography, and confocal enhanced optical coherence tomography for imaging through paint are investigated. We demonstrate that a new combination of confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography provides significantly improved resolution and contrast for coherence gated imaging of substrate structures under the paint.     

High-speed phase- and group-delay scanning with a grating-based phase control delay line

A rapid-scanning optical delay line that employs phase control has several advantages, including high speed, high duty cycle, phase- and group-delay independence, and group-velocity dispersion compensation, over existing optical delay methods for interferometric optical ranging applications. We discuss the grating-based phase-control delay line and its applications to interferometric optical ranging and measurement techniques such as optical coherence domain reflectometry and optical coherence tomography. The system performs optical ranging over an axial range of 3 mm with a scanning rate of 6m/s and a repetition rate of 2 kHz. The device is especially well suited for applications such as optical coherence tomography that require high-speed, repetitive, linear delay line scanning with a high duty cycle.     

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.     

Linear optical coherence tomography system with a downconverted fringe pattern

Linear optical coherence tomography (LOCT) systems are a simple and robust alternative to time-domain optical coherence tomography systems, but a detector with approximately 10(4) pixels is needed for an imaging depth of 2 mm. We present a new system for LOCT with a special mask attached to the image sensor. The mask essentially performs a downconversion of the spatial frequencies by multiplication with a second spatial frequency. This reduces the fringe frequency of the optical coherence tomography signal so that the signal can be sampled with fewer pixels.     

基于最优化线性波数光谱仪的谱域光学相干层析成像系统

相比传统光谱仪,基于线性波数光谱仪的谱域光学相干层析(OCT)无需对非线性波数干涉光谱数据进行重采样和插值,可大大减少数据计算量并提高成像灵敏度.通过模拟计算干涉光谱信号和点扩散函数,以点扩散函数半峰全宽值的倒数作为评价准则,可以优化包括色散棱镜材料的折射率、顶角角度以及衍射光栅和色散棱镜之间旋转角角度的线性波数光谱仪的结构参数.根据优化结果,实验中选用F2玻璃等边色散棱镜,以光栅-棱镜间旋转角角度为21.8°搭建了最优化线性波数光谱仪,并引入谱域OCT成像系统.实验测得成像系统的轴向分辨率达到8.52μm,灵敏度达到91 dB,6 dB成像深度达到1.2 mm.结合具有通用并行计算能力的图形处理卡,在无需重采样和插值的情况下可实时处理和显示人手指指甲皮肤接缝处的横断面OCT图像,验证了基于最优化线性波数光谱仪的谱域OCT系统的成像性能.     

金纳米星诊疗剂的光热特性及其在光热治疗和光学相干层析成像中的应用研究

为了开发一种优异的用于光热治疗和光学相干层析成像的金纳米星诊疗剂,对金纳米星的制备、光热特性以及光热治疗和光学相干层析成像中的应用进行研究.利用尖端结构增强金纳米材料的局域表面等离子体共振特性,通过种子介导法制备了多枝化的金纳米星,多尖端的结构使其具有明显的光热效果,并探究了其作为光热治疗的诊疗剂和光学相干层析成像造影...     

Spectral shaping to improve the point spread function in optical coherence tomography

We demonstrate inhibition of the sidelobes of the axial point spread function in optical coherence tomography by shaping the power spectrum of the light source with a remaining power of 4.54 mW. A broadband amplified spontaneous emission source radiating at 1565 +/- 40 nm is employed in a free-space optical coherence tomography system. The axial point spread functions before and after optical spectral shaping are presented. Results show that spectral shaping of the source can inhibit sidelobes of the point spread function up to 12.9 dB, with an associated small increase of 2.2 dB in noise floor in the far field. The effect of spectral shaping on axial resolution is demonstrated according to three metrics. Image quality improvement is also illustrated with optical coherence tomography images of an onion before and after spectral shaping.     

Parallel frequency-domain optical coherence tomography scatter-mode imaging of the hamster cheek pouch using a thermal light source

We use a parallel frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (FDOCT) system to generate a scatter-mode image of the hamster cheek pouch epithelium. To our knowledge, this is the first optical coherence tomography (OCT) image of a biological sample obtained using a thermal light source in the frequency domain. The system employs an imaging spectrometer to acquire depth-resolved profiles from adjacent spatial points without the need for any scanning. To enable this imaging modality, we have considered that signals originating from multiple depths combine in a different manner in FDOCT compared to time-domain optical coherence tomography (TDOCT). Because a multicomponent FDOCT signal is a coherent sum, it is necessary to limit the number of modes that contribute to the detected signal. Conversely, multicomponent TDOCT signals can be represented as incoherent sums, where increasing the number of modes improves the signal.     

Engineered microsphere contrast agents for optical coherence tomography

Contrast agents are utilized in virtually every imaging modality to enhance diagnostic capabilities. We introduce a novel class of optical contrast agent, namely, encapsulating microspheres, that are based not on fluorescence but on scattering nanoparticles within the shell or core. The agents are suitable for reflection- or scattering-based techniques such as optical coherence tomography, light microscopy, and reflectance confocal microscopy. We characterize the optical properties of gold-, melanin-, and carbon-shelled contrast agents and demonstrate enhancement of optical coherence tomography imaging after intravenous injection of such an agent into a mouse.     

Group index of the human cornea at 1.3-microm wavelength obtained in vitro by optical coherence domain reflectometry

The group index of the cornea, rather than the phase refractive index, is required for thickness calculations with optical coherence tomography. Recent advances with high-speed optical coherence tomography at 1.3 microm make index measurement at this wavelength of great interest. Group indices of three human corneas from an eye bank were measured in vitro with optical coherence domain reflectometry. Measurements were made in a calibrated cuvette filled with a preservation medium to maintain proper corneal hydration. Group indices were calculated from the optical path lengths measured. The corneal group index was 1.389 +/- 0.004 (average +/- standard deviation). The average group index of a balanced salt solution, an approximation to aqueous humor, was 1.343 +/- 0.001.     

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。     

光学相干层析成像色散补偿研究

针对通过增加光源谱宽度来提高光学相干层析成像系统分辨率时样品色散特性的限制作用,分析了色散与光学相干层析成像系统纵向光程分辨率的约束关系.根据物质色散特性,采用数值变换方法对光学相干层析成像相干成像信号进行了色散补偿.实验使用了中心波长1 550 nm 自激发辐射光源和光纤迈克尓逊干涉结构,对水和光学快速扫描延迟线引入的二阶和三阶色散进行了数值补偿并通过相位修正因子来改善补偿效果.确定了一种普适的、快速的数值色散补偿方法.在对水中盖玻片和生物组织和的光学相干层析成像图像的色散补偿实验中取得了良好的效果,证明了方法的可行性.     

Simultaneous swept source optical coherence tomography of the anterior segment and retina using coherence revival

We report on an implementation of coherence revival-based heterodyne swept source optical coherence tomography that is capable of simultaneously imaging the anterior and posterior eye. A polarization-encoded sample arm was used to efficiently focus orthogonal polarizations on the anterior segment and retina. Depth encoding was achieved using coherence revival, which allows for multiple depths within a sample to be simultaneously imaged and frequency encoded by carefully controlling the optical pathlength of each sample path. This design is a significant step toward whole-eye optical coherence tomography (OCT), which would enable customized ray-traced modeling of patient eyes to improve refractive surgical interventions and eliminate optical artifacts in retinal OCT diagnostics. We demonstrated the feasibility of this system for in vivo imaging by simultaneously acquiring images of the anterior segments and retinas in healthy human volunteers.     

Study of an ultrahigh-numerical-aperture fiber continuum generation source for optical coherence tomography

The axial resolution of optical coherence tomography images is primarily dependent on the bandwidth of the illumination source. Continuum generation is one way to generate the single-mode, high-bandwidth light needed for point illumination. We present an inexpensive and easy-to-implement augmentation to a Ti:sapphire laser that widens the bandwidth from 20 to over 200 nm with commerically available ultrahigh-numerical-aperture fiber. This technique can provide a readily available broad-bandwidth source for researchers and a practical enhancement to a fiber-optic optical coherence tomography system.     

Real Time and Full-range Complex Fourier Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

High speed complex full-range Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) is demonstrated. This FD-OCT requires only a single A-scan for each single transversal position for full-range Fourier domain optical coherence tomography. The Fourier transform method is applied along the direction of the B-scan to reconstruct complex spectra, and the complex spectra compose a full-range OCT image.     

Second-harmonic optical coherence tomography

Second-harmonic optical coherence tomography, which uses coherence gating of second-order nonlinear optical responses of biological tissues for imaging, is described and demonstrated. Femtosecond laser pulses were used to excite second-harmonic waves from collagen harvested from rat tail tendon and a reference non-linear crystal. Second-harmonic interference fringe signals were detected and used for image construction. Because of the strong dependence of second-harmonic generation on molecular and tissue structures, this technique imparts contrast and resolution enhancement to conventional optical coherence tomography.     

光学相干层析图像的处理研究

提出一种基于各向异性扩散算法Catté模型的图像处理改进方法,通过对阈值k的修改以控制扩散强度,可实现在平滑光学相干层析图像的同时保护图像的边缘特征.对不同样品的光学相干层析图像处理.实验结果表明,改进后的算法更有利于噪音的滤除和边缘特征信息的保护.     

Spectral heterodyne tomography

A novel method of optical coherent tomography—spectral heterodyne tomography—is proposed. Spectral heterodyne tomography is based on parallel heterodyne detection of a multitude of frequencies of the light backscattered by an object under study. The result of this detection is a spectral distribution of the amplitude and phase of the scattered radiation. Subsequent numerical processing allows one to find the distribution of scattering centers over the depth corresponding to the point of entrance of the incident light. The proposed method is potentially characterized by a higher efficiency as compared with the most successful approach to optical coherence tomography, based on heterodyne scanning interferometry.