Multiple-scattering speckle in holographic optical coherence imaging

We investigate the effect of multiple scattering on the image quality of holographic optical coherence imaging, which is a full-field coherence-domain imaging form of optical coherence tomography. The speckle holograms from turbid media and from multicellular tumor spheroids are characterized by high-contrast speckle on a multiply-scattered background caused by channel cross-talk. We quantify the multiple-scattered light that is accepted by the holographic coherence gate, and identify a cross-over from single-scattered to multiple-scattered light beyond 15 to 20 optical thicknesses. Speckle reduction relies on vibrating diffusers and on fast adaptive holograms in photorefractive quantum well devices. The high anisotropy factor for tumor tissue reduces multiply-scattered light contributions for biomedical tumor imaging.     

Quantifying tissue microvasculature with speckle variance optical coherence tomography

In this Letter, we demonstrate high resolution, three-dimensional optical imaging of in vivo blood vessel networks using speckle variance optical coherence tomography, and the quantification of these images through the development of biologically relevant metrics using image processing and segmentation techniques. Extracted three-dimensional metrics include vascular density, vessel tortuosity, vascular network fractal dimension, and tissue vascularity. We demonstrate the ability of this quantitative imaging approach to characterize normal and tumor vascular networks in a preclinical animal model and the potential for quantitative, longitudinal vascular treatment response monitoring.     

Quantitative assessment of lateral resolution improvement in digital holography

Controllable experimental features such as wavelength, camera’s specifications and reconstruction distance, determine the theoretical limit for lateral resolution in digital holography; however, due to the speckle noise associated to any coherent imaging system it is not possible to reach this theoretical limit. In this paper, a quantitative study the lateral resolution for digital holography under the effect the speckle noise is carried out. It is shown that by reducing the contrast of the speckle noise the resolution capabilities of digital holography are improved; the signal-to-noise ratio of the reconstructed holograms is the metric use to quantitatively assess the reached resolution in the holographic experiments.     

Functional imaging in photorefractive tissue speckle holography

Cellular motion produces highly dynamic speckle in wide-field depth-gated holographic optical coherence imaging. The speckle provides cell scale information such as cell membrane and organelle motion, even though the spatial resolution of the optics is above the cell scale. The statistical properties of dynamic speckle can be used for functional imaging of motile activity at depth within tissue. In this paper we develop a motility metric using time autocorrelation to create a three-dimensional motility map of tissue. The effect of noise and the shimmering showerglass effect in functional optical coherence imaging are evaluated quantitatively, and we demonstrate that meaningful motility information can be extracted from functional imaging using dynamic speckle.     

Effect of image fiber on the speckle fringe pattern in image fiber-guided DSPI endoscopy

The effect of using an image fiber on the speckle fringe visibility in an endoscopic DSPI is analyzed here. An endoscope system was designed and developed, using image fiber as the speckle pattern image conduit, to work in the out-of-plane speckle interferometric configuration and experiments were carried out using a curved phantom tissue specimen as the test target. Experimental results obtained using the developed system are compared with that obtained using conventional DSPI system. To obtain a relative and quantitative comparison of the quality of the fringes obtained employing the two methods, an evaluation method that can give a quantified ‘score’ is proposed here.     

Basic physical principles of defocused speckle photography: a tilt topology inspection technique

This paper describes the basic physical principles of defocused speckle photography, and how tilt (differential) topology variations on a scatter surface may be separated from linear displacements. Several rather special features about the scattering process have been revealed, such as the laser source distance from the scatter surface must be considered as well as the light incidence angle. Also, the surface must be treated as mirror facet discontinuities for linear displacements using ray and intensity analogies, and surface topology must be treated in terms of phase and pathlength changes, and a continuous smooth surface. The complementary relationship between focused speckle photography and defocused (topological) speckle photography is shown using specially developed separation techniques. This demanded a detailed look at the ‘speckle process’. The basic physical principles, together with an appropriate analysis technique for the developed speckle photographs, have enabled very small faults and indentations on engineering structures to be detected and measured.     

MRI texture analysis on texture test objects, normal brain and intracranial tumors

Texture analysis was performed in three different MRI units on T1 and T2-weighted MR images from 10 healthy volunteers and 63 patients with histologically confirmed intracranial tumors. The goal of this study was a multicenter evaluation of the usefulness of this quantitative approach for the characterization of healthy and pathologic human brain tissues (white matter, gray matter, cerebrospinal fluid, tumors and edema). Each selected brain region of interest was characterized with both its mean gray level values and several texture parameters. Multivariate statistical analyses were then applied in order to discriminate each brain tissue type represented by its own set of texture parameters. Texture analysis was previously performed on test objects to evaluate the method dependence on acquisition parameters and consequently the interest of a multicenter evaluation. Even obtained on different sites with their own acquisition routine protocol, MR brain images contain textural features that can reveal discriminant factors for tissue classification and image segmentation. It can also offer additional information in case of undetermined diagnosis or to develop a more accurate tumor grading.     

Speckle from a rough surface when the illuminated region contains few correlation areas: The effect of changing the surface height variance

We report speckle contrast measurements taken at the centre of the far-field diffraction pattern of weak, medium and strong diffusers illuminated by a focused laser beam. We study the evolution of curves of speckle contrast as a function of the radius of the laser spot as the variance of surface height is steadily increased for a fixed correlation length. We also present experimental curves of speckle contrast as a function of the distance of the rough surface from the beam focus for three of the diffusers.     

Evidence for particle-shape sensitivity in the correlation between polarization states of light scattering

The cross correlation between polarization states of scattered laser speckle as a function of scattering angle is observed for a range of spherical and nonspherical particle suspensions. A variation in the degree of correlation between polarization states is observed, and this information is indicative of the particle shape. A comparison with a theoretical model for small particles is made, suggesting that variations in polarization correlation with angle originate from the nonisotropic polarizability of nonspheres. Experiments are also performed on large spheroids and random-shaped polydispersions, and the results indicate that the measurement method has significant potential for nonsphere detection and characterization.     

Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill imaging of prostate cancer: quantitative T2 values for cancer discrimination

Quantitative, apparent T(2) values of suspected prostate cancer and healthy peripheral zone tissue in men with prostate cancer were measured using a Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) imaging sequence in order to assess the cancer discrimination potential of tissue T(2) values. The CPMG imaging sequence was used to image the prostates of 18 men with biopsy-proven prostate cancer. Whole gland coverage with nominal voxel volumes of 0.54 x 1.1 x 4 mm(3) was obtained in 10.7 min, resulting in data sets suitable for generating high-quality images with variable T(2)-weighting and for evaluating quantitative T(2) values on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Region-of-interest analysis of suspected healthy peripheral zone tissue and suspected cancer, identified on the basis of both T(1)- and T(2)-weighted signal intensities and available histopathology reports, yielded significantly (P<.0001) longer apparent T(2) values in suspected healthy tissue (193+/-49 ms) vs. suspected cancer (100+/-26 ms), suggesting potential utility of this method as a tissue specific discrimination index for prostate cancer. We conclude that CPMG imaging of the prostate can be performed in reasonable scan times and can provide advantages over T(2)-weighted fast spin echo (FSE) imaging alone, including quantitative T(2) values for cancer discrimination as well as proton density maps without the point spread function degradation associated with short effective echo time FSE sequences.     

Verification of speckle contrast measurement interrelation with observation distance

The speckle contrasts of two types of laser projectors were measured at various observation distances and observation lens pinhole diameters using a quantitative measurement technique. We found that the speckle contrast as a function of the observation numerical aperture varies with the projection architecture. In a full-frame projector, it is proportional to the numerical aperture, but it is proportional to its square root in a raster-scanned projector. The difference in speckle contrast as a function of the numerical aperture was analyzed based on Goodman’s speckle theory. The obtained results were found to be very useful and applicable for speckle evaluation and display qualifications in an arbitrary observer’s position.     

Extending the bandwidth of speckle interferometry

In speckle interferometry, the scale of the speckle array is wavelength dependent, and this limits the spectral bandwidth that can be used. A simple optical system is described to correct this effect, over a wide spectral range, by introducing a chromatic difference of magnification of opposite sign to the speckle dispersion, and variable in magnitude.     

Digital Photography in Measuring the Inclination of the Object Surface with Formation of a Speckle Structure

Optical schemes for measuring surface inclination due to shift or deformation are considered. Speckle-interferometry methods are used. The distinguished features of these schemes are connected with using a digital photocamera and a forming speckle structure in nonmonochromatic light. Several technical solutions are proposed making it possibile to measure inclination with an accuracy up to tenths of degree using standard cheap equipment. To form the speckle structure, the pattern of a random binary structure with unit size of several millimeters is used in the base fixed plane. The digital camera was placed in the analyzed plane and turned together with the plane. It registered a reduced image of the pattern. The registration was done for two positions of the surface, the pattern being illuminated by the camera flash lamp. Measuring the width and orientation of the interference fringes formed for the two speckle structures allows one to determine the inclination and orientation of the rotation axis.     

空间散斑的运动规律

相干光照明的漫射表面在空间中产生随机散斑。反射表面相对于光源运动,引起散斑的相应运动。当跟踪一个运动的斑,认为斑的强度不变,而位相是可以变化的。从Fresnel-Kirch-hoff积分,得到关于散斑运动的三个基本规则,即文中的(3),(4)和(5)式。第一和第二式类似于光栅方程。第三式类似于透镜定律。从这三个规则推导了当表面运动时散斑的运动公式(18)。这公式以矩阵形式表示,包括三个转动和三个平动。实验结果与公式非常符合。同时,三个基本规则适用于一般的空间衍射图。 关键词：     

Measurements of femtosecond temporal speckle field of a random medium

The femtosecond temporal speckle field of a random medium is studied theoretically and experimentally. Femtosecond temporal speckle arises from the interference of multiple randomly scattered electric fields. The femtosecond temporal speckle field is measured with a cross-correlation frequency-resolved optical gating method. The spatial average of the speckle field yields a smooth transmitted profile. The speckle field is a circular complex Gaussian variable because the scattered light beams from different trajectories have no correlation with each other. The field and the intensity profiles of individual speckle spots fluctuate randomly in time. The ensemble average of the temporal intensity profiles converges, thereby yielding the photon travel time probability distribution function.     

基于多角度无透镜傅里叶变换数字全息的散斑噪声抑制成像研究

在数字全息成像中,散斑噪声严重影响了再现像的信噪比和成像分辨率,因此为了提高数字全息成像质量,迫切需要抑制再现像的散斑噪声.分析并给出了矩形散射光斑的强度协方差,定量计算了特定实验条件下产生退相关散斑图样的最小角度差.结合透镜的性质设计并搭建了多角度无透镜傅里叶变换数字全息成像系统,利用光纤端面在透镜焦平面的二维机械移动代替传统反射镜的旋转,使照明光束在不改变照明位置和大小的同时,可任意改变光束方向.移动光纤端面使多角度照明满足最小角度差,获取了81幅数字全息图.利用单次快速傅里叶逆变换实现数值再现,对多幅再现像的强度像求平均,实验结果表明散斑对比度降低为单幅再现像的14.6%,使图像信噪比提高了6.9倍.该抑制散斑的多角度数字全息成像方法有效的抑制了散斑噪声,且成像光路结构简单,可操作性强.     

基于扩散相关光谱的血流检测方法研究

组织血流信息在临床诊断和治疗中具有重要的作用,无创血流检测是医患双方的期望。研究采用了近红外扩散相关光谱方法对生物组织血流进行无创检测,理论分析了散射光斑强度的变化和被测组织中血细胞运动状态的函数关系,建立了检测组织血流的理论模型及检测系统。该系统通过求解组织表面散射光斑电场强度的时间自相关函数来推断组织中血细胞的运动状态,进行组织血流的定量分析。采用健康人体前臂袖带加压实验模型对该系统进行了验证,实验结果验证了该系统进行组织无创血流检测的可行性,同时也表明该系统可以提供从浅层到深层的组织血流变化信息。     

Techniques for phase correction in coherent ultrasound imaging systems

The problem of phase aberrations modeled as a near field thin phase screen is considered. Here three new techniques for phase aberration correction are presented. In the "central element" correction technique the echo-signal at each array element is aligned with the signal at the central array element. In the "variable speckle look-back" correction technique the signal at each array element is aligned with the sum of signals from all previously corrected elements. In the "variable central speckle look-back" correction technique the signal at each array element is aligned with the sum of signals from the central group of all previously corrected elements. The performance of new techniques for phase aberration correction is tested by means of simulating the point-spread function for both point and speckle targets. The results of simulation show that the new techniques have the better accuracy of phase correction than the classical "neighbor element" technique.     

A comparative study of phase-shifting algorithms in digital speckle pattern interferometry

Digital speckle pattern interferometry (DSPI) is a tool for making qualitative as well as quantitative measurements of deformation of objects. Phase-shifting algorithms in DSPI are useful for extracting quantitative deformation data from the system. Comparative studies of the different phase-shifting algorithms in DSPI for object deformation measurement are presented. Static and quasi-dynamic deformation of the object can be measured using these algorithms. Error compensating five-step phase-shifting method is used for the algorithms.     

Estimation of the scattering coefficients of turbid media using angle-resolved optical frequency-domain imaging

Noninvasive measurements of the scattering coefficients of optically turbid media using angle-resolved optical frequency-domain imaging (OFDI) are demonstrated. It is shown that, by incoherently averaging OFDI reflectance signals acquired at different backscattering angles, speckle noise is reduced, allowing scattering coefficients to be extracted from a single A-line with much higher accuracy than with measurements from conventional OFDI and optical coherence tomography systems. Modeling speckle as a random phasor sum, the relationship between the measurement accuracy and the number of compounded angles is derived. The sensitivity analysis is validated with measurements from a tissue phantom.