Spectral domain optical coherence tomography imaging with an integrated optics spectrometer

We designed and fabricated an arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) in silicon oxynitride as a spectrometer for spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). The AWG has a footprint of only 3.0 cm × 2.5 cm, operates at a center wavelength of 1300 nm, and has 78 nm free spectral range. OCT measurements are performed that demonstrate imaging up to a maximum depth of 1 mm with an axial resolution of 19 μm, both in agreement with the AWG design parameters. Using the AWG spectrometer combined with a fiber-based SD-OCT system, we demonstrate cross-sectional OCT imaging of a multilayered scattering phantom.     

Optically deviated focusing method based high-speed SD-OCT for in vivo retinal clinical applications

The aim of this study is to provide accurately focused, high-resolution in vivo human retinal depth images using an optically deviated focusing method with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) system. The proposed method was applied to increase the retinal diagnosing speed of patients with various values of retinal distances (i.e., the distance between the crystalline eye lens and the retina). The increased diagnosing speed was facilitated through an optical modification in the OCT sample arm configuration. Moreover, the optical path length matching process was compensated using the proposed optically deviated focusing method. The developed system was mounted on a bench-top cradle to overcome the motion artifacts. Further, we demonstrated the capability of the system by carrying out in vivo retinal imaging experiments. The clinical trials confirmed that the system was effective in diagnosing normal and abnormal retinal layers as several retinal abnormalities were identified using non-averaged single-shot OCT images, which demonstrate the feasibility of the method for clinical applications.     

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.     

相关多普勒光学层析成像

提出了基于互相关的多普勒OCT(correlated Doppler optical coherence tomography, CD-OCT)方法, 能够有效的抑制噪声, 实现低信噪比条件下的流速探测. 对CD-OCT算法进行了详细的推导, 分析了噪声的相关性对该算法结果的影响, 最后基于谱域和时域联合探测方法(joint spectral and time domain optical coherence tomography, STD-OCT)以及CD-OCT算法的对比实验证明了该算法能够进一步实现信噪比的提高, 使测量的结果更为稳定.     

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.     

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with a Fresnel spectrometer

We propose a novel spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) equipped with a Fresnel spectrometer, which utilizes a Fresnel zone plate (FZP) as both dispersion and focusing optics and thus spreads the spectral interferogram evenly in wavenumber domain because of the proportional relation between the focal length of the FZP and the wavenumber. With no need of the conversion calculation from wavelength to wavenumber in conventional SD-OCT, this new design is favorable for fast imaging with high resolution. As only a FZP and CCD are used, the Fresnel spectrometer is simple and compact. It is experimentally shown that its performance is as good as that of numerical interpolation in conventional SD-OCT. Imaging of bio-tissue by Fresnel SD-OCT is also demonstrated.     

基于相位敏感谱域光学相干层析术的潜指纹获取方法

本文提出一种基于相位敏感谱域光学相干层析术 (spectral domain optical coherence tomography, SD-OCT) 的遗留指纹获取方法, 该方法具有非接触、无损、快速和高灵敏度优势. 实验结果显示, 即使在低对比度条件下, 本方法也能较好地再现遗留指纹, 证明相位敏感谱域光学相干层析术可以准确、可靠地识别潜指纹. 关键词： 潜指纹 谱域光学相干层析术 相位敏感     

Investigation of gold-coated bare fiber probe for in situ intra-vitreous coherence domain optical imaging and sensing

We have investigated the usage of gold-plated bare fiber probes for in situ imaging of retinal layers and surrounding ocular tissues using time-domain common-path optical coherence tomography. The fabricated intra-vitreous gold-plated micro-fiber probe can be fully integrated with surgical tools working in close proximity to the tissue to provide subsurface images having a self-contained reference plane independent to the Fresnel reflection between the distal end of the probe and the following medium for achieving reference in typical common-path optical coherence tomography. We have fully characterized the probe in an aqueous medium equivalent to the vitreous humor in the eye and were able to differentiate various functional retinal tissue layers whose thickness is larger than the system’s resolution.     

Compressed sensing with linear-in-wavenumber sampling in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography

We propose a novel method called compressed sensing with linear-in-wavenumber sampling (k-linear CS) to retrieve an image for spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). An array of points that is evenly spaced in wavenumber domain is sampled from an original interferogram by a preset k-linear mask. Then the compressed sensing based on l1 norm minimization is applied on these points to reconstruct an A-scan data. To get an OCT image, this method uses less than 20% of the total data as required in the typical process and gets rid of the spectral calibration with numerical interpolation in traditional CS-OCT. Therefore k-linear CS is favorable for high speed imaging. It is demonstrated that the k-linear CS has the same axial resolution performance with ～30 dB higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as compared with the numerical interpolation. Imaging of bio-tissue by SD-OCT with k-linear CS is also demonstrated.     

谱域光学相干层析系统中基于解卷积方法的像质优化

谱域光学相干层析（spectral domain optical coherence tomography, 简记为SD-OCT）系统的轴向点扩散函数（point spread function, 简记为PSF）并不具备空不变特性,无法直接应用于解卷积运算.为实现SD-OCT系统成像质量基于解卷积算法的优化,本文采用数值校正后的轴向扫描信号和轴向有效PSF来实施基于Lucy-Richardson算法的解卷积运算,进而实现了SD-OCT系统中图像质量尤其是轴向分辨率的改善.本文理论分析了SD-OCT系统中导致轴向有效PSF随成像深度增大而下降和图像模糊的因素,阐述了利用解卷积算法实现图像质量优化的过程,基于建立的SD-OCT系统实施了不同成像深度位置处PSF的标定,并利用离散轴向位置处PSF的峰值拟合了轴向有效PSF的调制函数.利用调制函数对所有轴向扫描信号进行数值校正,然后根据轴向有效PSF进行解卷积算法.典型样品的解卷积图像重建结果表明,提出的解卷积方法能有效提高系统的轴向分辨率,同时有效抑制系统灵敏度随成像深度增大而下降的趋势. 关键词： 谱域光学相干层析 Lucy-Richardson解卷积 有效点扩散函数     

谱域光学相干层析系统中基于解卷积方法的像质优化

谱域光学相干层析（spectral domain optical coherence tomography, 简记为SD-OCT）系统的轴向点扩散函数（point spread function, 简记为PSF）并不具备空不变特性,无法直接应用于解卷积运算.为实现SD-OCT系统成像质量基于解卷积算法的优化,本文采用数值校正后的轴向扫描信号和轴向有效PSF来实施基于Lucy-Richardson算法的解卷积运算,进而实现了SD-OCT系统中图像质量尤其是轴向分辨率的改善.本文理论分析了SD-OCT系统中导致轴向有效PSF随成像深度增大而下降和图像模糊的因素,阐述了利用解卷积算法实现图像质量优化的过程,基于建立的SD-OCT系统实施了不同成像深度位置处PSF的标定,并利用离散轴向位置处PSF的峰值拟合了轴向有效PSF的调制函数.利用调制函数对所有轴向扫描信号进行数值校正,然后根据轴向有效PSF进行解卷积算法.典型样品的解卷积图像重建结果表明,提出的解卷积方法能有效提高系统的轴向分辨率,同时有效抑制系统灵敏度随成像深度增大而下降的趋势.     

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.     

In vivo bidirectional color Doppler flow imaging of picoliter blood volumes using optical coherence tomography

We describe a novel optical system for bidirectional color Doppler imaging of flow in biological tissues with micrometer-scale resolution and demonstrate its use for in vivo imaging of blood flow in an animal model. Our technique, color Doppler optical coherence tomography (CDOCT), performs spatially localized optical Doppler velocimetry by use of scanning low-coherence interferometry. CDOCT is an extension of optical coherence tomography (OCT), employing coherent signal-acquisition electronics and joint time-frequency analysis algorithms to perform flow imaging simultaneous with conventional OCT imaging. Cross-sectional maps of blood flow velocity with <50-microm spatial resolution and <0.6-mm/s velocity precision were obtained through intact skin in living hamster subdermal tissue. This technology has several potential medical applications.     

Polarization-resolved second-harmonic-generation optical coherence tomography in collagen

We describe a novel imaging technique, second-harmonic-generation optical coherence tomography (SHOCT). This technique combines the spatial resolution and depth penetration of optical coherence tomography (OCT) with the molecular sensitivity of second-harmonic-generation spectroscopy. As a consequence of the coherent detection required for OCT, polarization-resolved images arise naturally. We demonstrate this new technique on a skin sample from the belly of Icelandic salmon, acquiring polarization-resolved SHOCT and OCT images simultaneously.     

超高分辨光学相干层析成像技术与材料检测应用

本文报道了一种超高分辨率谱域光学相干层析成像(SD-OCT)系统. 该系统基于超连续谱激光光源并截取部分光谱作为宽带光源, 其中心波长为665 nm, 光谱半高全宽(FWHM) 230 nm. 系统轴向分辨率0.9 μm, 轴向扫描速率28600行/秒, 横向分辨率3.9 μm, 横向视场1 mm, 最大成像深度0.6 mm(空气中). 利用研制的超高分辨率SD-OCT系统, 对不同型号的工业砂纸精细结构进行了成像, 并与普通SD-OCT的成像结果进行对比, 充分展示了研制系统在材料无损检测中优势.     

In vivo human retinal imaging by ultrahigh-speed spectral domain optical coherence tomography

An ultrahigh-speed spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) system is presented that achieves acquisition rates of 29,300 depth profiles/s. The sensitivity of SD-OCT and time domain OCT (TD-OCT) are experimentally compared, demonstrating a 21.7-dB improvement of SD-OCT over TD-OCT. In vivo images of the human retina are presented, demonstrating the ability to acquire high-quality structural images with an axial resolution of 6 microm at ultrahigh speed and with an ocular exposure level of less than 600 microW.     

In vitro birefringence imaging with spectral domain polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

Spectral domain polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography （SDPS-OCT） is a depth-resolved polarization-sensitive interferometry which integrates polarization optics into spectral domain optical co- herence tomography （SD-OCT）. This configuration can obtain birefringence information of samples and improve the imaging speed. In this paper, horizontally polarized light is used to replace natural light of the source. Then, right-rotated circularly polarized light is the incident sample light. To obtain two orthogonal components of the polarized interferogram, the reflected light of the reference arm is set to be 45° linearly polarized light. These two components are acquired by two spectrometers synchronously. The system was employed to achieve 12.8μm axial resolution and 4.36μm transverse resolution. We have imaged in vitro chicken tendon and muscle tissues with these svstem.     

Micromachined array tip for multifocus fiber-based optical coherence tomography

High-resolution optical coherence tomography demands a large detector bandwidth and a high numerical aperture for real-time imaging, which is difficult to achieve over a large imaging depth. To resolve these conflicting requirements we propose a novel multifocus fiber-based optical coherence tomography system with a micromachined array tip. We demonstrate the fabrication of a prototype four-channel tip that maintains a 9-14-microm spot diameter with more than 500 microm of imaging depth. Images of a resolution target and a human tooth were obtained with this tip by use of a four-channel cascaded Michelson fiber-optic interferometer, scanned simultaneously at 8 kHz with geometric power distribution across the four channels.     

In vivo photoacoustic chorioretinal vascular imaging in albino mouse

Photoacoustic ophthalmoscopy(PAOM) is a novel imaging modality, which is capable of non-invasively detecting optical absorption properties in the retina. We visualize the microvasculature in retina and choroid in albino mouse using PAOM guided by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Since albino mouse characterizes by lacking melanin in retinal pigment epithelium(RPE), PAOM illumination laser can penetrate through the RPE onto choroid, and consequently provides volumetric visualization of chorioretinal vasculatures as a result of strong hemoglobin optical absorption. The high-quality chorioretinal microvascular imaging acquired by PAOM implies its great potential in understanding pathological mechanisms and developing therapeutic strategies for major chorioretinal diseases that correlate with vascular disorders.     

In vivo Fourier-domain full-field OCT of the human retina with 1.5 million A-lines/s

In vivo full-field (FF) optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of human retina are presented by using a rapidly tunable laser source in combination with an ultra-high-speed camera. Fourier-domain FF-OCT provided a way to increase the speed of retinal imaging by parallel acquisition of A-scans. Reduced contrast caused by cross talk was observed only below the retinal pigment epithelium. With a 100Hz sweep rate, FF-OCT was fast enough to acquire OCT images with acceptable motion artifacts. FF-OCT allows ultrafast retinal imaging, boosting image speed by a lack of moving parts and a considerably higher irradiation power.