宽场光学相干断层成像系统的三维显微成像

宽场相干断层成像技术（WFOCT）具有提高OCT系统的扫描速率和实现高分辨率的三维显微技术等优点,成为当前研究的热点。本文阐述了WFOCT的基本原理,利用八步移相法重建出玻璃物体微细结构的断层图像,研究了宽场OCT系统对玻璃材料的纵向分辨率和探测深度,其中探测深度可达3.3 mm。在获得多幅断层图像的基础上,利用VC6.0和OpenGL混合编程,采用移动立方体（MC）算法重建出玻璃物体微细结构的三维图像。实验结果表明,WFOCT系统不但能够在生物组织检测等医学方面得到应用,而且对反射率较高的物体能够完成三维形貌显微成像探测和深度探测。     

Three-dimensional wide-field optical coherence tomography using an ultrahigh-speed CMOS camera

We demonstrated wide-field optical coherence tomography (OCT) using an ultrahigh-speed CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) camera. We obtained en face OCT images (512 × 512 pixels) at 1500 frames per second by calculating two sequential images. Three-dimensional imaging was achieved by switching the illumination on and off at the same frequency as the beat signal generated by the axial scan in the reference arm to avoid decreasing the interference components in the camera output. A sample volume of 2.6 × 2.6 × 1.2 (x × y × z) mm³ (corresponding to 512 × 512 × 375 pixels) was imaged in 0.25 s in a single axial scan in the reference arm. We successfully imaged the human finger in vivo with a sensitivity of 73 dB, after 10 × 10 pixel averaging.     

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     

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.     

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.     

Inverse scattering problem for optical coherence tomography

We deal with the imaging problem of determining the internal structure of a body from backscattered laser light and low-coherence interferometry. Specifically, using the interference fringes that result when the backscattering of low-coherence light is made to interfere with the reference beam, we obtain maps detailing the values of the refractive index within the sample. Our approach accounts fully for the statistical nature of the coherence phenomenon; the numerical experiments that we present, which show image reconstructions of high quality, were obtained under noise floors exceeding those present for various experimental setups reported in the literature.     

Sequential optical coherence tomography and confocal imaging

We report a system capable of sequentially acquiring two en-face images of different depth resolutions. The two images are generated by use of different principles, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and confocal microscopy, and have depth resolutions, at present, of better than 20 microm and over 0.12 mm, respectively. The lower-depth-resolution image is ideal for target positioning before collection of stacks of en-face OCT images. Switching between the two types of image by flipping an opaque screen in the reference arm, coupled with self-adjusting gain operation of avalanche photodiodes in the receiver. We illustrate the usefulness of the system by imaging a leaf and an optic nerve in vivo.     

Imaging optically scattering objects with ultrasound-modulated optical tomography

We show the feasibility of imaging objects having different optical scattering coefficients relative to the surrounding scattering medium using ultrasound-modulated optical tomography (UOT). While the spatial resolution depends on ultrasound parameters, the image contrast depends on the difference in scattering coefficient between the object and the surrounding medium. Experimental measurements obtained with a CCD-based speckle contrast detection scheme are in agreement with Monte Carlo simulations and analytical calculations. This study complements previous UOT experiments that demonstrated optical absorption contrast.     

Phase-referenced Doppler optical coherence tomography in scattering media

We present a fiber-based, low-coherence interferometer that significantly reduces phase noise by incorporating a second, narrowband, continuous-wave light source as a phase reference. By incorporating this interferometer into a Doppler OCT system, we demonstrate significant velocity noise reduction in reflective and scattering samples using processing techniques amenable to real-time implementation. We also demonstrate 90% suppression of velocity noise in a flow phantom.     

Differential phase contrast in optical coherence tomography

We report on a modification of optical coherence tomography (OCT) that allows one to measure small phase differences between beams traversing adjacent areas of a specimen. The sample beam of a polarization-sensitive low-coherence interferometer is split by a Wollaston prism into two components that traverse the object along closely spaced paths. After reflection at the various sample surfaces, the beams are recombined at the Wollaston prism. Any phase difference encountered between the two beams is converted into a change of polarization state of the recombined beam. This change is measured, and the resulting signals are converted to differential phase-contrast OCT images. The first images obtained from simple test objects allowed us to determine path-difference gradients with a resolution of the order of 5 x 10(-5) .     

基于谱域相位分辨光学相干层析的纳米级表面形貌成像

提出了一种基于谱域相位分辨光学相干层析的纳米级表面形貌成像方法,由干涉光谱计算样品相邻两点的相位差,得到样品表面相位差分图,经过积分,重建样品表面形貌的定量分布.当相邻两点相位差的绝对值小于π,不产生相位包裹,避免了目前的干涉法相位解包裹存在的问题,将干涉法相邻两点相位差绝对值的限制条件由目前的π扩大到2π,提高了干涉法表面形貌成像的适用范围.参考面和样品置于同一平台之上,消除环境干扰及系统振动的影响,噪声幅度小于0.3 nm.通过对光学分辨率片及表面粗糙度标准样板的表面形貌成像,对本方法进行了验证,系统的轴向分辨率优于1 nm.     

Attenuation compensation for optical coherence tomography imaging

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive technique that provides micrometer-scale imaging of tissue. As most biological tissues are considered turbid, it causes attenuation of the OCT signal and limits the depth penetration. Although a few algorithms had been developed to compensate the attenuation, almost all of them need to extract the scattering parameters before doing the compensation procedure. Because the real biological samples are anisotropic and multilayer-like structure, it is not time-efficient to model and solve these scattering parameters. This paper introduces a new method to compensate the OCT signal attenuation in depth. By analyzing the input signal, a compensation function is adaptively derived for each A-scan line, which can be used effectively to compensate the energy loss in the large sections and enhance the details in the deep, dark-like areas. Three bio-samples, a piece of onion, a Poecilia Wingei fish and a piece of rabbit abdominal aorta, were used to test our method. OCT images obtained by a swept-source OCT system were processed by the proposed method. Results show the visualization of structures in OCT images has been evidently improved, especially in deep region.     

Dual-path handheld system for cornea and retina imaging using optical coherence tomography

Optical Review - A dual-path handheld system is proposed for cornea and retina imaging using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The handheld sample arm is designed to acquire two images...     

Fourier domain optical coherence tomography using optical demultiplexers imaging at 60,000,000 lines/s

We describe high-speed Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) using optical demultiplexers (ODs) for spectral dispersion. The OD enables separation of a narrow spectral band of 14 GHz (0.11 nm) from a broadband incident light at 256 different frequencies in 25.0 GHz intervals centered at 192.2 THz (1559.8 nm). OCT imaging of 60,000,000 axial scans per second was achieved through parallel signal acquisition using 256 balanced photoreceivers to simultaneously detect all the output signals from the ODs in a Fourier domain OCT system. OCT imaging at a 16 kHz frame rate, 1100 A-lines per frame, 3 mm depth range, and 23 microm resolution was demonstrated using a resonant scanner for lateral scanning.     

Spatially incoherent illumination as a mechanism for cross-talk suppression in wide-field optical coherence tomography

Comparison of two illumination modes for wide-field optical coherence tomography has revealed that spatially coherent illumination generates coherent cross talk, causing significant image degradation, and that spatially incoherent illumination, with an adequate interferometer design, provides an efficient mechanism for suppression of coherent cross talk. This is shown by comparison of a pulsed laser with a thermal light source for a U.S. Air Force resolution target covered with a scattering solution made from microbeads as well as for an ex vivo tooth.     

Tomographic imaging of a suspending single live cell using optical tweezer-combined full-field optical coherence tomography

We propose a label-free depth-resolved tomographic scheme for imaging a single live cell in fluid. This approach utilizes a modified time-domain full-field optical coherence tomography (FF-OCT) system combined with an optical tweezer technique. The optical trap for holding a moving specimen is made by tightly focusing a 1064 nm Q-switching pulsed laser beam with a 1.0 NA microscope objective in the sample arm of the FF-OCT part. By cosharing the probe for both systems, the optical actions of trapping and cellular resolution tomographic imaging could be achieved simultaneously. Feasibility of the combined system is demonstrated by imaging micron-sized polystyrene beads and a living suspension cell in medium.     

Quantitative differential phase measurement and imaging in transparent and turbid media by optical coherence tomography

Differential phase-contrast optical coherence tomography allows one to measure the path-length differences of two transversally separated beams in the nanometer range. We calculate these path-length differences from the phase functions of the interferometric signals. Pure phase objects consisting of chromium layers containing steps of approximately 100-200-nm height were imaged. Phase differences can be measured with a precision of +/-2 degrees , corresponding to a path-difference resolution of 2-3 nm. To investigate the influence of scattering, we imaged the phase objects through scattering layers with increasing scattering coefficients. The limit of phase imaging through these layers was at approximately 8-9 mean free path lengths thick (single pass).     

Simultaneous optical coherence tomography imaging and beta particle detection

A prototype hybrid catheter device designed for imaging and detection of vascular diseases is introduced. The prototype device integrates a high-resolution optical coherent tomography probe and a high-sensitivity beta detector into a single unit. With this prototype device we demonstrate the feasibility of simultaneous optical coherence tomography imaging and detection of beta particles.     

Adaptive optics optical coherence tomography for retina imaging

When optical coherence tomography (OCT) is used for human retina imaging, its transverse resolution is limited by the aberrations of human eyes. To overcome this disadvantage, a high resolution imaging system for living human retina, which consists of a time domain OCT system and a 37-elements adaptive optics (AO) system, has been developed. The AO closed loop rate is 20 frames per second, and the OCT has a 6.7-μm axial resolution. In this paper, this system is introduced and the high resolution imaging results for retina are presented.     

宽场光学相干断层成像系统的实验研究和模拟

改进和完善宽场光学相干断层成像技术(WFOCT)的主要方法是从光源、系统光路等方面进行改进.研究WFOCT系统的成像状态和环境状态对系统的横向分辨率的影响,借助ZEMAX光学设计软件模拟该系统的干涉效果,在实验中采用八步移相法来解析样品的二维图像信息,将解析出来的样品图像赋值到图像变量中进行存储显示.实验与模拟结果表明:模拟仿真获得的干涉信号含有对比度和平行度很高的干涉条纹,证明了利用ZEMAX软件模拟仿真干涉系统的可行性.