从迈克耳孙干涉仪到光学相干层析术

介绍了迈克耳孙干涉仪在物理学发展史上的重要作用及生物医学成像技术的发展状况．从迈克耳孙干涉仪的发展过程出发,讨论了光学相干层析术的原理、特性及其在生物医学成像、物理学、材料科学中的应用,并将频谱光学相干层析术与傅里叶变换光谱术作了比较,最后讨论了它在教学上的意义．     

A theory of optical coherence tomography

Analytical models of optical coherence tomography (OCT) of strongly turbid media of the type of biological tissues are developed on the basis of the theory of wave scattering in random inhomogeneous media. Similarity relations for signals of coherent and pulsed sounding are established, and general expressions for random realizations and statistical characteristics of tomograms are obtained. It is shown that after the appropriate modification the theory of image transfer in turbid media can be used for analysis of their informative properties. Simple formulas for estimating the visibility depth into the internal structure of biological tissues are proposed. Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 41. No. 10, pp. 1258–1289, October 1998.     

Polarization-sensitive quantum optical coherence tomography: Experiment

Polarization-sensitive quantum optical coherence tomography (PS-QOCT) makes use of a Type-II twin-photon light source for carrying out optical sectioning with polarization sensitivity. A BBO nonlinear optical crystal pumped by a Ti:sapphire psec-pulsed laser is used to confirm the theoretical underpinnings of this imaging paradigm. PS-QOCT offers even-order dispersion cancellation with simultaneous access to the group-velocity dispersion characteristics of the interstitial medium between the reflecting surfaces of the sample.     

Interference effects in low coherence interferometry and optical coherence tomography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) relies on the construction of two-dimensional images from a series of depth scans. These depth scans are made up of a series of interferograms relating to reflections from individual interfaces within a sample. The theoretical resolution of an OCT system is given as half the coherence length of the light source used and therefore interfaces between layers with different refractive indices, which are separated by less than this distance, cannot be resolved. We consider the occurrence of interference between adjacent interferograms and its consequence in signal, and image interpretation. Computational simulations were created to model two or three interfaces in close proximity such that interference would occur between component interferograms. Further to this, images were acquired of an air wedge between two glass slides that corresponded to the simulations. The results of both the simulated OCT signals and those from the air wedge showed the presence of interference effects that could influence the interpretation of the final (OCT) image.     

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) .     

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.     

Doppler optical coherence tomography in cardiovascular applications

The study of flow dynamics in complex geometry vessels is highly important in various biomedical applications where the knowledge of the mechanic interactions between the moving fluid and the housing media plays a key role for the determination of the parameters of interest, including the effect of blood flow on the possible rupture of atherosclerotic plaques. Doppler Optical Coherence Tomography (DOCT), as a functional extension of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), is an optic, non-contact, noninvasive technique able to achieve detailed analysis of the flow/vessel interactions. It allows simultaneous high resolution imaging (∼10 μm typical) of the morphology and composition of the vessel and determination of the flow velocity distribution along the measured cross-section. We applied DOCT system to image high-resolution one-dimensional and multi-dimensional velocity distribution profiles of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids flowing in vessels with complex geometry, including Y-shaped and T-shaped vessels, vessels with aneurism, bifurcated vessels with deployed stent and scaffolds. The phantoms were built to mimic typical shapes of human blood vessels, enabling preliminary analysis of the interaction between flow dynamics and the (complex) geometry of the vessels and also to map the related velocity profiles at several inlet volume flow rates. Feasibility studies for quantitative observation of the turbulence of flows arising within the complex geometry vessels are discussed. In addition, DOCT technique was also applied for monitoring cerebral mouse blood flow in vivo. Two-dimensional DOCT images of complex flow velocity profiles in blood vessel phantoms and in vivo sub-cranial mouse blood flow velocities distributions are presented.     

全场光学相干层析成像系统的研制

研制了一套采用旋转1/2波片无色散移相器进行移相操作的全场光学相干层析成像系统.该移相器能在宽光谱范围内无色散地获得8倍于1/2波片旋转角的移相量,能快速、方便地为各种移相算法提供所需的移相量.移相量实测结果表明：系统获得了8倍旋转角的移相量,提出的移相器结构正确.采用Hariharan移相算法对反射镜样品进行的成像实验表明系统具有较高的移相精度.最后进行的实物样品成像实验,检验了系统的有效性. 关键词： 全场光学相干层析成像 无色散移相器 旋转1/2波片     

Automated segmentation of optical coherence tomography images

We propose a fast and accurate automated algorithm to segment retinal pigment epithelium and internal limiting membrane layers from spectral domain optical coherence tomography(SDOCT) B-scan images. A hybrid algorithm, which combines intensity thresholding and graph-based algorithms, was used to process and analyze SDOCT radial scans(120 B scans) images obtained from twenty patients. The relative difference in position of the layers segmented by the proposed hybrid algorithm and by the clinical expert was 1.49% ± 0.01%. The processing time of the hybrid algorithm was 9.3 s for six B scans. Dice's coefficient of the hybrid algorithm was 96.7% ± 1.6%. The proposed hybrid algorithm for the segmentation of SDOCT images had good agreement with manual segmentation and reduced processing time.     

Spectral calibration in spectral domain optical coherence tomography

A novel spectral calibration method is developed for spectral domain optical coherence tomography system. The method is based on two measurements of interference spectra from two reference mirror positions. It removes the influence of dispersion mismatch, and hence accurately determines the spectral distribution on the line-scan charge-coupled device (CCD) for sequent precise interpolation. High quality imaging can be realized with this method. Elimination of the degradation effect caused by dispersion mismatch is verified experimentally, and improved two-dimensional (2D) imaging of fresh orange pulp based on the proposed spectral calibration method is demonstrated.     

Coherent noise compensation in Spectral-Domain optical coherence tomography

An efficient technique for the separation of and compensation for coherent noise in spectral optical coherence tomography with parallel spectrum detection is proposed and validated. The coherent noise is separated during one exposure by modulating the mutual delay of the signal and reference waves by a certain law. It is shown that the influence of internal motions in an object on the quality of the coherent noise separation can be reduced by the modulation frequency increasing. The technique has been numerically and experimentally validated with the help of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) setup with a radiation source operating at a wavelength of 1277 nm and a width of the recorded spectrum of about 100 nm.     

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.     

一种新型的专用于光学相干层析系统的宽带光纤光源

报道了一种新型的专用于光学相干层析系统的输出光谱为准高斯型的宽带超荧光光纤光源.该光源采用掺饵光纤作为增益介质.其关键技术是在抽运源的输出端增加了光耦合器，并在光源输出端插入多级长周期光纤光栅对铒离子的自发光谱进行调制和整形；同时采用光控器和温控器来控制抽运源的输出以提高光源输出功率的稳定性.该光源的中心波长为1.57μm，输出光谱的3dB带宽大于75nm，输出功率为27mW.实验结果表明，该光源输出光谱的自相关函数的旁瓣峰被大大削弱，可以满足光学相干层析系统的应用. 关键词： 光学相干层析术 超荧光光纤光源 长周期光纤光栅 光耦合器     

Characterization of coated optical fibers by Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography

Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography is used to image the cross sections of coated optical fibers. A standard single-mode fiber with a dual coating and a hard-clad silica fiber with a single thin low-index coating are studied. The individual coating dimensions, coated and uncoated fiber diameters, and the fiber coating's concentricity are retrieved from a single measurement.     

The application of optical coherence tomography to problems in polymer matrix composites

The Composites Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology has found optical coherence tomography (OCT) to be a powerful tool for non-destructive characterization of polymer matrix composites. Composites often exhibit superior properties to traditional materials such as wood and metal. However, the barrier to their widespread infiltration into consumer markets is cost. Composites can be made more cost competitive by improved composite design, process optimization, and quality control. OCT provides a means of evaluating the three aforementioned areas. OCT is a very versatile technique that can be applied to a variety of problems in polymer composites such as: microstructure determination for permeability and mechanical property prediction, void, dry spot, and defect detection, and damage evaluation. Briefly, OCT uses a low coherence source such as a superluminescent diode laser with a fiber optic based Michelson interferometer. In this configuration, the composite is the fixed arm of the interferometer. Reflections from heterogeneities within the sample are mapped as a function of thickness for any one position. Volume information is generated by translating the sample on a motorized stage. Information about the location and size of a feature within the composite is obtained. In this work, the power of OCT for imaging composite microstructure and damage is presented. An example of permeability prediction using the composite microstructure imaged from OCT is demonstrated. The effect of image processing on the value of permeability is discussed. Using the same sample, OCT imaging of composite impact damage is compared to more traditional techniques, X-ray computed tomography and confocal microscopy.     

A fiber-based single-unit dual-mode optical Imaging system: Swept source optical coherence tomography and fluorescence spectroscopy

We propose a fiber optic single-unit but dual-mode optical imaging system that can provide fast cross-sectional imaging capabilities of swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and functional capabilities of fluorescence spectroscopy (FS). By adopting a fiber optic FS system into a fiber-based SS-OCT system, a compact and effective multimodal single-unit SSOCT-FS system is achieved. Here, the key element of the proposed multimodal imaging system is a specially designed fiber coupler based on double-clad fiber (DCF), which has only cladding-mode coupling capability. The DCF couplers are fabricated with home-drawn DCF by several fabrication methods; a twisting method, a side-polishing method and a fused biconical tapered (FBT) method. Experimentally, the FBT method provides rather flat cladding mode coupling efficiency over 40% in a wide wavelength range. With this specially designed DCF coupler, the OCT signal and the fluorescence signal is measured independently but with a single-unit system. The performance of the SSOCT-FS system is confirmed by measuring the cross-sectional image and the fluorescence signal of a photosensitizer chlorin e6 injected in-vivo rat tumor model.     

Cross-polarized backscatter in optical coherence tomography of biological tissue

We have observed that cross-polarized backscatter measured by optical coherence tomography of human skin in vivo is surprisingly strong. We identify and give evidence of its main origins: single scattering from nonspherical particles and multiple scattering by particles with sizes much larger than a wavelength. Our findings show that depolarized light scattered by dense large-diameter particles maintains a high degree of temporal coherence and that differential-polarization imaging improves contrast between particles of different sizes.     

Statistics and reduction of speckle in optical coherence tomography

Studies have shown that optical coherence tomography (OCT) is useful in imaging microscopic structures through highly scattering media. Because spatially coherent light is used in OCT, speckle in the reconstructed image is unavoidable, resulting in degradation of the quality of the OCT images and impaired ability to differentiate subsurface structures. Therefore speckle reduction is an important issue in OCT imaging. We develop speckle statistics that are appropriate to the OCT measurements and demonstrate a simple and practical speckle-reduction technique.     

Skin layer detection of optical coherence tomography images

In this paper, we present an image processing algorithm to automatically and more precisely detect the boundary between the main skin layers: stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis. The aim of the proposed skin layer detection algorithm is to assist the dermatologists to measure the epidermal thickness (ET) for skin diseases diagnosis and also to assist pharmacologists so that they can make a better decision for prescribing according to the advancement of the skin disorders characterized with ET change.     

白光频域光学相干层析检测方法

针对频域光学相干层析系统成像过程中产生的图像噪声,提出了一种干涉光谱解耦的方法。该方法通过消除干涉光谱中的直流项和自相关项,实现对图像去噪。利用白光作为光源,对聚苯乙烯单层薄膜进行成像实验,得到薄膜的一维深度图像以及二维层析图像。由二维层析图像可以清晰的获取薄膜的内部微观结构及表面形貌信息。实验结果表明,该检测方法可有效消除薄膜的图像噪声,提高图像信噪比和对比度。