Rotary mirror array for high-speed optical coherence tomography

We have developed a simple, high-speed, high-duty-cycle, linear optical delay line suitable for optical coherence tomography and optical Doppler tomography. Periodic longitudinal scanning is achieved by use of a tilted mirror array rotating at a constant speed. With a typical motor speed of 4000 rpm, our system has demonstrated a 2-mm axial scanning range, a 2400-Hz repetition rate, 94% duty cycle, and less than 0.1% nonlinear errors. Much higher repetition rates can be readily achieved by use of high-speed motors.     

Continuous focus tracking for real-time optical coherence tomography

We report an approach to achieving continuous focus tracking and a depth-independent transverse resolution for real-time optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. Continuous real-time focus tracking is permitted by use of a lateral-priority image acquisition sequence in which the depth-scanning rate is equivalent to the imaging frame rate. Real-time OCT imaging with continuous focus tracking is performed at 1 frame/s by reciprocal translation of a rapid lateral-scanning miniature imaging probe (e.g., an endoscope). The optical path length in the reference arm is scanned synchronously to ensure that the coherence gate coincides with the imaging beam focus. The image quality improvement is experimentally demonstrated by imaging a tissue phantom embedded with polystyrene microspheres and rabbit esophageal tissues.     

Double-reflection polygon mirror for high-speed optical coherence microscopy

We report on a high-speed, high-efficiency, high-duty-cycle, path-length-maintaining and linear beam scanner suitable for en face scanning optical coherence microscopy. Fast transverse beam scanning is achieved by use of a double-reflection polygon mirror (DRPM) rotating at a constant speed. With a motor speed of 18,000 rpm and a scanner diameter of 50 mm, the DRPM provides a line rate up to 3 kHz, +/-1.8 degrees scanning range, and 90% duty cycle. A much higher scanning speed and much larger scanning range can be readily achieved by increasing the scanner diameter.     

Electrostatic micromachine scanning mirror for optical coherence tomography

Compact electrostatic micromirror structures for use in the scanning arm of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system are described. These devices consist of millimeter-scale mirrors resting upon micrometer-scale polyimide hinges that are tilted by a linear micromachine actuator, the integrated force array (IFA). The IFA is a network of deformable capacitor cells that electrostatically contract with an applied voltage. The support structures, hinges, and actuators are fabricated by photolithography from polyimide-upon-silicon wafers. These devices were inserted into the scanning arm of an experimental OCT imaging system to produce in vitro and in vivo images at frame rates of 4 to 8 Hz.     

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.     

Self-referenced Doppler optical coherence tomography

Doppler optical coherence tomography (DOCT) allows simultaneous micrometer-scale resolution cross-sectional imaging of tissue structure and blood flow. We demonstrate a fiber-optic polarization-diversity-based differential phase contrast DOCT system as a method to perform self-referenced velocimetry in highly scattering media. Using this strategy, we reduced common-mode interferometer noise to <1 Hz and improved Doppler estimates in a scattering flow phantom by a factor of 5.     

Interstitial Doppler optical coherence tomography

Doppler optical coherence tomography (OCT) can image tissue structure and blood flow at micrometer-scale resolution but has limited imaging depth. We report a novel, linear-scanning, needle-based Doppler OCT system using angle-polished gradient-index or ball-lensed fibers. A prototype system with a 19-guage (diameter of approximately 0.9 mm) echogenic needle is constructed and demonstrates in vivo imaging of bidirectional blood flow in rat leg and abdominal cavity. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of Doppler OCT through a needle probe in interstitial applications to visualize deeply situated microcirculation.     

Linear-wavenumber spectrometer for high-speed spectral-domain optical coherence tomography

An equidistant (in the wavenumber) spectrometer based on a diffraction grating, a compensation prism, and a CCD linear array is developed and implemented for spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. A criterion is introduced for estimating the level of residual nonequidistance. This criterion allows one to determine the threshold compensation level necessary for obtaining the spectrally limited spatial resolution. The method is tested in spectral-domain optical coherent tomography systems at wavelengths of 1270 and 830 nm.

     

Endoscopic optical coherence tomography based on a microelectromechanical mirror

An endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) system based on a microelectromechanical mirror to facilitate lateral light scanning is described. The front-view OCT scope, adapted to the instrument channel of a commercial endoscopic sheath, allows real-time cross-sectional imaging of living biological tissue via direct endoscopic visual guidance. The transverse and axial resolutions of the OCT scope are roughly 20 and 10.2mum, respectively. Cross-sectional images of 500x1000 pixels covering an area of 2.9 mmx2.8 mm can be acquired at ~5 frames/s and with nearly 100-dB dynamic range. Applications in thickness measurement and bladder tissue imaging are demonstrated.     

Doppler-based lateral motion tracking for optical coherence tomography

Nonuniform lateral scanning of the probe beam in optical coherence tomography produces imaging artifacts and leads to a morphologically inaccurate representation of the sample. Here, we demonstrate a solution to this problem, which is based on the Doppler shift carried by the complex-valued depth-resolved scattering amplitude. Furthermore, we demonstrate the feasibility of Doppler flow velocity measurements in underlying flow channels while laterally scanning the imaging probe over large surfaces with arbitrary and varying velocity. Finally, we performed centimeters-long hand-held B-mode imaging of skin in vivo.     

Higher-order cross-correlation-based Doppler optical coherence tomography

A method based on higher-order cross-correlation is proposed to fetch the Doppler information on flow velocity within areas under low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The proposed method is theoretically developed and validated by measurement of a moving mirror with known velocities. Standard deviations of flow velocities of the mirror under different SNRs are determined by the proposed method and compared with those by the modified phase-resolved method. Measurement of flowing particles within a glass capillary is also conducted, and Doppler flow velocity maps of the glass capillary are reconstructed by both methods. All experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can significantly suppress noise, thus rendering it suitable for flow measurement under low SNR cases.     

Real-time detection technique for Doppler optical coherence tomography

We propose and demonstrate a novel detection technique, based on a modified electronic phase-locked loop, for Doppler optical coherence tomography. The technique permits real-time simultaneous reflectivity and continuous, bidirectional velocity mapping in turbid media over a wide velocity range with minimal sensitivity penalty compared with conventional optical coherence tomography, which is a major advance over current postprocessing and discrete parallel detection techniques.     

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.     

Scanning mirror on a vibrating membrane for dynamic optical trapping

A study of the variation of the spectral shape and the harmonic distribution of the high-order harmonics generated from silver plasma on the frequency chirp of the driving laser radiation (793 nm 48 fs) is reported. The results of the systematic study of the harmonic generation from the 21st order up to the 61st order (λ=13 nm) are presented. A tuning of the harmonic wavelength up to 0.8 nm can be accomplished by variation of the laser chirp. PACS 42.65.Ky; 42.79.Nv; 52.38.Mf     

Ultrathin fiber probes with extended depth of focus for optical coherence tomography

We report on a novel scheme for extending the depth of focus (DOF) of ultrathin (125 μm diameter) fiber probes for optical coherence tomography (OCT) using a simple phase mask consisting of graded-index (GRIN) fiber. The technique is compatible with existing all-in-fiber probe fabrication techniques, and our simulations show that it can provide a DOF gain of ~2 at a modest ~5 dB reduction of peak sensitivity. In a prototype device using commercially available GRIN fiber, a DOF gain of 1.55 is obtained, validated by beam profiling and OCT imaging.     

Method for suppressing the mirror image in Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography

A method, novel to our knowledge, for effective mirror image suppression in Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography based on a phase shift between neighboring A-mode scans is demonstrated. By realizing that the phase shifts of the real and mirror images are mutually reversed and assuming that the real image intensities of the two successive A-mode scans are the same, we can solve a set of two coupled equations to obtain the real image signals. The images based on the scanning of a high-resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography system are processed to show effective mirror image suppression results. Compared with a similar method of broad application, our approach has the advantages of shorter process time and higher flexibility in selecting the concerned image portions for processing.     

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.     

Simultaneous dual-wavelength-band common-path swept-source optical coherence tomography with single polygon mirror scanner

We report a novel (to the best of our knowledge) simultaneous 1310/1550 two-wavelength band swept laser source and dual-band common-path swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Synchronized dual-wavelength tuning is performed by using two laser cavities and narrowband wavelength filters with a single dual-window polygonal scanner. Measured average output powers of 60 and 27 mW have been achieved for the 1310 and 1550 nm bands, respectively, while the two wavelengths were swept simultaneously from 1227 to 1387 nm for the 1310 nm band and from 1519 to 1581 nm for the 1550 nm band at an A-scan rate of 65 kHz. Broadband wavelength-division multiplexing is used for coupling two wavelengths into a common-path single-mode GRIN-lensed fiber probe to form dual-band common-path SS-OCT. Simultaneous OCT imaging at 1310 and 1550 nm is achieved. This technique allows for in vivo high-speed OCT imaging with potential application in functional (spectroscopic) investigations.     

In vivo measurement of retinal physiology with high-speed ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography

Noninvasive in vivo functional optical imaging of the intact retina is demonstrated by using high-speed, ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT). Imaging was performed with 2.8 microm resolution at a rate of 24,000 axial scans per second. A white-light stimulus was applied to the dark-adapted rat retina, and the average reflectivities from different intraretinal layers were monitored as a function of time. A 10%-15% increase in the average amplitude reflectance of the photoreceptor outer segments was observed in response to the stimulus. The spatial distribution of the change in the OCT signal is consistent with an increase in backscatter from the photoreceptor outer segments. To our knowledge, this is the first in vivo demonstration of OCT functional imaging in the intact retina.     

Wide dynamic range detection of bidirectional flow in Doppler optical coherence tomography using a two-dimensional Kasai estimator

We demonstrate extended axial flow velocity detection range in a time-domain Doppler optical coherence tomography (DOCT) system using a modified Kasai velocity estimator with computations in both the axial and transverse directions. For a DOCT system with an 8 kHz rapid-scanning optical delay line, bidirectional flow experiments showed a maximum detectable speed of >56 cm/s using the axial Kasai estimator without the occurrence of aliasing, while the transverse Kasai estimator preserved the approximately 7 microm/s minimum detectable velocity to slow flow. By using a combination of transverse Kasai and axial Kasai estimators, the velocity detection dynamic range was over 100 dB. Through a fiber-optic endoscopic catheter, in vivoM-mode transesophageal imaging of the pulsatile blood flow in rat aorta was demonstrated, for what is for the first time to our knowledge, with measured peak systolic blood flow velocity of >1 m/s, while maintaining good sensitivity to detect aortic wall motion at <2 mm/s, using this 2D Kasai technique.