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...     

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.     

High-resolution subsurface articular cartilage imaging based on Fourier-domain common-path optical coherence tomography

<正>We demonstrate the subsurface imaging of an articular cartilage using Fourier-domain common-path optical coherence tomography.The bare fiber probe integrated with a hypodermic needle provides the rigidness required to perform lateral scanning with less microscale bending.By submerging both the probe and the specimen into saline solution,we not only reduce the beam divergence,but also increase the signal-to-noise ratio compared with the measurement in free space.Our system can differentiate the characteristic cartilage zones and identity various micro-structured defects in an ex vivo chicken knee cartilage,thus demonstrating that it could be used to conduct early arthritis diagnosis and intraoperative endo-microscopy.     

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.     

Linear optical coherence tomography system with extended measurement range

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) sensors traditionally use scanning optical delay lines with moving parts and a single detector. OCT systems with a linear detector array (linear OCT or L-OCT) are simple and robust, but a detector with approximately 10,000 pixels is needed for an imaging depth of 2mm, which is necessary for most biomedical applications. We present a new optical setup for L-OCT with an increased measurement range. An additional grating performs a reduction of the spatial frequencies of the fringe pattern on the detector without loss in the signal-to-noise ratio, so the signal can be sampled with a minimal number of pixels. The theory for this approach is addressed and the first measurements are presented.     

Feasibility study of phase-sensitive imaging based on multiple reference optical coherence tomography

Multiple reference optical coherence tomography(MR-OCT) is a recently developed, low-cost and compact time-domain OCT solution for primary care and consumer level applications. A combination of a voice coil actuator and a partial mirror(PM) extends the scan range for imaging depths of approximately 1 mm in biological samples. Our previous research on MR-OCT is based only on intensity information obtained from the depth-resolved interference signal. In this Letter, we extract the phase information from the MR-OCT signal and, hence, provide an additional contrast modality. The phase sensitivity of the system is measured to be approximately 0.2 and 1.5 rad for the first and twelfth orders of reflection when using a mirror as the sample.This Letter describes first results of phase-sensitive data measured on a phantom obtained with MR-OCT. Data from a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane(CAM) is used to demonstrate the feasibility of MR-OCT for in vivo phase-sensitive imaging.     

Film thickness measurement and defect inspection using optical coherence tomography

An optical sensing technology based on optical coherence tomography is presented for film thickness measurement and defect inspection. In order to improve the imaging quality, a simple interference spectrum processing procedure is proposed to eliminate the DC and the autocorrelation noise. With the proposed method, we obtain high quality one-dimensional depth and two-dimensional cross-sectional images of the films. Then, the thickness and the defect information of the film can be obtained from the acquired images. The experiment result demonstrates that this nondestructive imaging technique is applicable for measuring film thickness and inspecting defects.     

Optimization of Fizeau-based optical coherence tomography with a reference Michelson interferometer

The method of Fizeau-based optical coherence tomography with a reference Michelson interferometer has been optimized. The real-system noise and dynamic range have been estimated. The time parameters of the system are optimized according to the proposed noise model. A good correspondence between the numerical estimates and experimental data is shown.     

The characteristics of three-dimensional skin imaging system by full-colored optical coherence tomography

In the present cosmetic market, the skin image obtained from a hand-held camera is two-dimensional (2-D). Due to insufficient penetration, only the skin surface can be detected, and thus phenomena in the dermis cannot be observed. To take the place of the conventional 2D camera, a new hand-held imaging system is proposed for three-dimensional (3-D) skin imaging. Featuring non-invasiveness, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become one of the popular medical imaging techniques. The dermal images shown in OCT-related reports were mainly single-colored because of the use of a monotonic light source. With three original-colored beams applied in OCT, a full-colored image can be derived for dermatology. The penetration depth of the system ranges from 0.43 to 0.78 mm, sufficient for imaging of main tissues in the dermis. Colorful and non-invasive perspectives of deep dermal structure help to advance skin science, dermatology and cosmetology.     

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.     

Simultaneous measurement of flow velocity and Doppler angle by the use of Doppler optical coherence tomography

Monitoring blood flow velocity could have great value for biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. One of current restrictions to determine flow velocity by the use of Doppler optical coherence tomography (Doppler OCT) is that the Doppler angle should be predefined. However, from a practical point of view, it is not easy to predetermine Doppler angle for a flow beneath the tissue surface. In this work, a novel method for measuring both flow velocity and Doppler angle simultaneously by the use of Doppler OCT is proposed and demonstrated. Based on Doppler spectrum analysis, this technique measures both longitudinal and transverse components of flow velocity by detecting its Doppler shift and Doppler bandwidth to determine velocity and Doppler angle simultaneously. Such a technique extends flow velocity measurement into a broadening practical use of Doppler OCT where Doppler angle would not need to be predefined, for example, blood flow beneath the tissue surface. Therefore, with this technique, Doppler OCT could be applied to more practical diagnoses of microcirculation.     

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.     

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).     

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.     

Tomographic imaging of incipient dental-caries using optical coherence tomography and comparison with various modalities

We present the optical coherence tomography (OCT) made to investigate the early dental caries in human teeth and compare its results with those taken by conventional imaging modalities including light illuminating examination (LIE), digital intra-oral radiography (DIOR), and electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA). Morphological features and caries-involved areas of the dental structure were mainly investigated by LIE, DIOR, and OCT to study the infection of the caries lesion in pits and fissures. The biochemical information acquired with EPMA and the morphological features taken with OCT in the early stage of caries were compared and analyzed to present an objective and practical index for the degree of caries. The experimental results allow us to conclude that OCT could be used to provide quantitative analysis of caries based on the reflectivity difference in the specimen.     

Spectral measurement of absorption by spectroscopic frequency-domain optical coherence tomography

A new method of measurement that essentially combines Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography with spectroscopy is introduced. By use of a windowed Fourier transform it is possible to obtain, in addition to the object structure, spectroscopic information such as the absorption properties of materials. The feasibility of this new method for performing depth-resolved spectroscopy is demonstrated with a glass filter plate. The results are compared with theoretically calculated spectra by use of the well-known spectral characteristics of the light source and the filter plate.     

Multiscale multimodal imaging with multiphoton microscopy and optical coherence tomography

A multiscale multiphoton microscopy (MPM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) system has been developed using a sub-10 fs Ti:sapphire laser. The system performs cross-sectional OCT imaging over millimeter field-of-view and en-face high-resolution MPM imaging with submicrometer resolution from the same sample location. With fish cornea, we have demonstrated cross-sectional imaging of cornea tissue layers using OCT, and the zoom-in imaging of cells and collagen fibers in each layer using MPM. The multiscale MPM/OCT system shows the potential of a rapid coarse scan to search for abnormal regions and the subsequent fine zoom-in imaging for diagnosis.     

Linear optical coherence tomography system with a downconverted fringe pattern

Linear optical coherence tomography (LOCT) systems are a simple and robust alternative to time-domain optical coherence tomography systems, but a detector with approximately 10(4) pixels is needed for an imaging depth of 2 mm. We present a new system for LOCT with a special mask attached to the image sensor. The mask essentially performs a downconversion of the spatial frequencies by multiplication with a second spatial frequency. This reduces the fringe frequency of the optical coherence tomography signal so that the signal can be sampled with fewer pixels.     

Enhancement of imaging depth and definition for optical coherence tomography by using sodium chloride agent

Sodium chloride (NaCl) water solution of different concentrations has been applied to human fingers to improve the imaging depth and the definition of optical coherence tomography images. It is found that the saturated NaCl solution of 36% concentration leads to the most effective enhancement, which is observable 1 min after the agent is applied to a sample surface. In contrast, for unsaturated NaCl agent of less than 30% concentration, both imaging depth and imaging definition first decrease for the initial few minutes and then increase. In general, reduction of NaCl concentration results in not only less enhancement of image quality but also longer leading time for the effect to be seen than that with saturated solution.     

High-flow-velocity and shear-rate imaging by use of color Doppler optical coherence tomography

Color Doppler optical coherence tomography (CDOCT) is capable of precise velocity mapping in turbid media. Previous CDOCT systems based on the short-time Fourier transform have been limited to maximum flow velocities of the order of tens of millimeters per second. We describe a technique, based on interference signal demodulation at multiple frequencies, to extend the physiological relevance of CDOCT by increasing the dynamic range of measurable velocities to hundreds of millimeters per second. The physiologically important parameter of shear rate is also derived from CDOCT measurements. The measured flow-velocity profiles and shear-rate distributions correlate very well with theoretical predictions. The multiple demodulation technique, therefore, may be useful to monitor blood flow in vivo and to identify regions with high and low shear rates.