Abstract
This work demonstrates the combination of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) using a double-clad optical fiber coupler. The single-mode core of the fiber is used for OCT imaging, while the inner cladding of the double-clad fiber provides an efficient way to capture the reflectance spectrum of the sample. The combination of both methods enables three-dimensional acquisition of the sample morphology with OCT, enhanced with complementary molecular information contained in the hyperspectral image. The HSI data can be used to highlight the presence of specific molecules with characteristic absorption peaks or to produce true color images overlaid on the OCT volume for improved tissue identification by the clinician. Such a system could be implemented in a number of clinical endoscopic applications and could improve the current practice in tissue characterization, diagnosis, and surgical guidance.
Highlights
Over the last decade, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has developed into a significant clinical imaging modality
While other groups have reported combining OCT and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in free-space systems,[26,27] we present an allfiber implementation based on a double-clad fiber (DCF)
The slight loss in axial resolution could be explained by a small dispersion mismatch between the sample and reference arm induced by the addition of the double-clad fiber coupler (DCFC)
Summary
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has developed into a significant clinical imaging modality. It has become a primary technique to investigate the eye[1] and blood vessels,2and many applications are emerging in laryngology,[3] gastroenterology,[4,5] dentistry,[6] and many other fields of medicine. OCT has the ability to image organs in threedimensions (3-D), with a resolution of a few micrometers, and a penetration depth of several millimeters at video rate acquisition speeds.[7] while OCT is a very powerful technique to assess sample morphology, it gives access to little molecular information. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is an imaging method that provides two-dimensional images of a sample in multiple wavelength bands.[8] A reflectance (or fluorescence) spectrum is associated with each pixel and conveys information on molecules present locally, but without depth discrimination. The technique has been successfully applied in cancer detection,[9,10,11] diagnosis of circulatory and[12,13,14] retinal15–17diseases, and surgical guidance.[18,19,20]
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