Abstract
The multi-frame superresolution technique is introduced to significantly improve the lateral resolution and image quality of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Using several sets of low resolution C-scan 3D images with lateral sub-spot-spacing shifts on different sets, the multi-frame superresolution processing of these sets at each depth layer reconstructs a higher resolution and quality lateral image. Layer by layer processing yields an overall high lateral resolution and quality 3D image. In theory, the superresolution processing including deconvolution can solve the diffraction limit, lateral scan density and background noise problems together. In experiment, the improved lateral resolution by ~3 times reaching 7.81 µm and 2.19 µm using sample arm optics of 0.015 and 0.05 numerical aperture respectively as well as doubling the image quality has been confirmed by imaging a known resolution test target. Improved lateral resolution on in vitro skin C-scan images has been demonstrated. For in vivo 3D SD-OCT imaging of human skin, fingerprint and retina layer, we used the multi-modal volume registration method to effectively estimate the lateral image shifts among different C-scans due to random minor unintended live body motion. Further processing of these images generated high lateral resolution 3D images as well as high quality B-scan images of these in vivo tissues.
Highlights
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive coherence-gated cross sectional imaging technique [1, 2]
After the superresolution processing of a set of these C-scan images, we have demonstrated about 3 times lateral resolution improvement, from 25 μm to 7.81 μm and from 7.81 μm to 2.19 μm with measurement arm lens NA of 0.015 and 0.05, respectively, using a known resolution target
Background noise reduction and image quality doubling without sacrificing the DOF of the focusing beam and lateral field of view (FOV) has been attained
Summary
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive coherence-gated cross sectional imaging technique [1, 2] It provides subsurface deeper penetration depth [3] and larger scan area [4] than confocal microscope imaging [5] as well as higher resolution [3] than ultrasonic imaging [6]. Using a high NA optics with smaller focused beam spot size on the sample can improve the SD-OCT lateral image resolution, there is an obvious trade-off of subsurface imaging depth in the tissue sample owing to the depth of focus ( DOF ) limitation, losing its main advantage over confocal microscope. Improving the lateral resolution without sacrificing DOF and FOV is a very important research objective
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