Abstract
In this paper, we propose a super-resolution spectral estimation technique to quantify microvascular hemodynamics using optical microangiography (OMAG) based on optical coherence tomography (OCT). The proposed OMAG technique uses both amplitude and phase information of the OCT signals which makes it sensitive to the axial and transverse flows. The scanning protocol for the proposed method is identical to three-dimensional ultrahigh sensitive OMAG, and is applicable for in vivo measurements. In contrast to the existing capillary flow quantification methods, the proposed method is less sensitive to tissue motion and does not have aliasing problems due fast flow within large blood vessels. This method is analogous to power Doppler in ultrasonography and estimates the number of red blood cells passing through the beam as opposed to the velocity of the particles. The technique is tested both qualitatively and quantitatively by using OMAG to image microcirculation within mouse ear flap in vivo.
Highlights
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a depth-resolved cross-sectional non-invasive three-dimensional (3D) optical imaging modality for measuring and visualizing morphological features within highly scattering sample using interference of near-infrared light [1,2]
The scanning protocol and total scanning time are identical to 3-D ultrahigh sensitive optical micro-angiography and it does not have aliasing at large vessels
The total scanning time for 3-D application is identical to three-dimensional ultrahigh sensitive optical micro-angiography and it does not have aliasing at large vessels
Summary
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a depth-resolved cross-sectional non-invasive three-dimensional (3D) optical imaging modality for measuring and visualizing morphological features within highly scattering sample using interference of near-infrared light [1,2]. Ultrahigh-sensitive OMAG (UHS-OMAG) is an variation of OMAG technique, capable of imaging microvasculature with capillary detail [19,20,21], in which data acquisition is often based on repeated B-scan (frame) acquisition at the same spatial location [21], and separating dynamic scatters (e.g. moving red blood cells within patent vessels) from static scatters (e.g. structure tissue) by the use of phase-compensated subtraction [22] or eigendecomposition-based [23] (ED-) OMAG algorithms. This method is capable of quantifying blood flow in microvasculature and capillary beds for in vivo applications
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have