Full-range Fourier-domain Optical Coherence Research Articles

Full-range Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography based on Mach–Zehnder interferometer

We proposed a full-range Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FR-FDOCT) based on a Mach–Zehnder interferometer with a tilted mirror which could generate a series of accurate phase-delay interference signals simultaneously. The FR-FDOCT is capable of acquiring artifact-free images by the construction of both amplitude and phase of the interferogram from multiple sets of phase-delay signals. The Mach–Zehnder interferometer make the reference arm became single-way optical path which is more convenient to adjust the reference beam than the return-way optical path (which means the incident and reflected beams use the same optical path) of traditional systems. A series of phase-delay interference signals were simultaneously acquired by a home-made two-dimensional spectrometer when tilting the mirror in the reference arm. The technique was employed to measure an anterior chamber of a porcine eye with a high symmetric artifact suppression of more than 45 dB. The technology could achieve double-range images effectively without any additional scanning device. It could actively promote the innovation and development of OCT technology.

Stage-based frequency-modulated full-range complex Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography

We propose a simple method to modulate spatial interferogram to achieve full-range complex imaging in Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography, in which a sample stage is employed which can be adjusted to introduce a constant carrier frequency into the interference signal during the B-scan by adjusting the stage angle with respect to the normal to the object under test. An additional phase, which is linearly related to the lateral position, is then induced in the A-scan. The in vivo images of human skin were generated which demonstrate that the method proposed can generate the cross-sectional image with the same quality with that obtained with other methods and with the advantage of the simplicity in implementation.

Full-range parallel Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography using a spatial carrier frequency

We propose a method of parallel full-range Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FDOCT) that is capable of acquiring an artifacts-free B-scan image by a single shot of a two-dimensional (2D) CCD camera. This method is based on a spatial carrier technique in which a spatial carrier-frequency is instantaneously introduced into the 2D spectral interferogram registered in parallel FDOCT by using a grating-generated line-reference beam. The spatial-carrier-contained 2D spectral interferogram is processed through Fourier transformation to obtain a complex 2D spectral interferogram, from which a full-range B-scan tomogram is reconstructed. The principle of our method is confirmed by imaging a tropical fish eye's anterior chamber and a shrimp telson in vivo. The suppression ratio of the complex conjugate artifact can reach 36 dB.

Experimental demonstration of high-speed full-range Fourier domain optical coherence tomography imaging using orthogonally polarized light and a phase-shifting algorithm

This study describes a phase-shifting method based on orthogonal polarized light by using complex Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) to increase the speed of image scanning and to resist vibration and other environmental disturbances. Two FD-OCT interferograms corresponding to orthogonal polarization components can be obtained simultaneously. After using a π/2 phase-shifting algorithm, removing unwanted components becomes possible, including dc and autocorrelation terms, from the interferogram. This method doubles the measurement range. In other words, this approach enables one-shot and full-range FD-OCT. Experimental results show that the reconstruction parameters of the sample are close to the conventional time-domain optical coherence tomography.

Full-range Fourier domain optical coherence tomography imaging probe with a magnetic-driven resonant fiber cantilever

In this work, we developed a full-range Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) imaging probe with a magnetic-driven resonant fiber cantilever. A galvanometer-driven reference mirror provides a linear phase modulation to each M-scan/B-scan frame to enable complex conjugate-free, full-range FD-OCT imaging. A fiber cantilever inside the probe is driven by a low-voltage miniature magnetic transducer. The fiber cantilever scans at its resonant frequency synchronized to the phase modulation induced by the reference mirror. Using a CCD line-scan camera-based spectrometer, we demonstrated real-time full-range FD-OCT at 34 frame/s (1024 pixel lateral × 2048 pixel axial).

Real-time numerical dispersion compensation using graphics processing unit for Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography

Numerical dispersion compensation for both standard and full-range Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) on the graphics processing unit (GPU) architecture has been implemented. The data acquisition, processing and image display were performed on a multi-thread, CPU-GPU heterogeneous computing system. The real-time ultra-high-resolution full-range complex-conjugate-free FD-OCT imaging was demonstrated at 68.4 frame/s with a frame size of 1024 (lateral) by 2048 (axial) pixels.

Broadband Fourier-domain mode-locked lasers

Broadband, high-speed wavelength-swept lasers can substantially enhance applications in optical coherence tomography, chemical spectroscopy, and fiber-optic sensing. We report the demonstration of Fourier-domain mode-lock lasers operating at about 90 kHz effective sweep rate over a 158 nm sweep range using a single-band design and over a 284 nm sweep range across the 1.3 μm to 1.5 μm wavelength spectrum using a unique broadband design. A novel dual-detection full-range Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography system is developed which provides 7 μm axial resolution (in air) at about 90 kHz axial scan rate for mirror-image resolved Doppler imaging in a human finger and an African frog tadpole.

Single-shot two-dimensional full-range optical coherence tomography achieved by dispersion control

We present a full-range Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) system that is capable of acquiring two-dimensional images of living tissue in a single shot. By using line illumination of the sample in combination with a two-dimensional imaging spectrometer, 1040 depth scans are performed simultaneously on a sub-millisecond timescale. Furthermore, we demonstrate an easy and flexible real-time single-shot technique for full-range (complex-conjugate cancelled) OCT imaging that is compatible with both two-dimensional as well as ultrahigh-resolution OCT. By implementing a dispersion imbalance between reference and sample arms of the interferometer, we eliminate the complex-conjugate signal through numerical dispersion compensation, effectively increasing the useful depth range by a factor of two. The system allows us to record 6.7 x 3.2 mm images at 5 microm depth resolution in 0.2 ms. Data postprocessing requires only 4 s. We demonstrate the capability of our system by imaging the anterior chamber of a mouse eye in vitro, as well as human skin in vivo.

Numerical analysis of one-shot full-range FD-OCT system based on orthogonally polarized light

Full-range Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) is generally achieved using a phase shifting algorithm. A novel design is presented for a one-shot full-range Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) system utilizing orthogonally polarized light. The phase-shifted interferograms required to reconstruct the sample structure are obtained using an apochromatic quarter-wave retarder rather than a mechanical scanning operation, and thus the imaging results are free of vibrational-induced errors. The numerical analysis shows that it enhances the quality of high resolution FD-OCT and reduces the acquisition time. Moreover, the simulation results show that the proposed system is robust toward both the presence of noise in the power spectrum of the super luminescent diode (SLD) and a slight non-orthogonality of the two light beams incident on the spectrum analyzers, respectively.

Use of a scanner to modulate spatial interferograms for in vivo full-range Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography

We report a new yet simple method to achieve full-range complex Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) for in vivo imaging. The method utilizes a scanner that is dedicated for lateral scanning in the system to introduce a constant carrier frequency into the OCT spectral interferograms during the scanning. This is achieved by simply offsetting the sampling beam spot away from the pivot point of the scanning mirror. We demonstrate the method experimentally for in vivo full-range imaging of the anterior segment of a human eye. The method is free from complex conjugate mirror image and self-cross-correlation image artifacts.

Dynamic full-range Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography using sinusoidal phase-modulating interferometry

We propose a technique for dynamic full-range Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography by using sinusoidal phase-modulating interferometry, where both the full-range structural information and depth-resolved dynamic information are obtained. A novel frequency-domain filtering algorithm is proposed to reconstruct a time-dependent complex spectral interferogram from the sinusoidally phase-modulated interferogram detected with a high-rate CCD camera. By taking the amplitude and phase of the inverse Fourier transform of the complex spectral interferogram, a time-dependent full-range cross-sectional image and depth-resolved displacement are obtained. Displacement of a sinusoidally vibrating glass cover slip behind a fixed glass cover slip is measured with subwavelength sensitivity to demonstrate the depth-resolved dynamic imaging capability of our system.

Simultaneous B-M-mode scanning method for real-time full-range Fourier domain optical coherence tomography

High-speed complex full-range Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) is demonstrated. In this FD-OCT, the phase modulation of a reference beam (M scan) and transversal scanning (B scan) are simultaneously performed. The Fourier transform method is applied along the direction of the B scan to reconstruct complex spectra, and the complex spectra comprise a full-range OCT image. Because of this simultaneous B-M-mode scan, the FD-OCT requires only a single A scan for each single transversal position to obtain a full-range FD-OCT image. A simple but slow version of the FD-OCT visualizes the cross section of a plastic plate. A modified fast version of this FD-OCT investigates a sweat duct in a finger pad in vivo and visualizes it with an acquisition time of 27 ms.

Real Time and Full-range Complex Fourier Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

High speed complex full-range Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) is demonstrated. This FD-OCT requires only a single A-scan for each single transversal position for full-range Fourier domain optical coherence tomography. The Fourier transform method is applied along the direction of the B-scan to reconstruct complex spectra, and the complex spectra compose a full-range OCT image.