High-speed Swept-source Optical Coherence Tomography Research Articles

Miniaturized Head-Mount Doppler Optical Coherence Tomography Scope for Freely Moving Mouse.

This study presents a miniaturized head-mount optical coherence tomography (OCT) system tailored for high-resolution brain imaging in freely moving mice, providing an advanced noninvasive imaging tool in neuroscience research. Leveraging optical coherence tomography technology, the system enables depth-resolved imaging and integrates functional OCT extensions, including angiography and Doppler imaging. Remarkably lightweight at 1.5 g, the device allows for the preservation of natural mouse behavior during imaging sessions. With a maximum 4 × 4 mm field of view and 7.4 μm axial resolution, the system offers reliable imaging capabilities. Noteworthy features include focal adjustability, rotary joint integration for fiber-twist-free operation, and a high-speed swept-source OCT laser at 200 kHz, facilitating real-time imaging. By providing insights into brain mechanisms and neurological disorders without disrupting natural behavior, this innovative system holds promise as a powerful tool in neuroscience research. Its compact design and comprehensive imaging capabilities make it well-suited for studying various brain regions and dynamic processes, contributing significantly to our understanding of brain function and pathology.

Developing quantitative analysis program of blood flow velocity according to vessel diameter for neovascular age-related macular degeneration using OCTA-VISTA

This study aimed to develop a quantitative analysis program of blood flow velocity by vessel diameter in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) subjects using high-speed swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography. This retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study included 10 eyes of healthy volunteers and 4 eyes of patients with representative nAMD. Novel scan patterns and variable interscan time analysis were utilized to measure the flow parameter, a surrogate marker of blood flow velocity, by vessel diameter within different depths. Detected vessels at superficial and deep as well as outer retinal regions were categorized into three vessel diameters (major vessels (> 40 μm), medium vessels (20–40 μm), and capillaries (< 20 μm)). The flow parameter increased with enlarged vessel diameter in all participants at superficial and deep layer. All nAMD subjects, except for type 3 macular neovascularization (MNV), contained a structure dominated by medium vessels at outer retinal region. The mean flow parameter at outer retinal region was type 1 MNV (1.46 ms−1), type 1 + 2 MNV (0.98 ms−1), and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, including branching vascular networks (1.46 ms−1). This program provides the possibility to extract the blood flow information at different depths by vessel diameter types, which is considered to be useful tool for evaluating nAMD pathology and activity.

Multi-channel delay sampling to extend imaging depth in high-speed swept-source OCT systems.

We present a multi-channel delay sampling method to extend imaging depth in high-speed swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). A balanced detector captures interference signals, converting them into electrical signals, which are then split into N channels, each with fixed time delays determined by the length of electrical cables. Then, they are digitized by an N-channel acquisition card. A calibration procedure is utilized to compensate for non-uniform phase shifts resulting from fixed time delays. The N-channel signals are merged in k-space and resampled to obtain a linearized spectrum, which increases the sampling rate by a factor of N, thereby extending the ranging distance by N times, all without altering k-clock triggering or sacrificing other imaging performance. The signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity within the original depth range also have been enhanced. This advancement contributes to the improvement of the overall performance of SS-OCT systems.

Visualization of Cataract Surgery Steps With 4D Microscope-Integrated Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography in Ex Vivo Porcine Eyes.

To investigate the visualization capabilities of high-speed swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) in cataract surgery. Cataract surgery was simulated in wet labs with ex vivo porcine eyes. Each phase of the surgery was visualized with a novel surgical microscope-integrated SS-OCT with a variable imaging speed of over 1 million A-scans per second. It was designed to provide four-dimensional (4D) live-volumetric videos, live B-scans, and volume capture scans. Four-dimensional videos, B-scans, and volume capture scans of corneal incision, ophthalmic viscosurgical device injection, capsulorrhexis, phacoemulsification, intraocular lens (IOL) injection, and position of unfolded IOL in the capsular bag were recorded. The flexibility of the SS-OCT system allowed us to tailor the scanning parameters to meet the specific demands of dynamic surgical steps and static pauses. The entire length of the eye was recorded in a single scan, and unfolding of the IOL was visualized dynamically. The presented novel visualization method for fast ophthalmic surgical microscope-integrated intraoperative OCT imaging in cataract surgery allowed the visualization of all major steps of the procedure by achieving large imaging depths covering the entire eye and high acquisition speeds enabling live volumetric 4D-OCT imaging. This promising technology may become an integral part of routine and advanced robotic-assisted cataract surgery in the future. We demonstrate the visualization capabilities of a cutting edge swept-source OCT system integrated into an ophthalmic surgical microscope during cataract surgery.

Swept-source endoscopic optical coherence tomography real-time imaging system based on GPU acceleration for axial megahertz high-speed scanning.

In order to solve the problem of image real-time processing and correction for high-speed endoscopic swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT), we highly optimize a computer-unified device architecture-based platform and use a field-programmable gate array to summarize the application experience. We use the Half-Sync/Half-Asyn mode to optimize memory in order to build a high-throughput data thread pool for CPU. We use asynchronous streaming architecture to multiplex multiple threads at high speed to accelerate data processing. At the same time, we design a rotary scanning position information encoding feedback module to suppress image drift, which can realize 25ns logic-timing sequence synchronization control through FPGA 40MHz clock. The maximum complete attainable axial-scan-processing rate (including memory transfer and display of B-scan frames) is 3.52 MHz for a 16-bit pixel depth and A-scans/s of 1024 pixels. To our knowledge, this is the fastest processing rate reported to date with a single-chip graphical processing unit for SS-OCT. Finally, the established high-speed SS-OCT is used to image mouse esophagus and human fingers, and the output images are stable. When the image size is 1024 × 1024 pixels, the real-time imaging rate is 200 frames per second. This paper develops a real-time image processing and reconstruction technology suitable for high-throughput SS-OCT systems, which can have high-density operation and efficient parallelism, while suppressing high-speed image drift. It lays the foundation for the non-destructive, in vivo, non-staining, fast and convenient early tumor diagnosis of high-speed endoscopic SS-OCT.

Effect of capsular bend on the rotational stability of toric intraocular lens.

To assess the effect of capsular bend and axial length on the rotational stability of toric IOL. The prospective study included patients with preexisting astigmatism that were implanted with Acrysof IQ Toric IOL. According to the pre‑operative axial length, all patients were divided into 2 groups: high myopia (AL ≥ 26 mm) group, and emmetropia or low to moderate myopia group (AL <26 mm). High-speed Swept-source Optical Coherence Tomography (SS-OCT) radial scanning was performed after pupil dilation to obtain the toric IOL axial orientation and capsular bending index (CBI) at 1-day, 1-week, 1-month and 3-month intervals postoperatively. The correlation between the rotation of toric intraocular lens and the axial length or CBI was subsequently analyzed. 68 eyes of 57 patients were included in the research. The rotation of toric IOL within the high myopia group was greater than the control group (P = 0.001, 1month postoperative). Capsular contact with the IOL was delayed in highly myopic eyes, although the results were not statistically significant (P = 0.094, 1-month postoperatively). There was a positive correlation between the degree of rotation and axial length at the interval found between 1-week and 1-month after the operation (r = 0.333, P = 0.005). There was a significant negative correlation between the IOL rotational speed and CBI (P < 0.001). The regression equation was Y = -0.441*X + 1.712 (R2 = 0.323, P < 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between the IOL rotation speed and the CBI, while the influence of the axial length and capsular bending mainly occurred between one week and one month after the operation.

Three-Dimensional Assessments of Intraocular Lens Stability With High-Speed Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography.

To evaluate the effect of intraocular lens (IOL) optic overlapping on IOL stability and to determine the relationship between the capsulorhexis and IOL movement with the three-dimensional method of swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). This study identified patients with age-related cataracts and divided them into two groups according to their anterior capsule and IOL optic relationship: total anterior capsule overlap (360°) and partial anterior capsule overlap (< 360°). Standard SS-OCT radial scanning was performed in all eyes at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after cataract surgery, respectively. The obtained photographs were used for the postoperative position measurements of capsulorhexis and IOL after three-dimensional reconstruction. This study included 46 eyes of 34 patients: total overlap group (n = 29) and partial overlap group (n = 17). The postoperative aqueous depth significantly decreased in the first week after surgery (P < .001). The IOL tilt was greater in the partial overlap group than that in the total overlap group (P = .014). The IOL moved significantly in the first week postoperatively (both P < .001). IOL decentration in the x-axis was greater in the partial overlap group than that in the total overlap group (P = .024). The IOL and capsulorhexis both moved sharply in the first week (both P < .05). The IOL moved consistently with the capsulorhexis in the 3 months after surgery (all P > .05). The total overlap group showed better IOL centrality and stability. IOL movement may be driven by capsular bag contraction and fibrosis. Thus, it was demonstrated that postoperative IOL position and IOL performance were closely linked with proper size of central continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis. [J Refract Surg. 2020;36(6):388-394.].

Relationship of Posterior Capsular Opacification and Capsular Bend Type Investigation Based on Swept-source Optical Coherence Tomography

ABSTRACT Purpose To investigate the relationship between capsular bend type and posterior capsule opacification (PCO) at a three-dimensional (3D) level using high-speed swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Methods This was a retrospective study. A total of 99 eyes that underwent standard cataract surgery with phacoemulsification 2 years ago were analyzed. Standard SS-OCT radial scanning was performed in all eyes and the obtained photos were used for morphological observations of the capsular bend-IOL complex, the adhesion of posterior capsule to the IOL optic, and the position of the anterior capsulorhexis. Digital retroillumination photographs were taken of the posterior capsule of each eye to evaluate PCO (scoring and area). Results In terms of the PCO score and area, there was no statistical difference between eyes with complete and incomplete adhesion of posterior capsule to IOL (both P > .05), whereas the partial overlap group showed a statistical difference greater than the total overlap group (P < .05). There were two types of capsular bends, completed adhesion (CA) and incomplete adhesion (IA). IA was divided into funnel adhesion (IA-F), parallel adhesion (IA-P), and detached adhesion (IA-D). The incomplete adhesion index (IAI) varied between eyes and ranged from 0 to 1. The PCO score and area in the high IAI group (higher than 0.50) were significantly greater than the low IAI group (< 0.50) (P < .05). In addition, the PCO score and area were significantly higher in the cohort with at least one IA-D capsular bend in six districts to the group that did not have IA-D capsular bend (P < .05). Conclusions Complete or incomplete adhesion of the posterior capsule to the IOL optic may not be necessary for the development of PCO. Our study suggests that capsular bend type may be used as an index to predict PCO.

Three-Dimensional Morphology Study of Capsule in Pseudophakic Eyes with High-Speed Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

ABSTRACTPurpose: To study the capsule morphology in pseudophakic eyes on the three-dimensional level using high-speed swept-source optical coherence tomography (SSOCT).Methods: This study collected patients with age-related cataract and divided them into two groups according to the anterior capsule and intraocular lens (IOL) optic relationship: total anterior capsule overlap (360°, Group-T) and partial anterior capsule overlap (<360°, Group-P). One standard SSOCT radial scanning was performed in all eyes at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively.Results: Thirty-two eyes from 25 patients were enrolled in the Group-T and 17 eyes from 13 patients in the Group-P. No eyes achieved complete adhesion between IOL optic and posterior capsule at 1 day after the surgery. However, the rate of complete adhesion was low (15/49, 30.6%) even at 3 months postoperatively and there was no statistically difference between Group-T and Group-P (21.9% vs. 47.1%, P > 0.05). At 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after the surgery, the capsule bend index (CBI) in the Group-T was 0.02 ± 0.09, 1.35 ± 1.48, 3.60 ± 0.54, and 3.88 ± 0.19, respectively. CBI rises linearly during the first month and the rise goes stable relatively with the great reduction of standard deviation in the following 2 months (All P < 0.05). The anterior capsule opening area and diameter were both reduced in the first month, and then they both became stable.Conclusions: With square-edge IOL, posterior capsule opacification risk is still high in most eyes at 3 months postoperatively for the complete adhesion of posterior capsule and IOL was only achieved in 30.6% eyes. IOL-in-bag may be driven by the significant capsule bag changes especially in the first month postoperatively.

Feasibility of correlation mapping optical coherence tomography angiographic technique using a 200 kHz vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser source for in vivo microcirculation imaging applications.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography is a well-established in vivo imaging technique to assess the overall vascular morphology of tissues and is an emerging field of research for the assessment of blood flow dynamics and functional parameters such as oxygen saturation. In this study, we present a modified scanning-based correlation mapping OCT using a 200kHz high-speed swept-source OCT system operating at 1300nm and demonstrate its wide field-imaging capability in ocular angiographic studies.

Multispectral analog-mean-delay fluorescence lifetime imaging combined with optical coherence tomography.

The pathophysiological progression of chronic diseases, including atherosclerosis and cancer, is closely related to compositional changes in biological tissues containing endogenous fluorophores such as collagen, elastin, and NADH, which exhibit strong autofluorescence under ultraviolet excitation. Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) provides robust detection of the compositional changes by measuring fluorescence lifetime, which is an inherent property of a fluorophore. In this paper, we present a dual-modality system combining a multispectral analog-mean-delay (AMD) FLIm and a high-speed swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) to simultaneously visualize the cross-sectional morphology and biochemical compositional information of a biological tissue. Experiments using standard fluorescent solutions showed that the fluorescence lifetime could be measured with a precision of less than 40 psec using the multispectral AMD-FLIm without averaging. In addition, we performed ex vivo imaging on rabbit iliac normal-looking and atherosclerotic specimens to demonstrate the feasibility of the combined FLIm-OCT system for atherosclerosis imaging. We expect that the combined FLIm-OCT will be a promising next-generation imaging technique for diagnosing atherosclerosis and cancer due to the advantages of the proposed label-free high-precision multispectral lifetime measurement.

TiO2 nanoparticles as exogenous contrast agent for 1 µm swept source optical coherence tomography: an in vitro study

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a rapidly evolving, robust technology that has profoundly changed the practice of medical imaging. Swept source OCT (SSOCT) combines the standard time domain and the spatially encoded frequency domain OCT. We have employed a high-speed SSOCT system that utilizes a swept source laser with an A-scan rate of 100 kHz and a central wavelength of 1060 nm for the imaging of the tissue. SSOCT at 1060 nm allows for high penetration in the tissue. TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) are mostly used for various experimental purposes as an exogenous imaging contrast agent. The in vitro imaging of chicken breast tissue is performed with and without the application of TiO2 NPs for exogenous contrast. Characterization of the chemically synthesized TiO2 NPs was done with dynamic light scattering and a scanning electron microscope method. The effect of TiO2 is studied at different exposure times. A significant improvement in the contrast to noise ratio has been observed through the in vitro imaging of a TiO2 treated tissue.

The Repeatability Assessment of Three-Dimensional Capsule-Intraocular Lens Complex Measurements by Means of High-Speed Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography.

PurposeTo rebuild the three-dimensional (3-D) model of the anterior segment by high-speed swept-source optical coherence tomography (SSOCT) and evaluate the repeatability of measurement for the parameters of capsule-intraocular lens (C-IOL) complex.MethodsTwenty-two pseudophakic eyes from 22 patients were enrolled. Three continuous SSOCT measurements were performed in all eyes and the tomograms obtained were used for 3-D reconstruction. The output data were used to evaluate the measurement repeatability. The parameters included postoperative aqueous depth (PAD), the area and diameter of the anterior capsule opening (Area and D), IOL tilt (IOL-T), horizontal, vertical, and space decentration of the IOL, anterior capsule opening, and IOL-anterior capsule opening.ResultsPAD, IOL-T, Area, D, and all decentration measurements showed high repeatability. Repeated measure analysis showed there was no statistically significant difference among the three continuous measurements (all P > .05). Pearson correlation analysis showed high correlation between each pair of them (all r >0.90, P<0.001). ICCs were all more than 0.9 for all parameters. The 95% LoAs of all parameters were narrow for comparison of three measurements, which showed high repeatability for three measurements.ConclusionSSOCT is available to be a new method for the 3-D measurement of C-IOL complex after cataract surgery. This method presented high repeatability in measuring the parameters of the C-IOL complex.

Volumetric cutaneous microangiography of human skin in vivo by VCSEL swept-source optical coherence tomography

We demonstrate volumetric cutaneous microangiography of the human skin in vivo that utilises high-speed swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). The swept source is based on a micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS)-tunable vertical cavity surface emission laser (VCSEL) that is advantageous in terms of long coherence length over and spectral bandwidth, which enables the visualisation of microstructures within a few mm from the skin surface. We show that the skin microvasculature can be delineated in 3D SS-OCT images using ultrahigh-sensitive optical microangiography (UHS-OMAG) with a correlation mapping mask, providing a contrast enhanced blood perfusion map with capillary flow sensitivity. 3D microangiograms of a healthy human finger are shown with distinct cutaneous vessel architectures from different dermal layers and even within hypodermis. These findings suggest that the OCT microangiography could be a beneficial biomedical assay to assess cutaneous vascular functions in clinic.

In vivo imaging of functional microvasculature within tissue beds of oral and nasal cavities by swept-source optical coherence tomography with a forward/side-viewing probe.

We report three-dimensional (3D) imaging of microcirculation within human cavity tissues in vivo using a high-speed swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) at 1300 nm with a modified probe interface. Volumetric structural OCT images of the inner tissues of oral and nasal cavities are acquired with a field of view of 2 mm × 2 mm. Two types of disposable and detachable probe attachments are devised and applied to the port of the imaging probe of OCT system, enabling forward and side imaging scans for selective and easy access to specific cavity tissue sites. Blood perfusion is mapped with OCT-based microangiography from 3D structural OCT images, in which a novel vessel extraction algorithm is used to decouple dynamic light scattering signals, due to moving blood cells, from the background scattering signals due to static tissue elements. Characteristic tissue anatomy and microvessel architectures of various cavity tissue regions of a healthy human volunteer are identified with the 3D OCT images and the corresponding 3D vascular perfusion maps at a level approaching capillary resolution. The initial finding suggests that the proposed method may be engineered into a promising tool for evaluating and monitoring tissue microcirculation and its alteration within a wide-range of cavity tissues in the patients with various pathological conditions.

Parafoveal Retinal Vascular Response to Pattern Visual Stimulation Assessed with OCT Angiography

We used optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography with a high-speed swept-source OCT system to investigate retinal blood flow changes induced by visual stimulation with a reversing checkerboard pattern. The split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography (SSADA) algorithm was used to quantify blood flow as measured with parafoveal flow index (PFI), which is proportional to the density of blood vessels and the velocity of blood flow in the parafoveal region of the macula. PFI measurements were taken in 15 second intervals during a 4 minute period consisting of 1 minute of baseline, 2 minutes with an 8 Hz reversing checkerboard pattern stimulation, and 1 minute without stimulation. PFI measurements increased 6.1±4.7% (p = .001) during the first minute of stimulation, with the most significant increase in PFI occurring 30 seconds into stimulation (p<0.001). These results suggest that pattern stimulation induces a change to retinal blood flow that can be reliably measured with OCT angiography.

High-Speed Optical Coherence Tomography System Using a 200-kHz Swept Light Source with a KTN Deflector

We demonstrate a high-speed swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) system, which is based on a high-speed swept light source and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a high-speed photodetector. The light source is an external-cavity laser tuned by a KTN electro-optic deflector, which exhibits a very fast response and large deflection. The scanning wavelength range is almost 80 nm up to 200 kHz with a ±400-V deflector driving voltage. The system acquires 1 mm × 1 mm images consisting of 200 × 200 pixels within few milliseconds. We present preliminary SS-OCT images of an in-vitro human nail and an in-vivo finger pad.

New Directions in Ophthalmic Optical Coherence Tomography

The rapid development of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and its ophthalmic applications has resulted in the emergence of new laboratory and commercial systems that vary in performance and functionality. The introduction of high-speed imaging capabilities has abrogated the primary limitation of early OCT technology by providing in vivo three-dimensional volumetric reconstructions of both anterior and posterior segments of the human eye within reasonable time constraints. Currently, high-speed swept source OCT technology has made it possible to achieve OCT acquisition speeds of several million A-scans/s. Another direction of OCT development includes the introduction of adaptive optics to imaging of the posterior segment of the eye that allows correction of the eye's static and dynamic aberrations, resulting in the achievement of volumetric cellular resolution retinal imaging. In this review, we introduce readers to various aspects of the development of OCT technology within the context of its ophthalmic applications. We point out directions for future development and indicate different perspectives on this dynamically expanding method. We give a few examples of how OCT has been used over the past few years and describe how high-speed OCT imaging may be used in the future in clinical practice.

Visualization of hair follicles using high-speed optical coherence tomography based on a Fourier domain mode locking laser

In this study, a swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) system with a Fourier domain mode locking (FDML) laser is proposed for a dermatology study. The homemade FDML laser is one kind of frequency-sweeping light source, which can provide output power of >20 mW and an output spectrum of 65 nm in bandwidth centered at 1300 nm, enabling imaging with an axial resolution of 12 μm in the OCT system. To eliminate the forward scans from the laser output and insert the delayed backward scans, a Mach-Zehnder configuration is implemented. Compared with conventional frequency-sweeping light sources, the FDML laser can achieve much higher scan rates, as high as ∼240 kHz, which can provide a three-dimensional imaging rate of 4 volumes/s. Furthermore, the proposed high-speed SS-OCT system can provide three-dimensional (3D) images with reduced motion artifacts. Finally, a high-speed SS-OCT system is used to visualize hair follicles, demonstrating the potential of this technology as a tool for noninvasive diagnosis of alopecia.

Logarithmic intensity and speckle-based motion contrast methods for human retinal vasculature visualization using swept source optical coherence tomography

We formulate a theory to show that the statistics of OCT signal amplitude and intensity are highly dependent on the sample reflectivity strength, motion, and noise power. Our theoretical and experimental results depict the lack of speckle amplitude and intensity contrasts to differentiate regions of motion from static areas. Two logarithmic intensity-based contrasts, logarithmic intensity variance (LOGIV) and differential logarithmic intensity variance (DLOGIV), are proposed for serving as surrogate markers for motion with enhanced sensitivity. Our findings demonstrate a good agreement between the theoretical and experimental results for logarithmic intensity-based contrasts. Logarithmic intensity-based motion and speckle-based contrast methods are validated and compared for in vivo human retinal vasculature visualization using high-speed swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) at 1060 nm. The vasculature was identified as regions of motion by creating LOGIV and DLOGIV tomograms: multiple B-scans were collected of individual slices through the retina and the variance of logarithmic intensities and differences of logarithmic intensities were calculated. Both methods captured the small vessels and the meshwork of capillaries associated with the inner retina in en face images over 4 mm2 in a normal subject.