Phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography at up to 370,000 lines per second using buffered Fourier domain mode-locked lasers

Opt Lett. 2007 Mar 15;32(6):626-8. doi: 10.1364/ol.32.000626.

Abstract

Buffered Fourier domain mode-locked (FDML) lasers are demonstrated for dynamic phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography (OCT) and 3D OCT phase microscopy. Systems are operated at sweep speeds of 42, 117, and 370 kHz, and displacement sensitivities of 39, 52, and 102 pm are achieved, respectively. Sensitivities are comparable to spectrometer-based OCT phase microscopy systems, but much faster acquisition speeds are possible. An additional factor of sqrt 2 improvement in noise performance is observed for differential phase measurements, which is important for Doppler OCT. Dynamic measurements of piezoelectric transducer motion and static 3D OCT phase microscopy are demonstrated. Buffered FDML lasers provide excellent displacement sensitivities at extremely high sweep speeds.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Image Enhancement / instrumentation*
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / instrumentation*
  • Lasers*
  • Microscopy, Phase-Contrast / instrumentation*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / instrumentation*