Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a relatively new developed technique to image tissue microstructure in vivo with a resolution of about 10 micrometers . So far, the research has focused on increasing the resolution, increasing the acquisition rate, developing new sample arm scanning techniques, or functional imaging like color Doppler OCT. But one of the main advantages of OCT compared to ultrasound, non-contact imaging, also results in a mayor image distortion: refraction at the air-tissue interface. Also, applied scanning configurations can lead to deformed images. Both errors prevent accurate distance and angle measurements on OCT images, necessary e.g. for Glaucoma diagnosis in the anterior segment of the eye. We describe a methodology for quantitative image correction in OCT which includes procedures for correction of arbitrary spatial warping caused by non-uniform axial reference and lateral sample scan patterns, as well as a novel approach for refraction correction in layered media based on Fermat's principle. The de-warping corrections are implemented in real-time by use of pointer (mapping) arrays, while the refraction correction algorithm is more computationally intensive and is performed off-line.
Real-time optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to visualize and quantify structures in the anterior segment of the eye. Results obtained with hand-held and slit-lamp adapted OCT systems are presented. Preliminary data indicates strong potential for the use of real-time OCT in anterior segment biometry and in non-invasive assessment of normal and pathological anterior segment anatomy.
Real-time optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to visualize and quantify structures in the anterior segment of the eye. Current results of ongoing clinical trials are presented. Preliminary data indicates strong potential for the use of real time OCT as a tool for noninvasive characterization of the anterior chamber angle and for anterior segment biometry.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a novel biomedical imaging technique that uses low-coherence optical interferometry to obtain micron-scale resolution cross- sectional images of tissue microstructure noninvasively. OCT fills a valuable niche in imaging of tissue structure, providing subsurface imaging with high spatial resolution (on the order of 10 micrometers) and penetration depths of 1 - 2 mm with no contact or matching medium needed between the probe and the tissue. An OCT system for gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy has been developed using a small-diameter rotary-scanning probe compatible with standard GI endoscopes and capable of imaging in real-time. To date more than 100 volunteers have been imaged during routine upper and lower endoscopic procedures. Results of imaging in normal organs have demonstrated visualization of morphological layers (epithelium, lamina propria, muscularis mucosa, submucosa, muscularis propria) and microscopic structures (glands, villi, crypts, vessels) in all endoscopically accessible GI organs. It has been observed in more than 30 patients that the EOCT appearance of Barrett's mucosa is clearly differentiable from normal gastric or esophageal mucosa. Furthermore, the EOCT appearance of dysplasia and neoplastic lesions, including adenocarcenoma in Barrett's and villous tumor in colon have been observed and are under investigation. Preliminary data indicate the potential of EOCT for routine clinical diagnostics in GI tissues, including early cancer detection and staging and detection of tumor margins.
Color Doppler optical coherence tomography (CDOCT), also called Optical Doppler Tomography) is a noninvasive optical imaging technique, which allows for micron-scale physiological flow mapping simultaneous with morphological OCT imaging. Current systems for real-time endoscopic optical coherence tomography (EOCT) would be enhanced by the capability to visualize sub-surface blood flow for applications in early cancer diagnosis and the management of bleeding ulcers. Unfortunately, previous implementations of CDOCT have either been sufficiently computationally expensive (employing Fourier or Hilbert transform techniques) to rule out real-time imaging of flow, or have been restricted to imaging of excessively high flow velocities when used in real time. We have developed a novel Doppler OCT signal-processing strategy capable of imaging physiological flow rates in real time. This strategy employs cross-correlation processing of sequential A-scans in an EOCT image, as opposed to autocorrelation processing as described previously. To measure Doppler shifts in the kHz range using this technique, it was necessary to stabilize the EOCT interferometer center frequency, eliminate parasitic phase noise, and to construct a digital cross correlation unit able to correlate signals of megahertz bandwidth by a fixed lag of up to a few ms. The performance of the color Doppler OCT system was demonstrated in a flow phantom, demonstrating a minimum detectable flow velocity of ~0.8 mm/s at a data acquisition rate of 8 images/second (with 480 A-scans/image) using a handheld probe. Dynamic flow as well as using it freehanded was shown. Flow was also detectable in a phantom in combination with a clinical usable endoscopic probe.
Optical-thermal models that can accurately predict temperature rise and damage in blood vessels and surrounding tissue may be used to improve the treatment of vascular disorders. Verification of these models has been hampered by the lack of time- and depth-resolved experimental data. In vitro and in vivo studies were performed to visualize laser irradiation of blood in cuvettes or cutaneous (hamster dorsal skin flap) blood vessels. Two optical coherence tomography systems, one operating at 400 a-scans per second and the other at 4-30 frames per second, were used. For the in vitro study, a frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser was used (532 nm, 10 ms pulse duration, 2 mm spot size, 10 J/cm2 radiant exposure). In vivo, an Argon laser was employed (all lines, 0.1-2.0 s pulse duration, 0.1-1.0 mm spot size, 100- 400 mW power. Video microscopy images were compared to predictions of temperature rise and damage using Monte Carlo and finite difference techniques. In general, predicted damage agreed with actual blood, blood vessel, and surrounding tissue coagulation seen in images. However, limitations of current optical-thermal models were identified, such as the inability to model the dynamic changes in blood optical properties and vessel diameters that were seen in the optical coherence tomography images.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive optical imaging technique that allows high-resolution cross- sectional imaging of tissue microstructure. We have recently developed a system for endoscopic OCT (EOCT) to examine the gastrointestinal tract of humans in vivo. Compared to endoscopic ultrasonic devices it offers a higher resolution and does not require coupling gels or fluids. EOCT may lead to a versatile tool for biopsy site selection or optical biopsy itself. The EOCT unit is comprised of an interferometer unit with a high speed scanning reference arm and an endoscopically compatible radially scanning probe as the sample arm. Fast data acquisition allows real-time display. Temporal averaging for speckle reduction and a transformation to correct nonlinear scanning were included in the EOCT control software, both in real-time. During in vivo clinical trials, we have observe the structure of the mucosa and submucosa in several gastrointestinal organs as well as glands, blood vessels, pits, villi and crypts. The purpose of this study was to correlate images acquired in vitro with EOCT to corresponding histological sections. EOCT images were obtained on fresh specimens, which were then fixed in formalin and submitted for standard histology. Tissues examined were normal specimens, which were then fixed in formalin and submitted for standard histology. Tissues examined were normal specimens of stomach, ileum, colon and rectum. It was shown that he thickness of the mucosa correlates well with the first bright layer in EOCT. The R2-value was determined to be 0.69. The submucosa and the muscularis propria could be identified. Furthermore, we were able to show the effect of pressure on the tissue on the visible details in the EOCT images.
A laboratory system for comprehensive characterization of excimer laser beam parameters in both near- and far-field is presented, along with a description of calibration procedures for spatially resolving UV detectors which were tested with respect to linearity, sensitivity, uniformity and stability. The investigations also comprise improvements in the standardized evaluation of beam characteristics. A semi-analytical method for accurate background substraction based on the requirement that the integral pulse energy must not depend on the size of the integration area is described. This algorithm allows high-precision determination of beam diameters for both 'moving slit' and 'second moment' methods. Definitions for unambiguous evaluation of relevant excimer laser beam properties like plateau uniformity and edge steepness of homogenized profiles are proposed.
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