Development of a first-generation miniature multiple reference optical coherence tomography imaging device

Abstract

Multiple reference optical coherence tomography (MR-OCT) is a technology ideally suited to low-cost, compact OCT imaging. This modality is an extension of time-domain OCT with the addition of a partial mirror in front of the reference mirror. This enables extended, simultaneous depth scanning with the relatively short scan range of a miniature voice coil motor on which the scanning mirror is mounted. This work details early stage development of the first iteration of a miniature MR-OCT device. This iteration utilizes a fiber-coupled input from an off-board superluminescent diode. The dimensions of the module are 40 × 57 ?? mm . Off-the-shelf miniature optical components, voice coil motors, and photodetectors are used, with the complexity of design depending on the specific application. The photonic module can be configured as either polarized or nonpolarized and can include balanced detection. The results shown in this work are from the nonpolarized device. The system was characterized through measurement of the input spectrum, axial resolution, and signal-to-noise ratio. Typical B-scans of static and in vivo samples are shown, which illustrate the potential applications for such a technology.

Toward optical coherence tomography on a chip: in vivo three-dimensional human retinal imaging using photonic integrated circuit-based arrayed waveguide gratings

“…To reduce the sizes and costs of OCT systems, one approach is to use smaller and cheaper system components. The usage of off-the-shelf small size optics 6 , lowcost components such as MEMS mirrors for scanning 7,8 , and low-cost 3D printed handheld probe housings 7,[9][10][11] were reported to be successful measures to reduce the sizes and costs of OCT systems.…”

Optical coherence tomography in the 2020s—outside the eye clinic

“…These measurements can be transformed into an image and subsequently analysed, saved or transmitted via email. The next steps for this technology will require improving the imaging performance to achieve real-time B-scan images [32]. Although the acquisition speed of MRO cannot compete with the latest Fourier domain systems, the moderate speed of the system does not demand high specification computational platforms therefore may be deployable on mobile systems.…”

The physiology of impenetrable skin: Colossus of the X-Men

“…Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an noninvasive imaging method that is the optical equivalent of ultrasound that can produce three-dimensional (3D) images of biological samples, such as retinal crosssectional imaging (41,73) and has been extensively applied to visualize the layers of skin (23, 35, 58, 102a). A number of OCT variants have been devised, such as time domain OCT (41), swept source OCT (12), spectral domain OCT (6), and multiple-reference OCT (MR-OCT) (19,58). MR-OCT, which is a method that can quickly create cross-sectional images of a tissue sample over a large depth, could lead to the development of low-cost, compact OCT devices built from off-the-shelf components for use in medical institutes and research laboratories.…”