Enhancement of the signal-to-noise ratio at depths in Fourier domain optical coherence tomography

Abstract

We present a Fourier domain optical coherence tomography set-up built around an optical configuration that exhibits Talbot bands. To produce Talbot bands, the two interferometer beams, object and reference are laterally shifted in their way towards the diffraction grating. This allows attenuation of mirror terms and optimisation of the sensitivity profile. We imaged the human skin in-vivo, and quantified the profile of the sensitivity profile in tissue by measuring the ratio between the strengths of signals originating in the reticular dermis and in the stratum corneum for different values of the lateral shift of the two interfering beams.