Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026

10:22
Fabrication and Characterization of Optical Tissue Phantoms Containing Macrostructure
Published on: February 12, 2018
Three-dimensional characterization of optical coherence tomography point spread functions with a
Anant Agrawal1, T Joshua Pfefer, Naureen Gilani
1Optical Diagnostic Devices Laboratory, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, USA. anant.agrawal@fda.hhs.gov
Optics Letters
|July 3, 2010
Summary
A new nanoparticle-embedded phantom (NEP) enables accurate measurement of optical coherence tomography (OCT) system point spread functions (PSFs). This robust method aids in standardizing biophotonic imaging device testing and comparison.
Area of Science:
- Biophotonics
- Optical Imaging
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is crucial for high-resolution imaging in biology and medicine.
- Accurate characterization of the three-dimensional point spread function (PSF) is essential for validating OCT system performance.
- Current methods for PSF measurement can be complex and lack standardization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel nanoparticle-embedded phantom (NEP) for measuring the three-dimensional PSF of OCT systems.
- To establish a standardized and robust test method for biophotonic imaging devices.
- To validate the NEP approach against conventional PSF measurement techniques.
Main Methods:
- Development of a homogeneous phantom matrix embedded with highly reflective plasmonic nanoparticles.
- Acquisition of OCT image volumes using the NEP at various locations.
- Analysis of OCT data to characterize axial and lateral PSF dimensions.
Main Results:
- The NEP demonstrated homogeneous distribution of nanoparticles within the silicone matrix.
- PSF measurements using the NEP showed submicrometer agreement with conventional methods.
- The phantom proved effective for characterizing OCT system performance.
Conclusions:
- The nanoparticle-embedded phantom (NEP) provides a reliable and standardized method for OCT PSF measurement.
- This approach facilitates the validation and comparison of imaging performance across different OCT devices.
- The NEP contributes to advancing standardized testing in biophotonic imaging.

