Multi-parametric imaging of murine brain using spectral and time domain optical coherence tomography

Examination of brain functions in small animal models may help improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions. Transcranial imaging of small rodents' brains poses a major challenge for optical microscopy. Another challenge is to reduce the measurement time. We describe methods and algorithms for three-dimensional assessment of blood flow in the brains of small animals, through the intact skull, using spectral and time domain optical coherence tomography. By introducing a resonant scanner to the optical setup of the optical coherence tomography (OCT) system, we have developed and applied a high-speed spectral OCT technique that allows us to vary the imaging range of flow and to shorten measurement time. Multi-parameter signal analysis enables us to obtain both qualitative and quantitative information about flow velocity from the same set of data.