Spectral domain optical coherence tomography with balanced detection using single line-scan camera and optical delay...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Optical Imaging
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is a key imaging modality.
• Conventional SD-OCT systems face limitations in sensitivity due to noise and phase errors.
• Balanced detection techniques can mitigate these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel single line-scan balanced detection scheme for SD-OCT.
• To improve the sensitivity and reduce phase errors in SD-OCT systems.
• To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in phantom and in vivo imaging.

Main Methods:

• A single line-scan detection scheme was implemented for balanced detection in SD-OCT.
• Two phase-opposed spectra were generated using optical fiber couplers and detected via a fast-switching spectrometer.
• A 2.69 km optical fiber introduced a time delay to correct for spectral measurement time differences and scanner voltage instability.

Main Results:

• The proposed method achieved a phase difference of π between spectra without phase error.
• Sensitivity was improved by approximately 6 dB compared to conventional SD-OCT.
• Comparative OCT images clearly showed enhanced image quality after applying the balanced detection method.

Conclusions:

• The developed single line-scan balanced detection SD-OCT system effectively improves imaging sensitivity.
• This technique minimizes phase errors, leading to higher quality OCT images.
• The method shows promise for advanced biomedical imaging applications.