Dual-Channel Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Based on a Single Spectrometer Using Compressive Sensing

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Optical Imaging
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is a crucial non-invasive imaging technique.
• Improving imaging speed and depth in SD-OCT is essential for advanced biomedical applications.
• Existing dual-channel SD-OCT systems often require complex setups or compromise resolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and demonstrate a versatile dual-channel SD-OCT system utilizing a single spectrometer.
• To achieve enhanced imaging performance by operating in two distinct modes: increased imaging speed and expanded imaging depth.
• To leverage compressive sensing (CS) technology to overcome limitations associated with spectral resolution.

Main Methods:

• A dual-channel SD-OCT system was engineered with a pre-introduced optical path offset between channels.
• Mode 1: Compressive sensing (CS) was employed to maintain spectral resolution and double imaging speed.
• Mode 2: Reduced spectral resolution allowed for nearly doubling the imaging depth.

Main Results:

• The dual-channel SD-OCT system successfully operated in both speed- and depth-enhanced modes.
• Mode 1 achieved doubled imaging speed without compromising spectral resolution, thanks to CS.
• Mode 2 demonstrated a near-doubling of imaging depth with half the spectral resolution of a single-channel system.
• Feasibility was validated through imaging of biological samples (fish fin, fish eye) and inanimate objects (mirror, onion).

Conclusions:

• The proposed dual-channel SD-OCT system offers a flexible and effective solution for improving imaging performance.
• The integration of CS technology is key to overcoming spectral resolution constraints and enhancing speed.
• This system provides a valuable advancement for applications requiring high-speed or deep-penetration optical coherence tomography.