Optimal stimulation frequency for vibrational optical coherence elastography.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Vibrational optical coherence elastography (OCE) is a key technique for non-invasively assessing soft tissue mechanical properties.
• Accurate mechanical property extraction relies on understanding the stress field distribution during vibration.
• Determining the optimal frequency range is crucial for reliable OCE performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the optimal frequency range for vibrational OCE.
• To ensure an evenly distributed stress field for accurate mechanical property assessment.
• To validate simulation findings with experimental data.

Main Methods:

• A finite element model of a 2% agar phantom was developed using ANSYS.
• Simulations covered a vibration frequency range of 200–3000 Hz.
• Mathematical evaluation of stress field distribution using coefficient of variance and degree of linearity, cross-validated with experimental data.

Main Results:

• The study identified an optimal frequency range of 250–1000 Hz for vibrational OCE.
• Simulation and experimental results confirmed each other.
• Ex vivo testing demonstrated superior stiffness mapping within the optimal frequency range.

Conclusions:

• The optimal frequency range of 250–1000 Hz enhances the accuracy of vibrational OCE.
• Even stress distribution is critical for reliable soft tissue mechanical property measurement.
• This study provides a validated frequency range for improved vibrational OCE applications.