Optical coherence tomography modeling incorporating scattering, absorption, and multiple reflections

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Medical Imaging
• Optical Physics

Background:

• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique.
• Existing forward models for OCT often simplify light-matter interactions.
• Accurate simulation of OCT signals requires accounting for various optical phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an advanced direct scattering optical coherence tomography forward model.
• To investigate the impact of absorption, scattering, and multiple reflections on OCT A-scans.
• To simulate A-scans for both idealized and real light sources on arbitrary sample structures.

Main Methods:

• Developed a direct scattering OCT forward model.
• Incorporated absorption and scattering using the Beer-Lambert law.
• Modeled multiple reflections using a recursive approach.
• Tested models on a representative multilayered skin sample structure.

Main Results:

• Absorption and scattering significantly influence the amplitude (height) of simulated A-scan peaks.
• Multiple reflections at interfaces had a negligible effect on peak heights.
• The positions of A-scan peaks, corresponding to sample interfaces, were unaffected by absorption, scattering, or multiple reflections.

Conclusions:

• Advanced modeling of optical processes is crucial for accurate OCT simulations.
• Absorption and scattering are key factors influencing OCT signal intensity.
• The developed model provides a more comprehensive simulation of OCT A-scans, particularly for complex biological tissues.