Relaxation time constant based optical coherence elastography

This study aimed at visualizing relative relaxation time constant (RTC) in soft tissue by using optical coherence elastography (OCE). We proposed a forced vibration model as a theoretical base to express RTC using axial gradient of periodic vibration phase captured by phase sensitive optical coherence tomography (PhS-OCT). Validation of the model had been accomplished by experiments with isotropic and double-layered phantoms. A fresh chicken breast sample treated with focused ultrasound was prepared to test performance of the RTC-OCE in real tissue. All results were cross-validated with indentation test and traditional strain-based elastography. This study first utilized RTC mapping in 2D and 3D that covers the information of both elasticity and viscosity. The generated RTC mapping revealed the same mechanical difference internal sample which is correlated with conventional strain mapping. RTC mapping is potentially to be served as new biomarker for disease diagnosis in the future.