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Forward multiple scattering dominates speckle decorrelation in whole-blood flowmetry using optical coherence
Natalie G Ferris1,2,3, Taylor M Cannon1,2, Martin Villiger1
1Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, 40 Blossom Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
Biomedical Optics Express
|April 29, 2020
Summary
Forward multiple scattering in optical coherence tomography (OCT) leads to inaccurate blood flow measurements. This study reveals how multiple scattering overestimates blood flow velocity, particularly in shallow vessels.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Medical Imaging
- Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) enables quantitative blood flow measurement with broad clinical potential.
- Current OCT flowmetry models rely on dynamic light scattering (DLS), assuming single scattering, which is insufficient for red blood cell dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of forward multiple scattering on OCT signal decorrelation in blood flow.
- To determine if multiple scattering causes deviations in OCT-derived flowmetry compared to phantom experiments.
Main Methods:
- Systematic study of forward multiple scattering effects on OCT signal decorrelation.
- Phantom experiments simulating physiologically relevant blood flow and bulk motion.
- Analysis of speckle-decorrelation rates under varying scattering conditions.
Main Results:
- Forward multiple scattering significantly affects the relationship between lateral flow and signal decorrelation.
- Increased decorrelation rates are observed due to multiply scattered light from different sample locations.
- Overestimation of blood flow velocities occurs at shallow depths (40 µm) in whole blood due to forward scattering.
Conclusions:
- Forward multiple scattering is a primary cause for discrepancies in OCT-based blood flow measurements in vivo.
- The presence of velocity field inhomogeneities amplifies the effect of multiple scattering on decorrelation.
- Accurate OCT flowmetry requires accounting for multiple scattering effects, especially in superficial vasculature.
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