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Minimizing OCT quantification error via a surface-tracking imaging probe
Hyeon-Cheol Park1, Ang Li1, Honghua Guan2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21215, USA.
Biomedical Optics Express
|August 30, 2021
Summary
This study introduces a novel intraoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe with surface-tracking capabilities. This innovation significantly improves the accuracy of brain cancer margin assessment by minimizing motion-related errors during surgery.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Surgical Technology
- Neuro-oncology
Background:
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) enables quantitative imaging of tissue optical properties for intraoperative brain cancer assessment.
- Accurate analysis of attenuation coefficients is crucial but sensitive to variations in tissue surface position relative to the OCT imaging focus.
- Physiological motions and complex surgical cavity geometry impede maintaining a stable tissue surface during intraoperative procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an intraoperative OCT imaging probe with integrated surface-tracking functionality.
- To minimize quantification errors in optical attenuation measurements caused by dynamic tissue surface position variations.
- To enhance the reliability of brain cancer margin assessment in challenging surgical environments.
Main Methods:
- Engineered a compact OCT imaging probe with a long working distance (∼41 mm) and wide field of view (4×4 mm²), maintaining a small diameter (9 mm).
- Integrated a piezo-based linear motor for real-time surface position feedback control, inferred from OCT images.
- Implemented a GPU-assisted parallel processing algorithm for real-time tissue surface detection and tracking, suppressing >90% of physiological motion.
Main Results:
- The developed surface-tracking OCT probe successfully maintained a stable beam focus within the target tissue, irrespective of surface geometry or physiological motion.
- Achieved reliable tissue optical attenuation measurements, crucial for accurate intraoperative assessment.
- Demonstrated significant suppression of motion-induced artifacts, enhancing imaging consistency.
Conclusions:
- The surface-tracking intraoperative OCT imaging probe offers a robust solution for overcoming motion-related challenges in quantitative optical property imaging.
- This technology enables reliable assessment of brain cancer margins during surgery, improving clinical decision-making.
- The probe's design enhances clinical versatility for various intraoperative applications.
