Enhanced visualization of ex-vivo ocular tissues using spatial-phase-resolved optical coherence microscopy.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Optical Imaging
• Microscopy

Background:

• High numerical aperture (NA) objective lenses in optical coherence microscopy (OCM) provide high lateral resolution but severely limit the depth of focus (DOF).
• Computational methods to extend DOF in OCM often require high spatial-phase stability, which is challenging for point-scanning systems due to mechanical scanning-induced phase distortions.
• Existing phase stabilization techniques are frequently complex and computationally demanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel approach for overcoming the limited DOF in OCM.
• To enhance the imaging capabilities of OCM by extending the effective DOF.
• To provide a more practical solution for DOF extension in OCM systems.

Main Methods:

• Integration of self-reference interferometry to ensure inherent phase stability.
• Application of a phase-sensitive computational refocusing algorithm.
• Development of a combined approach leveraging the strengths of both techniques.

Main Results:

• Successfully addressed the limited DOF inherent in high-NA OCM.
• Demonstrated effective DOF extension without compromising image quality.
• The proposed method offers improved applicability compared to existing techniques.

Conclusions:

• The novel approach effectively extends the DOF in OCM by combining self-reference interferometry and computational refocusing.
• This method offers a practical and computationally efficient solution for DOF extension in OCM.
• The findings have significant implications for advanced optical coherence microscopy applications.