Search

In OCTA, resolution of retinal capillaries is limited by physical numerical aperture of human eye and the subject’s ocular aberrations. Adaptive optics OCTA has been demonstrated in instruments with large numerical aperture, originally designed for the visualization of retinal cells. In this work, we propose a high-speed, spectral domain sensorless adaptive optics OCTA instrument with a 3-mm beam to image retinal capillaries of all three retinal plexuses simultaneously, with high axial and lateral resolution. A novel and fast hill climbing algorithm was applied on the amplitude of six low-order Zernike modes to minimize ocular aberrations based on maximizing en face merit functions of the layer of interest computed in real time.

In this study, we demonstrate a novel scanning pattern for improving flow quantification in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) with a high scanning efficiency. A bidirectional interleaved scan pattern was introduced to adjust the adjacent inter-scan time in order to achieve OCTA sensitivity to different flow speeds. This bidirectional scanning protocol uses a triangular function on the fast scanning direction, meaning that it takes the same time in completing B-scans at adjacent lateral positions, acquired in opposite directions. By applying this scheme, the duty cycle is increased to almost 100%. To improve the linear velocity range represented by OCTA signals, different inter-B-scan intervals (at least two) are required to visualize flow at different speeds. In our scanning protocol, the time between the first and second repetition is different than the time between second and third repetition, allowing a total of 3 different inter-scan times (1-2, 2-3 and 1-3) to be computed to improve flow quantification. A retinal OCTA of a healthy subject was acquired using our 400-kHz swept source OCT system. The volumetric scan was acquired in less than two seconds, potentially minimizing the prevalence of motion artifacts, which are more predominant in the scanning intervals most sensitive to slow speed flow. By averaging the three different images generated by 3 different inter-scan times, flow with large linear range (up to 5.2 mm/sec according to our prior calibration) is apparent on en face OCTA.

Using a commercial available 200K swept source laser, we demonstrated high resolution wide field angiographic imaging of human retinal. 8mm by 8mm and 10mm by 6mm retina areas were imaged in a single scan within 4 seconds. By montaging four 10 x 6mm scan, 10 x 20mm wide field OCT angiography images were demonstrated.

Integrated metrology in the lithography cluster is a promising solution to tighten process control. It is shown that optical CD metrology using YieldStar, an angular resolved scatterometer, meets all requirements in terms of precision, process robustness, throughput and matching to CD-SEM, the current tool-of-reference. The same metrology tool supports also diffraction-based overlay metrology. Using an appropriate sampling plan and the full scanner correction capabilities, overlay control can be improved. The throughput of the integrated tool is sufficient to support high volume sampling plans for combined CD and overlay monitoring and control, with 100% lot coverage.

The effectiveness of speckle reduction using traditional frame averaging technique was limited in ultrahigh speed optical coherence tomography (OCT). As the motion between repeated frames was very small, the speckle pattern of the frames might be identical. This problem could be solved by averaging frames acquired at slightly different locations. The optimized scan range depended on the spot size of the laser beam, the smoothness of the boundary, and the homogeneity of the tissue. In this study we presented a method to average frames obtained within a narrow range along the slow-axis. A swept-source OCT with 100,000 Hz axial scan rate was used to scan the retina in vivo. A series of narrow raster scans (0-50 micron along the slow axis) were evaluated. Each scan contained 20 image frames evenly distributed in the scan range. The imaging frame rate was 417 HZ. Only frames with high correlation after rigid registration were used in averaging. The result showed that the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) increased with the scan range. But the best edge reservation was obtained with 15 micron scan range. Thus, for ultrahigh speed OCT systems, averaging frames from a narrow band along the slow-axis could achieve better speckle reduction than traditional frame averaging techniques.

The detection of early-stage keratoconus is one of the most important safety issues in screening candidates for corneal refractive surgeries. We propose to use epithelial thickness maps to assist the diagnosis of keratoconus. The corneal epithelial thickness in normal and keratoconic eyes was mapped with optical coherence tomography (OCT). A Fourier-domain OCT system capable of acquiring 26,000 axial-scans per second was used. It has an axial resolution of 5μm in cornea. A pachymetry scan pattern (8 radials, 1024 axial-scans each, 6mm diameter, repeat 3 times) centered at the pupil center was used to image the cornea. The 3 repeated radial scans on each meridian were registered and averaged. Then the anterior corneal, posterior corneal and epithelial boundaries were segmented automatically with a computer algorithm by increased signal intensity at corresponding boundaries. The epithelial thickness map was generated by interpolating epithelial thickness profile calculated from each meridian. Normal and keratoconic eyes (24 eyes each) were scanned 3 times. The central epithelial thickness in normal eyes was thicker than those of keratoconic eyes (mean difference 2.1 μm, t-test p=0.05). The epithelium was thinner superiorly than inferiorly in normal eyes (mean difference -1.4±1.1μm, p

To improve the scan quality of Doppler Optical coherence tomography for blood flow measurement, we investigate how to improve the Doppler signal for all vessels around optic disc. Doppler signal is depending on the Doppler angle, which is defined as angle between OCT beams and normal direction vessel. In this examination, we test the effect of different OCT beam direction on Doppler angles of all veins. We also test maximizing the Doppler angle by combining scans with different OCT beams direction. Three criteria were used to evaluate the overall quality, average Doppler angle, the percentage of vessels with Doppler angle larger than the optimize value, the percentage of vessel with Coefficient variance of Doppler angle less than the optimize value. The result showed that the best protocol is to maximize the Doppler angle from one scan with OCT beam through supranasal portion of pupil and other scan with OCT beam through infranasal portion of pupil.

In vivo measurement of blood flow in the retina has been made possible with the advent of Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Doppler OCT has seen many advances in recent years in algorithms used for quantifying blood flow. We compare the relative retinal blood flow estimates as measured by the standard phase-resolved (PR) algorithm and the more recent moving-scatterer-sensitive (MSS) algorithm as a function of vessel size. We find that the PR-to-MSS flow ratio significantly decreases with decreasing vessel diameter. We also develop a simulation to approximate the scattering from blood cells in tissue and compare the relative blood flow estimates. The flow ratio measured with simulation closely matches that found in vivo. Our simulation predicts that whereas PR underestimates the flow, MSS overestimates it. Our simulation may help to correct for algorithm bias in in vivo retinal flow estimates.

The measurement of ocular blood flow is important in studying the pathophysiology and treatment of several leading causes of blindness. A pilot study was performed to evaluate the total retinal blood flow in glaucoma patient using Fourier domain optical coherence tomography. For normal people, the measured total retinal flow was between 40.8 and 60.2 μl/minute. We found that eyes with glaucoma had decreased retinal blood flow and average flow veocity, while the venous cross sectional areas were essentially the same as normal. The decrease in blood flow was highly correlated with the severity of visual field loss.

We present in vivo human retinal blood flow investigation using Fourier domain optical coherence tomography. A pilot study was performed to evaluate the total retinal blood flow in glaucoma patients and normal subjects. For normal people, the measured total retinal flow was between 40.8 and 52.9 μl/minute. The measured venous flow for glaucoma patients was from 23.6 to 43.11 μl/minute. The retinal flow of glaucoma patients was lower than that of normal subjects. Retinal blood flow was highly correlated with visual field parameters in glaucoma patients.

A new image segmentation method was developed to detect macular retinal sub-layers boundary on newly-developed Fourier-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (FD-OCT) with macular grid scan pattern. The segmentation results were used to create thickness map of macular ganglion cell complex (GCC), which contains the ganglion cell dendrites, cell bodies and axons. Overall average and several pattern analysis parameters were defined on the GCC thickness map and compared for the diagnosis of glaucoma. Intraclass correlation (ICC) is used to compare the reproducibility of the parameters. Area under receiving operative characteristic curve (AROC) was calculated to compare the diagnostic power. The result is also compared to the output of clinical time-domain OCT (TD-OCT). We found that GCC based parameters had good repeatability and comparable diagnostic power with circumpapillary nerve fiber layer (cpNFL) thickness. Parameters based on pattern analysis can increase the diagnostic power of GCC macular mapping.

The measurement of ocular blood flow is important in studying the pathophysiology and treatment of several leading causes of blindness. We present a method for in vivo human retinal flow measurement using Fourier domain optical coherence tomography. A double circular scanning pattern was used to scan the blood vessels around the optic nerve head 8 times over 2 seconds. The venous flow totaled 36.13 μl/min in the right eye of a volunteer. The flow difference was observed before and after breath holding. The fast flow measurement method did not require any assumption on the flow profile over time or space.© (2008) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is FDA-approved for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. Currently, placement of DBS leads is guided through a combination of anatomical targeting and intraoperative microelectrode recordings. The physiological mapping process requires several hours, and each pass of the microelectrode into the brain increases the risk of hemorrhage. Optical Coherence Domain Reflectometry (OCDR) in combination with current methodologies could reduce surgical time and increase accuracy and safety by providing data on structures some distance ahead of the probe. For this preliminary study, we scanned a rat brain in vitro using polarization-insensitive Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). For accurate measurement of intensity and attenuation, polarization effects arising from tissue birefringence are removed by polarization diversity detection. A fresh rat brain was sectioned along the coronal plane and immersed in a 5 mm cuvette with saline solution. OCT images from a 1294 nm light source showed depth profiles up to 2 mm. Light intensity and attenuation rate distinguished various tissue structures such as hippocampus, cortex, external capsule, internal capsule, and optic tract. Attenuation coefficient is determined by linear fitting of the single scattering regime in averaged A-scans where Beer’s law is applicable. Histology showed very good correlation with OCT images. From the preliminary study using OCT, we conclude that OCDR is a promising approach for guiding DBS probe placement.

Corneal hydration plays an essential role in maintaining optimal vision. During laser ablation surgery, corneal hydration varies greatly and is likely to affect the outcome. Quantitative measurements of this interaction may help improve the results of vision correction surgery. In addition, prescreening of corneal hydration could be used to correct the laser surgery procedure for hydration variation in the patient population. We present a functional extension of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to measure cornea hydration in vitro using two light sources simultaneously, one at 1294 nm (negligible water absorption loss) and another at 1410 nm (large water absorption loss). Measuring the ratio of the intensity profile at these two wavelengths allows us to separate the effect of absorptive attenuation from the reflectivity structure of the sample. We first measured the differential absorption coefficient of a calibration target: a 1 mm cuvette containing controlled mixtures of water (H2O) and heavy water (D2O). The optical properties of heavy water are almost identical with those of water, except that it has negligible absorption near 1410 nm. Next, we scanned in vitro fresh cornea bathed in Optisol. We then scraped off the epithelium and immersed the cornea into Balanced Salt Solution in order to increase the hydration through swelling. Then, the cornea was immersed in a 15% Dextran solution to reverse the swelling. After the OCT scans, the cornea hydration level was evaluated by standard weight measurement. The result of the calibration experiment showed that a strong correlation exists between measured differential water absorption coefficient and actual water content within the cuvette. We derived the hydration level profile over corneal depth from a least squares fit of the log-intensity ratio. Average hydration from the OCT data agreed with the hydration determined by weight measurement.

The bi-directional optical devices used in the analog and digital transmission system are introduced in this paper. Especially applied in the broadband access network (Cable Modem & xDSL). We developed a serious of products according to the different demands like PTP, HFC and PON. Applied in the CDMA optical repeater is also discussed, 1310/1550nm and CWDM bi-directional optical device can be used in the traditional and low cost approach.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides a non-contact and non-invasive means to visualize the corneal anatomy at micron scale resolution. We obtained corneal images from an arc-scanning (converging) OCT system operating at a wavelength of 830nm and a fan-shaped-scanning high-speed OCT system with an operating wavelength of 1310nm. Different scan protocols (arc/fan) and data acquisition rates, as well as wavelength dependent bio-tissue backscatter contrast and optical absorption, make the images acquired using the two systems different. We developed image-processing algorithms to automatically detect the air-tear interface, epithelium-Bowman's layer interface, laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap interface, and the cornea-aqueous interface in both kinds of images. The overall segmentation scheme for 830nm and 1310nm OCT images was similar, although different strategies were adopted for specific processing approaches. Ultrasound pachymetry measurements of the corneal thickness and Placido-ring based corneal topography measurements of the corneal curvature were made on the same day as the OCT examination. Anterior/posterior corneal surface curvature measurement with OCT was also investigated. Results showed that automated segmentation of OCT images could evaluate anatomic outcome of LASIK surgery.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of laser spot size on the outcome of aberration correction with scanning laser corneal ablation. Methods: Numerical simulation of ablation outcome. Results: Correction of aberrations of Zernike modes from second to 8 th order were simulated. Gaussian and top-hat beams of 0.6 to 2.0 mm full-width-half-maximum diameters were modeled. The fractional correction and secondary aberration (distortion) were evaluated. Using a distortion/correction ratio of less than 0.5 as a cutoff for adequate performance, we found that a 2 mm or smaller beam is adequate for spherocylindrical correction (Zernike second order), a 1 mm or smaller beam is adequate for correction of up to 4 th order Zernike modes, and a 0.6 mm or smaller beam is adequate for correction of up to 6 th order Zernike modes. Conclusions: Since ocular aberrations above Zernike 4 th order are relatively insignificant, current scanning lasers with a beam diameter of 1 mm or less are theoretically capable of eliminating most of the higher order aberrations of the eye.

Techniques for non-invasive biomedical imaging include nuclear magnetic resonance, ultrasound, positron emission tomography, x-ray computed to- mography, and optical transillumination. Each of these methods has dif- ferent advantages and limitations and has found particular applications in medicine. Optical imaging of tissue offers the potential of a non-invasive diagnostic with non-ionizing radiation and the possibility of using spectro- scopic properties to distinguish tissue type and probe metabolic function.

We present a new technique for coherent optical imaging of ocular structure based on optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCT is a noncontact, noninvasive, tomographic imaging technique with superior spatial resolution to ultrasound (< 20 micrometers ) and high sensitivity (100 dB dynamic range). We have used OCT to perform direct imaging of ocular structure in the anterior and posterior segments of human eyes in vitro and in vivo. In the anterior segment, we have measured corneal thickness and profile, anterior chamber depth and angle, and iris thickness and profile. These and other possible measurements have potential applications in diagnosis of pathologies of the cornea, angle, and iris, as well as in noncontact biometry for applications in cataract and corneal refractive surgeries. In the posterior segment, we have obtained high-resolution images of retinal structure in human subjects in vivo. These images demonstrate higher resolution than available with any other existing technique, and include characterization of optic disk morphology and topology. These measurements have potential applications in early diagnosis and assessment of glaucoma and other retinal diseases.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.