Ultrahigh-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography Using Femtosecond Lasers
Abstract
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an emerging optical imaging modality for biomedical research and clinical medicine. OCT can perform high resolution, cross-sectional tomographic imaging in materials and biological systems by measuring the echo time delay and magnitude of backreflected or backscattered light [1]. In medical applications, OCT has the advantage that imaging can be performed in situ and in real time, without the need to remove and process specimens as in conventional excisional biopsy and histopathology. OCT can achieve axial image resolutions of 1 to 15 μm; one to two orders of magnitude higher than standard ultrasound imaging. The image resolution in OCT is determined by the coherence length of the light source and is inversely proportional to its bandwidth. Femtosecond lasers can generate extremely broad bandwidths and have enabled major advances in ultrahigh-resolution OCT imaging. This chapter provides an overview of OCT technology and ultrahigh-resolution OCT imaging using femtosecond lasers.
- Publication:
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Ultrashort Laser Pulses in Biology and Medicine
- Pub Date:
- 2008
- DOI:
- 10.1007/978-3-540-73566-3_1
- Bibcode:
- 2008ulpb.book.....F
- Keywords:
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- Physics