A digital frequency ramping method for enhancing Doppler flow imaging in Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography

Opt Express. 2009 Mar 2;17(5):3951-63. doi: 10.1364/oe.17.003951.

Abstract

A digital frequency ramping method (DFRM) is proposed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of Doppler flow imaging in Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FDOCT). To examine the efficacy of DFRM for enhancing flow detection, computer simulation and tissue phantom study were conducted for phase noise reduction and flow quantification. In addition, the utility of this technique was validated in our in vivo clinical bladder imaging with endoscopic FDOCT. The Doppler flow images reconstructed by DFRM were compared with the counterparts by traditional Doppler FDOCT. The results demonstrate that DFRM enables real-time Doppler FDOCT imaging at significantly enhanced sensitivity without hardware modification, thus rendering it uniquely suitable for endoscopic subsurface blood flow imaging and diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Equipment Design
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / methods
  • Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / statistics & numerical data
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / diagnosis
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Regional Blood Flow
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / instrumentation
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / statistics & numerical data
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / diagnosis