Real-time in vivo color Doppler optical coherence tomography.
Color Doppler optical coherence tomography (CDOCT) is a functional extension of optical coherence tomography (OCT) that can image flow in turbid media. We have developed a CDOCT system capable of imaging flow in real time. Doppler processing of the analog signal is accomplished in hardware in the time domain using a novel autocorrelation technique. This Doppler processing method is compatible with a high speed OCT system capable of imaging in real time. Using this system, we demonstrate cross-sectional imaging of bidirectional flow with CDOCT at four frames per second in a tissue-simulating phantom consisting of intralipid solution flowing in glass capillaries. As a demonstration of real-time imaging of blood flow in vivo we imaged pulsatible blood flow in a rat femoral artery at eight frames per second. Issues of velocity sensitivity, imaging speed, and range of velocity measurement are discussed, as well as potential applications of real-time CDOCT.
Rollins
Andrew M
AM
Case Western Reserve University, Department of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-5066, USA. amr9@po.cwru.edu
Yazdanfar
Siavash
S
Barton
Jennifer K
JK
Izatt
Joseph A
JA
D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003199:Computer Systems; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000378:metabolism; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000502:physiology; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D051381:Rats; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014054:Tomography; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous