title: Deformation-induced speckle-pattern evolution and feasibility of correlational speckle tracking in optical coherence elastography.
abstract: Feasibility of speckle tracking in optical coherence tomography (OCT) based on digital image correlation (DIC) is discussed in the context of elastography problems. Specifics of applying DIC methods to OCT, compared to processing of photographic images in mechanical engineering applications, are emphasized and main complications are pointed out. Analytical arguments are augmented by accurate numerical simulations of OCT speckle patterns. In contrast to DIC processing for displacement and strain estimation in photographic images, the accuracy of correlational speckle tracking in deformed OCT images is strongly affected by the coherent nature of speckles, for which strain-induced complications of speckle “blinking” and “boiling” are typical. The tracking accuracy is further compromised by the usually more pronounced pixelated structure of OCT scans compared with digital photographic images in classical DIC applications. Processing of complex-valued OCT data (comprising both amplitude and phase) compared to intensity-only scans mitigates these deleterious effects to some degree. Criteria of the attainable speckle tracking accuracy and its dependence on the key OCT system parameters are established.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 46 Uljanova Street, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, RussiabNizhny Novgorod State University, 23 Gagarina Avenue, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, RussiacNizhny Novgorod Medical Academy, 10/1 Minin Square, Ni.
authors.forename: Vladimir Y
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Zaitsev
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 46 Uljanova Street, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, RussiacNizhny Novgorod Medical Academy, 10/1 Minin Square, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia.
authors.forename: Alexandr L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Matveyev
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 46 Uljanova Street, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, RussiabNizhny Novgorod State University, 23 Gagarina Avenue, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, RussiacNizhny Novgorod Medical Academy, 10/1 Minin Square, Ni.
authors.forename: Lev A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Matveev
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 46 Uljanova Street, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, RussiacNizhny Novgorod Medical Academy, 10/1 Minin Square, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia.
authors.forename: Grigory V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Gelikonov
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 46 Uljanova Street, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, RussiabNizhny Novgorod State University, 23 Gagarina Avenue, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, RussiacNizhny Novgorod Medical Academy, 10/1 Minin Square, Ni.
authors.forename: Valentin M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Gelikonov
authors.affiliation: Nizhny Novgorod Medical Academy, 10/1 Minin Square, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, RussiadUniversity of Toronto and University Health Network, M5G 2M9, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitkin
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*