Ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography using continuum generation in an air–silica microstructure optical fiber

Abstract

We demonstrate ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) using continuum generation in an air-silica microstructure fiber as a low-coherence light source. A broadband OCT system was developed and imaging was performed with a bandwidth of 370 nm at a 1.3-mu;m center wavelength. Longitudinal resolutions of 2.5 microm in air and ~2 microm in tissue were achieved. Ultrahigh-resolution imaging in biological tissue in vivo was demonstrated.

Optical coherence tomography—current technology and applications in clinical and biomedical research

“…With typical light sources, for instance superluminescent diodes (SLD), a resolution around 5 -10 µm in tissue (n ≈ 1.4) is possible, while ultra broadband light sources, e. g. supercontinuum sources, enable a resolution down to 1 µm [5,6]. Most optical microscopy techniques, such as confocal microscopy [8], achieve high resolution with a high numerical aperture (NA) objective.…”

“…It is capable of providing realtime cross-sectional images ( Fig. 1), resolving features typically on the order of 10 µm, but even depth resolution down to 1 µm or less is possible [5][6][7]. The penetration depth into scattering samples is limited; in biologic tissues typically to a few millimeters, which is nevertheless higher than other high-resolution optical techniques, e. g. confocal microscopy [8], can achieve.…”

A combined multiple-SLED broadband light source at 1300nm for high resolution optical coherence tomography

“…High resolution OCT with an axial resolution less than 5 μm in tissue at 1300 nm has been demonstrated using different method [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. OCT images with higher axial resolution clearly show improved image quality due to smaller speckle size and the ability to display finer structures with higher contrast, which can possibly improve diagnosis in the clinic [5].…”

“…OCT images with higher axial resolution clearly show improved image quality due to smaller speckle size and the ability to display finer structures with higher contrast, which can possibly improve diagnosis in the clinic [5]. Normally broadband light sources for OCT imaging at 1300 nm are generated by pumping a fiber with either a femotosecond laser or a high power continuous wave (CW) laser [2,4,8]. The broadband spectrum manifests from nonlinear effects that occur in the fiber also known as supercontinuum generation (SCG).…”

A 36-channel x 10-GHz spectrally sliced pulse source based on supercontinuum generation in normally dispersive highly nonlinear holey fiber

“…Most of the work reported so far has used femtosecond pulsed sources operating in the visible regions of the spectrum and have exploited the fact that HFs, unlike conventional single-mode fibers, can have zero dispersion wavelengths in this wavelength regime. Applications for SC generation include, among others, optical coherence tomography [2] and frequency metrology [3]. High capacity optical communications can also benefit from the availability of a broad-band coherent optical source.…”