Open AccessAngle-resolved Optical Coherence Tomography with sequential angular selectivity for speckle reduction
Author(s) -
Adrien E. Desjardins,
Benjamin J. Vakoc,
WangYuhl Oh,
S. M. R. Motaghiannezam,
Guillermo J. Tearney,
Brett E. Bouma
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.15.006200
Subject(s) - optical coherence tomography , speckle pattern , optics , imaging phantom , speckle noise , materials science , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , physics , quantum mechanics
We present a novel method for rapidly acquiring optical coherence tomography (OCT) images at multiple backscattering angles. By angularly compounding these images, high levels of speckle reduction were achieved. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvements of 3.4 dB were obtained from a homogeneous tissue phantom, which was in good agreement with the predictions of a statistical model of speckle that incorporated the optical parameters of the imaging system. In addition, the fast acquisition rate of the system (10 kHz A-line repetition rate) allowed angular compounding to be performed in vivo without significant motion artifacts. Speckle-reduced OCT images of human dermis show greatly improved delineation of tissue microstructure.