Charles-Etienne Bisaillon

Review of tissue simulating phantoms with controllable optical, mechanical and structural properties for use in optical coherence tomography

We review the development of phantoms for optical coherence tomography (OCT) designed to replicate the optical, mechanical and structural properties of a range of tissues. Such phantoms are a key requirement for the continued development of OCT techniques and applications. We focus on phantoms based on silicone, fibrin and poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogels (PVA-C), as we believe these materials hold the most promise for durable and accurate replication of tissue properties.

Deformable and durable phantoms with controlled density of scatterers.

We have developed deformable and durable optical tissue phantoms with a simple and well-defined microstructure including a novel combination of scatterers and a matrix material. These were developed for speckle and elastography investigations in optical coherence tomography, but should prove useful in many other fields. We present in detail the fabrication process which involves embedding silica microspheres in a silicone matrix. We also characterize the resulting phantoms with scanning electron microscopy and optical measurements. To our knowledge, no such phantoms were proposed in the literature before. Our technique has a wide range of applicability and could also be adapted to fabricate phantoms with various optical and mechanical properties.

Artery phantoms for intravascular optical coherence tomography: healthy arteries.

We present a method to make phantoms of coronary arteries for intravascular optical coherence tomography (IV-OCT). The phantoms provide a calibrated OCT response similar to the layered structure of arteries. The optical properties of each layer are achieved with specific concentrations of alumina and carbon black in a silicone matrix. This composition insures high durability and also approximates the elastic properties of arteries. The phantoms are fabricated in a tubular shape by the successive deposition and curing of liquid silicone mixtures on a lathe setup.

Intravascular optical coherence tomography on a beating heart model

The advantages and limitations of using a beating heart model in the development of intravascular optical coherence tomography are discussed. The model fills the gap between bench experiments, performed on phantoms and excised arteries, and whole animal in-vivo preparations. The beating heart model is stable for many hours, allowing for extended measurement times and multiple imaging sessions under in-vivo conditions without the complications of maintaining whole-animal preparation. The perfusate supplying the heart with nutrients can be switched between light scattering blood to a nonscattering perfusate to allow the optical system to be optimized without the need of an efficient blood displacement strategy. Direct access to the coronary vessels means that there is no need for x-ray fluoroscopic guidance of the catheter to the heart, as is the case in whole animal preparation. The model proves to be a valuable asset in the development of our intravascular optical coherence tomography technology.

Artery phantoms for intravascular optical coherence tomography: diseased arteries

Abstract. We propose and test various strategies for the creation of artery phantoms mimicking different kinds of diseased arteries when imaged by intravascular optical coherence tomography (IVOCT). We first review the method for making healthy artery phantoms. We then describe the procedure to fabricate diseased artery phantoms with intima thickening, lipid pool, thin-capped fibroatheroma, calcification, and restenosis (homogeneous and layered) after stent apposition. For each case, a phantom is fabricated, an IVOCT image is obtained, and the image is compared to that of a real artery.

Durable coronary artery phantoms for optical coherence tomography

We developed coronary artery phantoms that should be of great use for intravascular optical coherence tomography. Our phantoms mimic the OCT signal profile of coronary arteries, show mechanical properties approaching those of real tissue, and are durable.

On the speckle size in optical coherence tomography

Speckle is always present in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) measurements. To a first approximation, the speckle size is determined by the OCT resolution length and the point spread function of the focusing optics in the sample arm. But the speckle size is also affected by the tissue microstructure. We demonstrate this phenomena by performing measurements on optical phantoms with a controlled density of scatterers using time-domain OCT. In the very low density limit, the scatterers are easily identified on the OCT cross-section and, in fact, one can hardly speak of a speckle pattern. The corresponding speckle size is the resolution length axially and the point spread function of the focusing optics transversally. As the number of scatterers increases, a true speckle field appears and the measured speckle size decreases. In the high density limit, the speckle size reaches an asymptotic value that is about 70% of its low-density regime values. In addition to experimental results, theoretical estimates of the limiting speckle size values are presented. Our work contributes to a better understanding of speckle in optical coherence tomography.

Multilayer tubular phantoms for optical coherence tomography

We report preliminary results toward making artery phantoms for Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) that also exhibit mechanical properties similar to arteries for large deformation regimes. A matrix of PVA cryogels is used to obtain the strain hardening effect characteristic of arteries. Means of adjusting the optical properties of PVA cryogels are investigated and the resulting mechanical properties are characterized.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogel, multi-layer artery phantoms for optical coherence tomography

In this paper, we present recent development of phantoms of coronary arteries with representative mechanical properties. The phantoms were made of poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogel (PVA-C). Multilayer phantoms were fabricated by an overmoulding process. The optical properties are adjusted in each layer by the different number of freeze-thaw cycles in combination with additives. The mechanical properties of the multilayer phantoms are characterized, and various means for improving the strain hardening are investigated.

Ex vivo imaging of early dental caries within the interproximal space

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is emerging as a technology that can potentially be used for the detection and monitoring of early dental enamel caries since it can provide high-resolution depth imaging of early lesions. To date, most caries detection optical technologies are well suited for examining caries at facial, lingual, incisal and occlusal surfaces. The approximal surfaces between adjacent teeth are difficult to examine due to lack of visual access and limited space for these new caries detection tools. Using a catheter-style probe developed at the NRC-Industrial Materials Institute, the probe was inserted into the interproximal space to examine the approximal surfaces with OCT imaging at 1310 nm. The probe was rotated continuously and translated axially to generate depth images in a spiral fashion. The probe was used in a mock tooth arch model consisting of extracted human teeth mounted with dental rope wax in their anatomically correct positions. With this ex vivo model, the probe provided images of the approximal surfaces revealing morphological structural details, regions of calculus, and especially regions of early dental caries (white spot lesions). Results were compared with those obtained from OCT imaging of individual samples where the approximal surfaces of extracted teeth are accessible on a lab-bench. Issues regarding access, regions of interest, and factors to be considered in an in vivo setting will be discussed. Future studies are aimed at using the probe in vivo with patient volunteers.