Dmitry V. Shabanov

In vivo optical coherence tomography of human skin microstructure

A compact effective optical coherence tomography (OCT) system is presented. It contains approximately equals 0.3 mW superluminescent diode with spectral width 30 nm FWHM (providing approximately equals 15 micrometers longitudinal resolution) and fiber interferometer with integrated longitudinal scanning. The dynamic range 60 dB allows to observe structure of human skin in vivo up to 1.5 mm in depth. A comparison of obtained tomographs with data of histologic analysis of the same samples of the skin have been carried out to identify the observed structures and determine their optical properties. This technique allows one to perform noncontact, noninvasive diagnostic of early stages of different pathological state of the skin, to measure the burn depth and to observe the process of the recovery. Unlike scanning confocal microscopy, OCT is more suitable for an endoscopic investigation of the mucous membranes of hollow organs. Possible diagnostic applications include dermatology, gastroenterology, gynecology, urology, oncology, othorinolaryngology, transplantology. The most promising features are the potential possibility of differential diagnosis of precancer and various types of cancer, estimation of the invasion depth, differential diagnosis of inflammation and dystrophic processes, control of radical operative treatment.

Optical coherence elastography for strain dynamics measurements in laser correction of cornea shape

We describe the use of elastographic processing in phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography (OCT) for visualizing dynamics of strain and tissue-shape changes during laser-induced photothermal corneal reshaping, for applications in the emerging field of non-destructive and non-ablative (non-LASIK) laser vision correction. The proposed phase-processing approach based on fairly sparse data acquisition enabled rapid data processing and near-real-time visualization of dynamic strains. The approach avoids conventional phase unwrapping, yet allows for mapping strains even for significantly supra-wavelength inter-frame displacements of scatterers accompanied by multiple phase-wrapping. These developments bode well for real-time feedback systems for controlling the dynamics of corneal deformation with 10-100 ms temporal resolution, and for suitably long-term monitoring of resultant reshaping of the cornea. In ex-vivo experiments with excised rabbit eyes, we demonstrate temporal plastification of cornea that allows shape changes relevant for vision-correction applications without affecting its transparency. We demonstrate OCTs ability to detect achieving of threshold temperatures required for tissue plastification and simultaneously characterize transient and cumulative strain distributions, surface displacements, and scattering tissue properties. Comparison with previously used methods for studying laser-induced reshaping of cartilaginous tissues and numerical simulations is performed.

Correction of aberrations in digital holography using the phase gradient autofocus technique

We propose a method for correcting aberrations in digital holography based on the principles of computational adaptive optics using the phase gradient autofocus technique that demands no reference measurements. The method requires a priori information on the relative positions of the elements of the optical setup. It is applicable for sufficiently smooth optical aberrations. This technique does not impose any restrictions on the magnitude of the scattered optical field phase distortions caused by the object structure. The efficacy of the proposed method is demonstrated through numerical simulation and experimental verification.

Broadband 3-D Digital Holography for Depth Structure Visualization

Acquiring 3-D OCT images of strongly scattering media internal structure with units of microns resolution by means of 2-D holographic recording at scattered light interference reception at tens nanometers wavelengths range using digital image reconstruction.

Two-dimensional OCT-relaxography of collagenous tissues

Collageneus tissues manifest strongly pronounced viscoelastic behavior. Namely, viscosity leads to time-dependence of the deformation processes. This concerns both compression (loading) and unloading of the tissue. Both processes can be characterized by a relaxation time - the time during which the strain changes e-times. We demonstrate the applicability of the OCT-based 2D relaxography to characterize local relaxation time of collageneous tissues. The developed technique can be used for further investigation of the viscoelastic properties of healthy and pathological collageneous tissues.

Optical coherence elastography assesses tissue modifications in laser reshaping of cornea and cartilages

Non-surgical thermo-mechanical reshaping of avascular collagenous tissues (cartilages and cornea) using moderate heating by IR-laser irradiation is an emerging technology that can find important applications in visioncorrection problems and preparation of cartilaginous implants in otolaryngology. To estimate both transient interframe strains and cumulative resultant strains produced by the laser irradiation of the tissue we use and improved version of strain mapping developed in our previous work related to compressional phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography. To reveal microstructural changes in the tissue regions where irradiation-produced strains do not disappear after temperature equilibration, we apply compressional optical coherence elastography in order to visualize the resultant variations in the tissue stiffness. The so-found regions of the stiffness reduction are attributed to formation of microscopic pores, existence of which agree with independent data obtained using methods of high-resolution microscopy.

Multiparameter thermo-mechanical OCT-based characterization of laser-induced cornea reshaping

Phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography (OCT) is used for visualizing dynamic and cumulative strains and corneashape changes during laser-produced tissue heating. Such non-destructive (non-ablative) cornea reshaping can be used as a basis of emerging technologies of laser vision correction. In experiments with cartilaginous samples, polyacrilamide phantoms and excised rabbit eyes we demonstrate ability of the developed OCT system to simultaneously characterize transient and cumulated strain distributions, surface displacements, scattering tissue properties and possibility of temperature estimation via thermal-expansion measurements. The proposed approach can be implemented in perspective real-time OCT systems for ensuring safety of new methods of laser reshaping of cornea.

Quasistatic in-depth local strain relaxation/creep rate mapping using phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography

OCT-based local strain relaxation/creep evaluation is an emerging tool for tissue viscoelasticity characterization. We present a tool for 2D visualization of local strain relaxation and creep time/rate inside the tissue.

The influence of multimode fiber in the detection arm on a low-coherence interferometric signal

We investigated the influence of fiber that can support more than one propagation mode in the detection arm on the dynamic range of optical low-coherence reflectometry setup (OLCR). We theoretically and experimentally showed that the dynamic range in this case can be limited up to 20dB by parasitic spikes in the OLCR signal due to coupling of modes with different group delays. In our experiments we used MM fiber 160 cm section (core/cladding diameter 50/125 μm) and PM fiber HB980 (Δn=2*10-4, Fibercore Ltd., UK). We also experimentally showed that the single-mode fiber in the detection arm is not altered autocorrelation field function of the source.

In vivo monitoring of seeds and plant-tissue water absorption using optical coherence tomography and optical coherence microscopy

First experimental results on OCT imaging of internal structure of plant tissues and in situ OCT monitoring of plant tissue regeneration at different water supply are reported. Experiments for evaluating OCT capabilities were performed on Tradescantia. The investigation of seeds swelling was performed on wheat seeds (Triticum L.), barley seeds (Hordeum L.), long-fibred flax seeds (Linum usitatissimum L.) and cucumber seeds (Cucumis sativus L.). These OCT images correlate with standard microscopy data from the same tissue regions. Seeds were exposed to a low-intensity physical factor-the pulsed gradient magnetic field (GMF) with pulse duration 0.1 s and maximum amplitude 5 mT (4 successive pulses during 0.4 s). OCT and OCM enable effective monitoring of fast reactions in plants and seeds at different water supply.