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Optics Express

Optics Express

  • Editor: C. Martijn de Sterke
  • Vol. 20, Iss. 2 — Jan. 16, 2012
  • pp: 1337–1359

Optics InfoBase > Optics Express > Volume 20 > Issue 2 > Page 1337

Efficient reduction of speckle noise in Optical Coherence Tomography

Maciej Szkulmowski, Iwona Gorczynska, Daniel Szlag, Marcin Sylwestrzak, Andrzej Kowalczyk, and Maciej Wojtkowski  »View Author Affiliations


Optics Express, Vol. 20, Issue 2, pp. 1337-1359 (2012)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.20.001337


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Abstract

Speckle pattern, which is inherent in coherence imaging, influences significantly axial and transversal resolution of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) instruments. The well known speckle removal techniques are either sensitive to sample motion, require sophisticated and expensive sample tracking systems, or involve sophisticated numerical procedures. As a result, their applicability to in vivo real-time imaging is limited. In this work, we propose to average multiple A-scans collected in a fully controlled way to reduce the speckle contrast. This procedure involves non-coherent averaging of OCT A-scans acquired from adjacent locations on the sample. The technique exploits scanning protocol with fast beam deflection in the direction perpendicular to lateral dimension of the cross-sectional image. Such scanning protocol reduces the time interval between A-scans to be averaged to the repetition time of the acquisition system. Consequently, the averaging algorithm is immune to bulk motion of an investigated sample, does not require any sophisticated data processing to align cross-sectional images, and allows for precise control of lateral shift of the scanning beam on the object. The technique is tested with standard Spectral OCT system with an extra resonant scanner used for rapid beam deflection in the lateral direction. Ultrahigh speed CMOS camera serves as a detector and acquires 200,000 spectra per second. A dedicated A-scan generation algorithm allows for real-time display of images with reduced speckle contrast at 6 frames/second. This technique is applied to in vivo imaging of anterior and posterior segments of the human eye and human skin.

© 2012 OSA

OCIS Codes
(030.6140) Coherence and statistical optics : Speckle
(100.6950) Image processing : Tomographic image processing
(170.3880) Medical optics and biotechnology : Medical and biological imaging
(170.4500) Medical optics and biotechnology : Optical coherence tomography
(350.5730) Other areas of optics : Resolution

ToC Category:
Medical Optics and Biotechnology

History
Original Manuscript: October 28, 2011
Revised Manuscript: December 20, 2011
Manuscript Accepted: December 22, 2011
Published: January 6, 2012

Virtual Issues
Vol. 7, Iss. 3 Virtual Journal for Biomedical Optics

Citation
Maciej Szkulmowski, Iwona Gorczynska, Daniel Szlag, Marcin Sylwestrzak, Andrzej Kowalczyk, and Maciej Wojtkowski, "Efficient reduction of speckle noise in Optical Coherence Tomography," Opt. Express 20, 1337-1359 (2012)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-20-2-1337


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