OCT技术在人脑组织成像中的运用研究

目的研究光学相干层析成像技术（optical coherence tomography,OCT）在新鲜人脑标本上对脑灰质、白质等组织的成像对比,探索其在神经外科的临床应用前景。方法利用OCT设备,对手术切除的影像学未见明显异常的颞叶癫痫病患者的颞前叶脑组织进行OCT扫描成像,并将脑灰质、白质的OCT图像进行比较。结果新鲜人脑组织OCT成像中,灰质较灰暗而光穿透深度较深;自质明亮而光穿透深度较浅。对于大脑表层的成像能辨别出小血管、蛛网膜下腔等结构。结论OCT图像与生物组织学图像高度关联,不同组织的光学特征也明显不同。新鲜人脑标本的OCT成像上,根据信号强度与衰减特征可以非常清楚地区分脑的白质和灰质。在改进OCT的探头设计和进一步提高分辨率后,可以用于指导神经外科手术。     

利用双SLD光源提高OCT纵向分辨率的理论研究

提高光学相干层析成像(Optical Coherence Tomography: OCT)系统纵向分辨率的关键是选取合适的光源, 本文将双SLD光源代替传统OCT系统中的单个SLD光源,通过理论分析和计算机仿真,表明双SLD光源能有效提高OCT系统纵向分辨率.     

模拟微血管的光声成像技术研究

目的：为了实现较深层组织内微血管的光声成像。方法：采用波长532nm、重复频率10Hz的脉冲激光作为激励源,宽带非聚焦针状探头以圆周扫描的方式采集时域光声信号,二维光学吸收分布图像由时域后向投影算法重建,以线扩展函数为依据测量系统的成像空间分辨率。结果：成像空间分辨率0．1mm,模拟微血管网络的光声图像与原始样品完全吻合。结论：对组织内癌症病灶的早期诊断具有较大的意义。     

光学相干层析成像技术与医学应用

光学相干层析成像(optical coherence tomography,OCT)是近年来发展较快的一种新型成像技术,能对生物组织内部的微观结构进行高分辨率的横断面层析成像,具有快速、非侵入及高分辨率等特点,对在体生物组织的微观结构分析和疾病诊断等方面具有重要的应用价值。我们简要介绍了光学相干层析成像工作原理,及在生物组织测量及医学等方面的应用。     

一种可测量血管应变的光学相干成像系统

本研究旨在搭建一套可测量血管应变的光学相干层析成像(OCT)系统。首先,利用搭建的OCT系统测量猪冠状动脉结构,并与血管组织切片对比,以确定系统的可靠性;然后,在灌流系统中,对猪冠状动脉施加不同压力,测量不同压力下血管的OCT图像,并使用互相关算法计算血管应变。结果表明,血管的OCT图像呈明暗分层,可以清晰地观察到血管的中膜和内膜,与血管组织切片结果一致。计算得到了不同压力下中膜和内膜的位移和应变,发现中膜应变大于内膜应变。该OCT系统不仅可以测量血管组织形态,还可以测量血管微观尺度的应变。     

基于时域后向投影的光声谱成像系统研究

光声谱成像是一种新的生物组织成像方法,它结合光学成像和超声成像的特点,可提供高分辨率和对比度的图像。采用波长532nm、重复频率10Hz的脉冲激光作为激励源,宽带PVDF非聚焦超声探测器频率响应范围为200kHz～15MHz,探测器以圆周扫描的方式采集样品的时域光声信号,并采用时域后向投影算法重建样品内部的二维光学吸收分布图像。实验表明,系统成像的空间分辨率小于1mm,重建的图像与原始样品完全吻合。     

基于USB2.0的医用内窥镜超声探头旋转扫描成像系统

介绍基于USB2．0接口的医用超声内窥镜旋转扫描成像的设计与实现。根据超声成像的特点，本系统采取脉冲回波成像方式，文中介绍了超声波激发、接收电路以及收发隔离电路。针对旋转扫描的特点，设计了基于FPGA的同步控制电路和基于USB2．0接口的数据传输电路。对采集到的原始图像，进行坐标变换，获得了按直角坐标显示的灰度图像。利用连续旋转马达对实际物体扫描成像的实验结果，验证了系统的正确性。     

生物三维打印细胞负载水凝胶类组织的精准优化

生物三维打印技术与水凝胶的完美结合,可为制造复杂结构功能的组织器官提供一种极具吸引力的解决方案。定制打印细胞负载水凝胶类组织的内部结构,可以更好地仿生真实组织器官的三维微环境,对打印后细胞生长、组织形成和功能再生至关重要。但水凝胶理化特性多变,精准打印与设计结构匹配的多孔结构仍然极具挑战。提出基于光学相干层析成像技术(OCT)的生物三维打印细胞负载水凝胶类组织的精准优化方法,通过自制的三维扫频OCT系统无损在线成像打印组织块和定量评价结构参数,迭代降低设计与打印间的结构差异,提高细胞负载水凝胶打印的精准性和稳定性。实验结果表明,基于OCT无损定量表征结果反馈优化打印参数设置,指导打印过程,使得细胞负载水凝胶类组织的结构形态参数与设计值的偏差从40%左右控制到7%以内,包括内部孔隙尺寸、支撑尺寸、孔隙率、表面积、体积五项关键参数;细胞培养两周后的存活率从80%左右显著提高到90%以上。研究表明OCT技术为批量定制细胞负载水凝胶类组织、生物三维打印组织和器官等提供了具有潜力的精准化工具。     

基于光学相干层析的生物3D打印人工皮肤量化分析

对人工皮肤3D特征的无损定量检测分析,是研究皮肤打印和诱导培养技术须解决的关键问题。利用谱域光学相干层析成像(SD-OCT),对生物3D打印人工皮肤进行无损成像和量化分析。基于光学相干层析成像(OCT)强度信号的自适应峰值检测算法,量化皮肤3D厚度分布和粗糙度变化,通过计算不同位置的皮肤整体厚度及其波动,定量可视化皮肤的空间分辨结构特征。OCT成像人工皮肤的结构特征与切片的苏木精伊红(H&E)染色结果一致,两者实测皮肤整体厚度差异最大为3.59 μm,可验证该方法的可行性和准确性。通过SD-OCT对人工皮肤在培养周期内的持续检测,2D人工皮肤厚度分布检测可以展示皮肤在不同培养时间的厚度增长曲线,而3D空间分辨厚度分布图和表面粗糙图谱能更直观地显示皮肤生长状态。量化统计结果表明,在气液培养过程中,人工皮肤的整体平均厚度不断增长并趋于稳定,皮肤成熟时整体平均厚度为83.91 μm;皮肤表面粗糙度随角质化程度变化先减后增。基于OCT强度信号量化分析的方法能真实有效反映生物3D打印人工皮肤的结构参数变化,可为人工皮肤制备过程中的质量评估提供一种可靠的监测手段。     

虚拟显微镜技术及其在医学领域的应用

虚拟显微镜是现代虚拟仪器技术与传统光学显微镜的有机结合,其在光学显微镜有效放大观察的基础上利用程控扫描方式采集高分辨数字成像完成图像拼接制作虚拟切片、搭载计算机和互联网络构建虚拟环境。近年来,虚拟显微镜系统技术在不断进展并且逐步应用于病理学诊断和形态学相关学科的实验教学。     

Correction of distortions in optical coherence tomography imaging of the eye

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images are affected by artefacts. These artefacts are the result of different factors such as refraction, curvature of the intermediate layers up to the depth of interest and the scanning procedure. The effect of such errors is different, depending on the way the image is acquired, either en-face or longitudinal OCT. We quantify the distortions by evaluating a lateral and an axial error. These measure the lateral and axial deviations of each image point from the object point inside the tissue. We show that the axial distortion can be larger than the achievable depth resolution in modern OCT systems. We have investigated these errors in imaging different tissue: cornea and retina in vivo and an intraocular lens in vitro.     

Office-based optical coherence tomographic imaging of human vocal cords

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an evolving noninvasive imaging modality and has been used to image the larynx during surgical endoscopy. The design of an OCT sampling device capable of capturing images of the human larynx during a typical office based laryngoscopy examination is discussed. Both patient's and physician's movements were addressed. In vivo OCT imaging of the human larynx is demonstrated. Though the long focal length limits the lateral resolution of the image, the basement membrane can still be readily distinguished. Office-based OCT has the potential to guide surgical biopsies, direct therapy, and monitor disease. This is a promising imaging modality to study the larynx.     

Miniature endoscopic optical coherence tomography probe employing a two-axis microelectromechanical scanning mirror with through-silicon vias

We present the design and experimental results of a new MEMS-based endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe. The uniqueness of this miniature OCT imaging probe is a two-axis MEMS mirror with through-silicon vias (TSVs) for interconnecting. The TSV interconnection enables ultracompact probe design, successfully reducing the probe size to only 2.6 mm in diameter. The MEMS mirror is actuated by an electrothermal actuator that is capable of scanning ± 16° at only 3.6 V DC. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional OCT images of microspheres embedded in PDMS and acute rat brain tissue have been obtained with this miniature probe in a time-domain OCT system.     

Handheld forward-imaging needle endoscope for ophthalmic optical coherence tomography inspection

We report the narrowest to-date (21 gauge, 820-microm-diam) handheld forward-imaging optical coherence tomography (OCT) needle endoscope and demonstrate its feasibility for ophthalmic OCT inspection. The probe design is based on paired-angle-rotation scanning (PARS), which enables a linear B-scan pattern in front of the probe tip by using two counterrotating angle polished gradient-index (GRIN) lenses. Despite its small size, the probe can provide a numerical apertune (NA) of 0.22 and an experimental sensitivity of 92 dB at 0.5 frames. The feasibility of retinal imaging is tested on enucleated ex vivo porcine eyes, where structural features including remnant vitreous humor, retina, and choroid can be clearly distinguished. Due to its imaging quality comparable to a commercial OCT system and compatibility with the current ophthalmic surgery standard, the probe can potentially serve as a better alternative to traditional visual inspection by white light illumination during vitreoretinal surgery (e.g., vitrectomy).     

Endoscopic optical coherence tomography device for forward imaging with broad field of view

One current challenge of studying human tympanic membranes (TM) with optical coherence tomography (OCT) is the implementation of optics that avoid direct contact with the inflamed tissue. At the moment, no commercial device is available. We report an optics design for contactless forward imaging endoscopic optical coherence tomography (EOCT) with a large working distance (WD) and a broad field of view (FOV) by restricting the overall diameter of the probe to be small (3.5 mm), ensuring a sufficient numerical aperture. Our system uses a gradient-index (GRIN) relay lens and a GRIN objective lens, and executes a fan-shaped optical scanning pattern. The WD and FOV can be adjusted by manually changing the distance between the triplet and the GRIN relay lens. The measured lateral resolution is ～28 μm at a WD of 10 mm with a FOV of 10 mm. Additionally, a camera and an illumination beam path were implemented within the probe for image guidance during investigations of the TM. We demonstrated the performance of the EOCT design by 3-D imaging of a human TM ex vivo and in vivo with a k-linear spectral domain OCT system.     

Investigations of the eye fundus using a simultaneous optical coherence tomography/indocyanine green fluorescence imaging system

We develop a dual-channel optical coherence tomography/indocyanine green (OCT/ICG) fluorescence system based on our previously reported ophthalmic OCT/confocal imaging system. The confocal channel is tuned to the fluorescence wavelength range of the ICG dye and light from the same optical source is used to generate the OCT image and to excite the ICG fluorescence. The system enables the clinician to visualize simultaneously en face OCT slices and corresponding ICG angiograms of the ocular fundus, displayed side by side. C-scan (constant depth) and B-scan (cross section) images are collected by fast en face scanning (T-scan). The pixel-to-pixel correspondence between the OCT and angiography images enables the user to precisely capture OCT B-scans at selected points on the ICG confocal images.     

Three-dimensional optical coherence tomography of the embryonic murine cardiovascular system

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an emerging high-resolution real-time biomedical imaging technology that has potential as a novel investigational tool in developmental biology and functional genomics. In this study, murine embryos and embryonic hearts are visualized with an OCT system capable of 2-microm axial and 15-microm lateral resolution and with real-time acquisition rates. We present, to our knowledge, the first sets of high-resolution 2- and 3-D OCT images that reveal the internal structures of the mammalian (murine) embryo (E10.5) and embryonic (E14.5 and E17.5) cardiovascular system. Strong correlations are observed between OCT images and corresponding hematoxylin- and eosin-stained histological sections. Real-time in vivo embryonic (E10.5) heart activity is captured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, processed, and displayed at a continuous rate of five frames per second. With the ability to obtain not only high-resolution anatomical data but also functional information during cardiovascular development, the OCT technology has the potential to visualize and quantify changes in murine development and in congenital and induced heart disease, as well as enable a wide range of basic in vitro and in vivo research studies in functional genomics.     

In situ gold nanoparticles formation: contrast agent for dental optical coherence tomography

In this work we demonstrate the potential use of gold nanoparticles as contrast agents for the optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging technique in dentistry. Here, a new in situ photothermal reduction procedure was developed, producing spherical gold nanoparticles inside dentinal layers and tubules. Gold ions were dispersed in the primer of commercially available dental bonding systems. After the application and permeation in dentin by the modified adhesive systems, the dental bonding materials were photopolymerized concurrently with the formation of gold nanoparticles. The gold nanoparticles were visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM images show the presence of gold nanospheres in the hybrid layer and dentinal tubules. The diameter of the gold nanoparticles was determined to be in the range of 40 to 120 nm. Optical coherence tomography images were obtained in two- and three-dimensions. The distribution of nanoparticles was analyzed and the extended depth of nanosphere production was determined. The results show that the OCT technique, using in situ formed gold nanoparticles as contrast enhancers, can be used to visualize dentin structures in a non-invasive and non-destructive way.     

The modulation transfer function of an optical coherence tomography imaging system in turbid media

In this paper we describe measurements of the contrast transfer function, modulation transfer function and point-spread function of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging system through scattering layers having a dimension-less scattering depth over the range 0.2-6.9. The results were found to be insensitive to scattering density, indicating that these measurement parameters alone do not well characterize the practical imaging ability of an OCT instrument. Attenuation and increased noise floor due to optical scattering were found to be the primary imaging limit and the effect of multiple scattering on OCT resolution was negligible.     

Multifunctional imaging of human retina and choroid with 1050-nm spectral domain optical coherence tomography at 92-kHz line scan rate

The light source at ~1-μm wavelength is attractive for enhanced imaging depth in retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT). In this paper, we report on a 1050-nm spectral domain OCT system, combined with optical microangiography that operates at a 92-kHz line scan rate for multifunctional imaging of the human eye, delivering the volumetric imaging of microstructure and microvasculature within retina and choroid.