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Efficient sweep buffering in swept source optical coherence tomography using a fast optical switch.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Dhalla, A-H; Shia, K; Izatt, JA
Published in: Biomedical optics express
December 2012

We describe a novel buffering technique for increasing the A-scan rate of swept source optical coherence tomography (SSOCT) systems employing low duty cycle swept source lasers. This technique differs from previously reported buffering techniques in that it employs a fast optical switch, capable of switching in 60 ns, instead of a fused fiber coupler at the end of the buffering stage, and is therefore appreciably more power efficient. The use of the switch also eliminates patient exposure to light that is not used for imaging that occurs at the end of the laser sweep, thereby increasing the system sensitivity. We also describe how careful management of polarization can remove undesirable artifacts due to polarization mode dispersion. In addition, we demonstrate how numerical compensation techniques can be used to modify the signal from a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) clock obtained from the original sweep to recalibrate the buffered sweep, thereby reducing the complexity of systems employing lasers with integrated MZI clocks. Combining these methods, we constructed an SSOCT system employing an Axsun technologies laser with a sweep rate of 100kHz and 6dB imaging range of 5.5mm. The sweep rate was doubled with sweep buffering to 200 kHz, and the imaging depth was extended to 9 mm using coherence revival. We demonstrated the feasibility of this system by acquiring images of the anterior segments and retinas of healthy human volunteers.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Biomedical optics express

DOI

EISSN

2156-7085

ISSN

2156-7085

Publication Date

December 2012

Volume

3

Issue

12

Start / End Page

3054 / 3066

Related Subject Headings

  • 5102 Atomic, molecular and optical physics
  • 4003 Biomedical engineering
  • 3212 Ophthalmology and optometry
  • 0912 Materials Engineering
  • 0205 Optical Physics
 

Citation

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Dhalla, A.-H., Shia, K., & Izatt, J. A. (2012). Efficient sweep buffering in swept source optical coherence tomography using a fast optical switch. Biomedical Optics Express, 3(12), 3054–3066. https://doi.org/10.1364/boe.3.003054
Dhalla, Al-Hafeez, Kevin Shia, and Joseph A. Izatt. “Efficient sweep buffering in swept source optical coherence tomography using a fast optical switch.Biomedical Optics Express 3, no. 12 (December 2012): 3054–66. https://doi.org/10.1364/boe.3.003054.
Dhalla A-H, Shia K, Izatt JA. Efficient sweep buffering in swept source optical coherence tomography using a fast optical switch. Biomedical optics express. 2012 Dec;3(12):3054–66.
Dhalla, Al-Hafeez, et al. “Efficient sweep buffering in swept source optical coherence tomography using a fast optical switch.Biomedical Optics Express, vol. 3, no. 12, Dec. 2012, pp. 3054–66. Epmc, doi:10.1364/boe.3.003054.
Dhalla A-H, Shia K, Izatt JA. Efficient sweep buffering in swept source optical coherence tomography using a fast optical switch. Biomedical optics express. 2012 Dec;3(12):3054–3066.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biomedical optics express

DOI

EISSN

2156-7085

ISSN

2156-7085

Publication Date

December 2012

Volume

3

Issue

12

Start / End Page

3054 / 3066

Related Subject Headings

  • 5102 Atomic, molecular and optical physics
  • 4003 Biomedical engineering
  • 3212 Ophthalmology and optometry
  • 0912 Materials Engineering
  • 0205 Optical Physics