Sequential optical coherence tomography and confocal imaging

Opt Lett. 2004 Feb 15;29(4):364-6. doi: 10.1364/ol.29.000364.

Abstract

We report a system capable of sequentially acquiring two en-face images of different depth resolutions. The two images are generated by use of different principles, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and confocal microscopy, and have depth resolutions, at present, of better than 20 microm and over 0.12 mm, respectively. The lower-depth-resolution image is ideal for target positioning before collection of stacks of en-face OCT images. Switching between the two types of image by flipping an opaque screen in the reference arm, coupled with self-adjusting gain operation of avalanche photodiodes in the receiver. We illustrate the usefulness of the system by imaging a leaf and an optic nerve in vivo.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods
  • Microscopy, Confocal / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods*
  • Ophthalmoscopes*
  • Ophthalmoscopy / methods*
  • Optic Disk / cytology*
  • Plant Leaves / cytology
  • Subtraction Technique*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / instrumentation*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods*