Methods and algorithms for optical coherence tomography-based angiography: a review and comparison (original) (raw)

Fundamentals of optical coherence tomography: a critical review

Physics & Astronomy International Journal

The main objective of this work is to go through fundamentals, mechanism and types of the state of the art emerging imaging modality i.e. optical coherence tomography (OCT) for non-invasive 3D imaging of bio tissues. This work consists of literature studied critically for OCT’s contribution in axial scanning of bio tissues with it different types to the best of our knowledge. Doppler optical coherence tomography (D-OCT) and speckle variance optical coherence tomography (SV-OCT) for blood flow assessment and blood microvasculatures on micron-scale resolution with dorsal skin-fold window chamber model (WCM) of mouse, Fourier domain common path (FD-CP-OCT) for applications in the setting of delicate microsurgical procedures such as intraocular retinal surgery have been explored. We conclude that OCT is the promised imaging modality in 3D regime for non-invasive applications.

The role of optical coherence tomography in vascular medicine

Vascular Medicine, 2009

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an emerging imaging modality that provides high-resolution, microstructural information on atherosclerotic plaques in biological systems. Intracoronary OCT can identify thin-cap fibroatheroma and other vulnerable plaques that may be responsible for acute coronary events. These characteristics make OCT helpful in guiding coronary management and interventions, including stent apposition and early identification of procedure-related complications. OCT is being assessed for its potential role in carotid plaque characterization and in the diagnosis of peripheral arterial atherosclerosis. Its current use in studying carotid and cerebral vasculature and in the diagnosis of peripheral arterial diseases is limited and ill defined, but it is finding increasing application in these areas. Its performance can be further improved by increasing the signal to noise ratio and by using dynamic focus tracking techniques. It can potentially be used to monitor the progression and regression of atherosclerosis in the coronary, cerebral and peripheral vasculature. New indications for its use in vascular medicine are emerging as its technology continues to improve over time.

Feature space optical coherence tomography based micro-angiography

Biomedical Optics Express, 2015

Current optical coherence tomography (OCT) based microangiography is prone to noise that arises from static background. This work presents a novel feature space based optical micro-angiography (OMAG) method (fsOMAG) that can effectively differentiate flow signal from static background in the feature space. fsOMAG consists of two steps. In the first step a classification map is generated that provides criterion for classification in the second step to extract functional blood flow from experimental data set. The performance of fsOMAG is examined through phantom experiments and in-vivo human retinal imaging, and compared with the existing OMAG. The results indicate its potential for clinical applications.

High-resolution imaging of microvasculature in human skin in-vivo with optical coherence tomography

Optics Express, 2012

In this paper, the features of the intensity-based Doppler variance (IBDV) method were analyzed systemically with a flow phantom. The effects of beam scanning density, flow rate and the time interval between neighboring A-lines on the performance of this method were investigated. The IBDV method can be used to quantify the flow rate and its sensitivity can be improved by increasing the time interval between the neighboring Alines. A higher sensitivity IBDV method that applies the algorithm along the slower scan direction was proposed. In comparison to laser speckle imaging maps of blood flow, we demonstrated the ability of the method to identify vessels with altered blood flow. In clinical measurements, we demonstrated the ability of the method to image vascular networks with exquisite spatial resolution and at depths up to 1.2 mm in human skin. These results collectively demonstrated the potential of the method to monitor the microvasculature during disease progression and in response to therapeutic intervention.

Visualization of micro-capillaries using optical coherence tomography angiography with and without adaptive optics

Biomedical optics express, 2017

The purpose of this work is to investigate the benefits of adaptive optics (AO) technology for optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). OCTA has shown great potential in non-invasively enhancing the contrast of vessels and small capillaries. Especially the capability of the technique to visualize capillaries with a lateral extension that is below the transverse resolution of the system opens unique opportunities in diagnosing retinal vascular diseases. However, there are some limitations of this technology such as shadowing and projection artifacts caused by overlying vasculature or the inability to determine the true extension of a vessel. Thus, the evaluation of the vascular structure and density based on OCTA alone can be misleading. In this paper we compare the performance of AO-OCT, AO-OCTA and OCTA for imaging retinal vasculature. The improved transverse resolution and the reduced depth of focus of AO-OCT and AO-OCTA greatly reduce shadowing artifacts allowing for a be...

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Mice: Comparison with Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy and Fluorescein Angiography

Translational vision science & technology, 2016

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) allows noninvasive visualization of retinal vessels in vivo. OCT-A was used to characterize the vascular network of the mouse retina and was compared with fluorescein angiography (FA) and histology. In the present study, OCT-A based on a Heidelberg Engineering Spectralis system was used to investigate the vascular network in mice. Data was compared with FA and confocal microscopy of flat-mount histology stained with isolectin IB4. For quantitative analysis the National Cancer Institute's AngioTool software was used. Vessel density, the number of vessel junctions, and endpoints were measured and compared between the imaging modalities. The configuration of the superficial capillary network was comparable with OCT-A and flat-mount histology in BALBc mice. However, vessel density and the number of vessel junctions per region of interest (P = 0.0161 and P = 0.0015, respectively) in the deep vascular network of BALBc mice measured by O...

Guidelines on Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Imaging: 2020 Focused Update

Ophthalmology and Therapy

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has significantly expanded our knowledge of the ocular vasculature. In this review, we provide a discussion of the fundamental principles of OCTA and the application of this imaging modality to study the retinal and choroidal vessels. These guidelines are focused on 2020, and include updates since the 2019 publication. Importantly, we will comment on recent findings on OCTA technology with a special focus on the three-dimensional (3D) OCTA visualization.

Speckle variance detection of microvasculature using swept-source optical coherence tomography

Optics Letters, 2008

We report on imaging of microcirculation by calculating the speckle variance of optical coherence tomography (OCT) structural images acquired using a Fourier domain mode-locked swept-wavelength laser. The algorithm calculates interframe speckle variance in two-dimensional and three-dimensional OCT data sets and shows little dependence to the Doppler angle ranging from 75°to 90°. We demonstrate in vivo detection OPTICS LETTERS / Vol. 33,