Ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography with a fiber laser source at 1 microm

Opt Lett. 2005 May 15;30(10):1171-3. doi: 10.1364/ol.30.001171.

Abstract

We report a compact, high-power, fiber-based source for ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) near 1 microm. The practical source is based on a short-pulse, ytterbium-doped fiber laser and on generation of a continuum spectrum in a photonic crystal fiber. The broadband emission has an average power of 140 mW and offers an axial resolution of 2.1 microm in air (<1.6 microm in biological tissue). The generation of a broad bandwidth is robust and efficient. We demonstrate ultrahigh-resolution, time-domain OCT imaging of in vitro and in vivo biological tissues.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Fiber Optic Technology / instrumentation*
  • Fiber Optic Technology / methods
  • Image Enhancement / instrumentation*
  • Image Enhancement / methods
  • Lasers*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / instrumentation*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods