Adaptive classifier allows enhanced flow contrast in OCT angiography using a histogram-based motion threshold and 3D Hessian analysis-based shape filtering

Opt Lett. 2017 Dec 1;42(23):4816-4819. doi: 10.1364/OL.42.004816.

Abstract

In this Letter, we propose an adaptive digital classifier for flow contrast enhancement in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). To solve the depth dependence in the initial motion-based classification, a depth-adaptive motion threshold was determined by performing a histogram analysis of an en-face image at each depth and identifying the static and dynamic voxel populations through fitting. In the follow-up shape-based classification, to adapt to the deformed vessel shapes in OCTA, a modified vesselness function along with an anisotropic Gaussian probe kernel was defined, and then a three-dimensional (3D) Hessian analysis-based shape filtering was utilized for effectively removing the residual static voxels. The experimental outcomes validated that the proposed adaptive digital classifier enabled a superior flow contrast by combining both the motion and 3D shape information.

MeSH terms

  • Artifacts
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Motion*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods*