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Zhu L, Makita S, Tamaoki J, Zhu Y, Mukherjee P, Lim Y, Kobayashi M, Yasuno Y. Polarization-artifact reduction and accuracy improvement of Jones-matrix polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography by multi-focus-averaging based multiple scattering reduction. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 15:256-276. [PMID: 38223182 PMCID: PMC10783893 DOI: 10.1364/boe.509763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) is a promising biomedical imaging tool for the differentiation of various tissue properties. However, the presence of multiple-scattering (MS) signals can degrade the quantitative polarization measurement accuracy. We demonstrate a method to reduce MS signals and increase the measurement accuracy of Jones matrix PS-OCT. This method suppresses MS signals by averaging multiple Jones matrix volumes measured using different focal positions. The MS signals are decorrelated among the volumes by focus position modulation and are thus reduced by averaging. However, the single scattering signals are kept consistent among the focus-modulated volumes by computational refocusing. We validated the proposed method using a scattering phantom and a postmortem medaka fish. The results showed reduced artifacts in birefringence and degree-of-polarization uniformity measurements, particularly in deeper regions in the samples. This method offers a practical solution to mitigate MS-induced artifacts in PS-OCT imaging and improves quantitative polarization measurement accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lida Zhu
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Shuichi Makita
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Junya Tamaoki
- Department of Molecular and Developmental
Biology, Institute of Medicine, University of
Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yiqiang Zhu
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Pradipta Mukherjee
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yiheng Lim
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Makoto Kobayashi
- Department of Molecular and Developmental
Biology, Institute of Medicine, University of
Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Yasuno
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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Zhu L, Makita S, Tamaoki J, Lichtenegger A, Lim Y, Zhu Y, Kobayashi M, Yasuno Y. Multi-focus averaging for multiple scattering suppression in optical coherence tomography. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 14:4828-4844. [PMID: 37791259 PMCID: PMC10545188 DOI: 10.1364/boe.493706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Multiple scattering is one of the main factors that limits the penetration depth of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in scattering samples. We propose a method termed multi-focus averaging (MFA) to suppress the multiple-scattering signals and improve the image contrast of OCT in deep regions. The MFA method captures multiple OCT volumes with various focal positions and averages them in complex form after correcting the varying defocus through computational refocusing. Because the multiple-scattering takes different trajectories among the different focal position configurations, this averaging suppresses the multiple-scattering signal. Meanwhile, the single-scattering takes a consistent trajectory regardless of the focal position configuration and is not suppressed. Hence, the MFA method improves the ratio between the single-scattering signal and multiple-scattering signal, resulting in an enhancement in the image contrast. A scattering phantom and a postmortem zebrafish were measured to validate the proposed method. The results showed that the contrast of intensity images of both the phantom and zebrafish were improved using the MFA method, such that they were better than the contrast provided by the standard single focus averaging method. The MFA method provides a cost-effective solution for contrast enhancement through multiple-scattering reduction in tissue imaging using OCT systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lida Zhu
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Shuichi Makita
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Junya Tamaoki
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Antonia Lichtenegger
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yiheng Lim
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yiqiang Zhu
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Makoto Kobayashi
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Yasuno
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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Tomita K, Makita S, Fukutake N, Morishita R, Abd El-Sadek I, Mukherjee P, Lichtenegger A, Tamaoki J, Bian L, Kobayashi M, Mori T, Matsusaka S, Yasuno Y. Theoretical model for en face optical coherence tomography imaging and its application to volumetric differential contrast imaging. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 14:3100-3124. [PMID: 37497522 PMCID: PMC10368023 DOI: 10.1364/boe.491510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
A new formulation of the lateral imaging process of point-scanning optical coherence tomography (OCT) and a new differential contrast method designed by using this formulation are presented. The formulation is based on a mathematical sample model called the dispersed scatterer model (DSM), in which the sample is represented as a material with a spatially slowly varying refractive index and randomly distributed scatterers embedded in the material. It is shown that the formulation represents a meaningful OCT image and speckle as two independent mathematical quantities. The new differential contrast method is based on complex signal processing of OCT images, and the physical and numerical imaging processes of this method are jointly formulated using the same theoretical strategy as in the case of OCT. The formula shows that the method provides a spatially differential image of the sample structure. This differential imaging method is validated by measuring in vivo and in vitro samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiriko Tomita
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shuichi Makita
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Japan
| | | | - Rion Morishita
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Ibrahim Abd El-Sadek
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Japan
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, Damietta, Egypt
| | | | - Antonia Lichtenegger
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Japan
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Junya Tamaoki
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Lixuan Bian
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Makoto Kobayashi
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Tomoko Mori
- Clinical Research and Regional Innovation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Satoshi Matsusaka
- Clinical Research and Regional Innovation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
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Zhu L, Makita S, Oida D, Miyazawa A, Oikawa K, Mukherjee P, Lichtenegger A, Distel M, Yasuno Y. Computational refocusing of Jones matrix polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography and investigation of defocus-induced polarization artifacts. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 13:2975-2994. [PMID: 35774308 PMCID: PMC9203103 DOI: 10.1364/boe.454975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Here we demonstrate a long-depth-of-focus imaging method using polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT). This method involves a combination of Fresnel-diffraction-model-based phase sensitive computational refocusing and Jones-matrix based PS-OCT (JM-OCT). JM-OCT measures four complex OCT images corresponding to four polarization channels. These OCT images are computationally refocused as preserving the mutual phase consistency. This method is validated using a static phantom, postmortem zebrafish, and ex vivo porcine muscle samples. All the samples demonstrated successful computationally-refocused birefringence and degree-of-polarization-uniformity (DOPU) images. We found that defocusing induces polarization artifacts, i.e., incorrectly high birefringence values and low DOPU values, which are substantially mitigated by computational refocusing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lida Zhu
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Shuichi Makita
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Daisuke Oida
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Arata Miyazawa
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Sky technology Inc., Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kensuke Oikawa
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Pradipta Mukherjee
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Antonia Lichtenegger
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Distel
- Innovative Cancer Models, St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yoshiaki Yasuno
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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Leartprapun N, Adie SG. Resolution-enhanced OCT and expanded framework of information capacity and resolution in coherent imaging. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20541. [PMID: 34654877 PMCID: PMC8521598 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99889-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial resolution in conventional optical microscopy has traditionally been treated as a fixed parameter of the optical system. Here, we present an approach to enhance transverse resolution in beam-scanned optical coherence tomography (OCT) beyond its aberration-free resolution limit, without any modification to the optical system. Based on the theorem of invariance of information capacity, resolution-enhanced (RE)-OCT navigates the exchange of information between resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by exploiting efficient noise suppression via coherent averaging and a simple computational bandwidth expansion procedure. We demonstrate a resolution enhancement of 1.5 × relative to the aberration-free limit while maintaining comparable SNR in silicone phantom. We show that RE-OCT can significantly enhance the visualization of fine microstructural features in collagen gel and ex vivo mouse brain. Beyond RE-OCT, our analysis in the spatial-frequency domain leads to an expanded framework of information capacity and resolution in coherent imaging that contributes new implications to the theory of coherent imaging. RE-OCT can be readily implemented on most OCT systems worldwide, immediately unlocking information that is beyond their current imaging capabilities, and so has the potential for widespread impact in the numerous areas in which OCT is utilized, including the basic sciences and translational medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichaluk Leartprapun
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Steven G Adie
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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Oida D, Tomita K, Oikawa K, Wang TA, Makita S, Tsai MT, Yasuno Y. Computational multi-directional optical coherence tomography for visualizing the microstructural directionality of the tissue. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 12:3851-3864. [PMID: 34457384 PMCID: PMC8367225 DOI: 10.1364/boe.426125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate computational multi-directional optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess the directional property of tissue microstructure. This method is the combination of phase-sensitive volumetric OCT imaging and post-signal processing. The latter comprises of two steps. The first step is an intensity-directional analysis, which determines the dominant en face fiber orientations. The second step is the phase-directional imaging, which reveals the sub-resolution depth-orientation of the microstructure. The feasibility of the method was tested by assessing muscle and tendon samples. Stripe patterns with several sizes were visualized in the phase-directional images. In order to interpret these images, the muscle and tendon structures were numerically modeled, and the phase-directional images were generated from the numerical model. The similarity of the experimental and numerical results suggested that the stripe patterns correspond to the muscle fiber bundle and its crimping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Oida
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan
| | - Kiriko Tomita
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan
| | - Kensuke Oikawa
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan
| | - Tai-Ang Wang
- Institute of Photonic System, College of Photonics, National Chiao-Tung University, Tainan City 71150, Taiwan
| | - Shuichi Makita
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan
| | - Meng-Tsan Tsai
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
| | - Yoshiaki Yasuno
- Computational Optics Group, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan
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