Methods and systems for in vivo full-field interference microscopy imaging

Abstract

According to one aspect, the invention relates to a system (101) for in vivo, full-field interference microscopy imaging of a scattering three-dimensional sample. It comprises a full-field OCT imaging system (130) for providing en face images of the sample, wherein said full-field OCT system comprises an interference device (145) with an object arm (147) intended to receive the sample and a reference arm (146) comprising an optical lens (134) and a first reflection surface (133), and an acquisition device (138) configured to acquire a temporal succession of two-dimensional interferometric signals (I1, I2) resulting from interferences produced at each point of an imaging field; an OCT imaging system (110) for providing at the same times of acquisition of said two-dimensional interferometric signals, cross-sectional images of both the sample and a first reflection surface (133) of said full-field OCT imaging system (130); a processing unit (160) configured to determine a plurality of en face images (X - Y) of a plurality of slices of the sample, each en face image being determined from at least two two-dimensional interferometric signals (I1, I2) having a given phase shift; determine from the cross-sectional images provided by the OCT imaging system (110) at the times of acquisition of each of said two two-dimensional interferometric signals (I1, I2) a depth (z) for each en face image (X - Y) of said plurality of slices; determine a 3D image of the sample from said plurality of en face images of said plurality of slices of the sample and depths.

Description

technical field [0001] The present specification relates to methods and systems for in vivo full-field interferometric microscopy imaging. This description applies to in vivo imaging of objects that can move randomly, and in particular relates to in vivo imaging of ocular tissues. Background technique [0002] Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has evolved over the past 25 years to become a powerful imaging modality (see, for example, “Optical Coherence Tomography-Technology and Applications”–Wolfgang Drexler–James G. Fujimoto–Editors–Springer 2015). OCT is an interferometric technique that can be thought of as an "optical analog" to ultrasound imaging. OCT has a wide range of applications, especially in biomedical fields such as ophthalmology, dermatology, cardiovascular field, and gastroenterology. [0003] Tissues in the body move involuntarily, and these movements have challenged all OCT techniques throughout history. More precisely, motion causes misalignment, shifti...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0009] However, current FFOCT 3D imaging schemes are feasible for static samples (or for in vivo samples with no or low motion transients), since any movement of the sample may shift the intended phase and degrade the FFOCT signal, or even destroy the FFOCT image

The scheme of 3D imaging is not suitable for in vivo imaging, because the position (X, Y, Z) of the captured 2D image becomes unknown, so the 3D image cannot be constructed

Thus, until now, the application of FFOCT has been almost entirely limited to static ex vivo samples

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