|
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique which
can provide high resolution, nondestructive, in-situ, real-time
reflectivity profiling of nonabsorptive samples. It has become
increasingly popular for
medical applications such as noninvasive opthalmological imaging
and endoscopic gastrointestinal tract imaging. It also has
applications in other fields that require rapid, nondestructive
imaging.
OCT is based on low coherence interferometry,
with the depth resolution of the system determined by the
coherence length of the light source. The basic setup resembles
a Michelson interferometer. Light from a broadband optical
source is divided to illuminate both the sample and reference
arms of the interferometer. The reflected light from both arms
is recombined and sent to a detector. An interference pattern is
created only when the path lengths in the two arms are matched
to within the coherence length of the light source. Scanning the
length of the reference arm over the range of interest thus
yields a one-dimensional reflectivity vs. depth profile of the
sample. Adding x-y scanning optics in the sample arm enables the
combination of depth scans from several points to create 2 or
3-dimensional images.
A sample OCT setup is shown below.
General Photonics is proud to provide almost all of the
key optical components of such a system. Click on the system component
blocks or on the product pictures for more details
about General Photonics' OCT-related products. | 
