Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography

Abstract : A time-domain optical coherence tomography technique is presented for ultrahigh-resolution B-scan imaging in real-time. The technique is based on a two-beam interference microscope with line illumination and line detection, using a supercontinuum laser and a line-scan camera. Multiple (2048) A-scans are acquired in parallel by scanning the sample depth while adjusting the focus. A quasi isotropic spatial resolution of 1.3 µm × 1.1 µm (lateral × axial) is achieved. In vivo cellular level resolution imaging of normal and cancerous human skin is demonstrated at 10 frame/s with a penetration depth of ∼ 500 µm.