In vitro and in vivo three-dimensional velocity vector measurement by three-beam spectral-domain Doppler optical coherence tomography

• Published in: Journal of biomedical optics Vol. 18; no. 11; p. 116010
• Main Authors: Trasischker, Wolfgang, Werkmeister, René M, Zotter, Stefan, Baumann, Bernhard, Torzicky, Teresa, Pircher, Michael, Hitzenberger, Christoph K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers 01.11.2013
• Subjects: Blood flow; Blood Flow Velocity - physiology; Doppler; Doppler effect; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Interferometry - instrumentation; Interferometry - methods; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry - instrumentation; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry - methods; Mathematical analysis; Optical Coherence Tomography; Phantoms, Imaging; Retinal Vessels - physiology; Spectra; Three dimensional; Tomography, Optical Coherence - instrumentation; Tomography, Optical Coherence - methods; Vectors (mathematics); flow measurement; optical coherence tomography; retina; multibeam; Doppler
• ISSN: 1083-3668; 1560-2281; 1560-2281
• DOI: 10.1117/1.JBO.18.11.116010

We developed a three-beam Doppler optical coherence tomography (OCT) system that enables measurement of the velocity vector of moving particles in three-dimensions (3-D). The spatial orientation as well as the magnitude of motion can be determined without prior knowledge of the geometry of motion. The system combines three spectral-domain OCT interferometers whose sample beams are focused at the sample by a common focusing lens at three different angles. This provides three spatially independent velocity components simultaneously from which the velocity vector can be reconstructed. We demonstrate the system in a simple test object (rotating disc), a flow phantom, and for blood flow measurements in the retina of a healthy human subject. Measurements of blood flow at a venous bifurcation achieve a good agreement between in- and outflow and demonstrate the reliability of the method.