[OPTICAL REVIEW Vol. 7, No. 5 (2000) 442-447]
Optical Coherence Tomography System based on Synthesis of Optical Coherence Function with a Wavelength-Scanning Laser Source
Hajime HIRATSUKA,1,2 Kentaro MORISAKI2 and Takeaki YOSHIMURA2,*
1Advanced Technology Laboratory, KUBOTA Corporation, 1-1, Hama, Amagasaki, Hyogo, 661-8567 Japan, 2Faculty of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1, Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501 Japan
(Received May 15, 2000; Accepted June 30, 2000)
A new optical coherence tomography system using a wavelength-scanning laser source is presented. The system has the advantage that the depth resolution can be controlled by the scanning range. In general, rapid scanning of the wavelength varies the output power of the laser source, and it is difficult to detect a weak signal of reflected light from the scattering object. By synchronizing the intensity-integrated detector with the variation, the dynamic range of the detection has been improved. To confirm the performance, tomographic imaging of biological tissues is demonstrated.
Key words : optical coherence tomograpy, coherence function, wavelength-scanning, synchronizing, dynamic range, biological tissue