Visualisation of human subcutaneous blood vessels by increasing coherence probing depth

Journal Article · Fri Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 2004 · Quantum Electronics (Woodbury, N.Y.)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1070/QE2004V034N12ABEH002800· OSTI ID:21470654

Proskurin, S G; Wang, R K ^[1]

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1. Cranfield Health, Cranfield University, Silsoe (United Kingdom)

An improved Fourier-domain rapid-scanning optical delay in the reference arm of a Michelson interferometer is described which allows the use of a low-power superluminescent diode (down to 0.2 mW) and of a few wavelengths simultaneously. The method of raster scanning and averaging in the sample arm of the interferometer within a pixel provides an additional increase in the signal-to-noise ratio by 4-10 dB and, in combination with optical clearing, an increase in the coherence probing depth for the human skin in vivo up to 1.5-1.6 mm. As a result, subcutaneous blood vessels are visualised for the first time and a signal from the bloodstream is detected in the transitional regime between reflected and diffusively scattered photons. The images of subcutaneous blood vessels of the human palm and finger in vivo are presented. The possibility of construction of a low-coherence Doppler spectrograph with a variable coherence length is discussed. (laser applications and other topics in quantum electronics)

• OSTI ID: 21470654
• Journal Information: Quantum Electronics (Woodbury, N.Y.), Journal Name: Quantum Electronics (Woodbury, N.Y.) Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 34; ISSN 1063-7818
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ARMS
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
BOSONS
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
COHERENCE LENGTH
DIMENSIONLESS NUMBERS
DIMENSIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FINGERS
HANDS
IMAGES
IN VIVO
INTERFEROMETERS
LENGTH
LIMBS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MICHELSON INTERFEROMETER
ORGANS
PHOTONS
SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO
SKIN
WAVELENGTHS