Darstellung von Blutfluss und Pulsation in retinalen Gefäßen mit Full-Field-Swept-Source-OCT

Translated title of the contribution: Imaging Blood Flow and Pulsation of Retinal Vessels with Full-Field Swept-Source OCT

H. Spahr, D. Hillmann, C. Pfäffle, H. Sudkamp, G. Franke, P. Koch, G. Hüttmann, Carola Hain

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) uses interference to image the retina with high axial resolution. In the last 25 years, new technologies have permitted a steady increase in imaging speed, which made it possible to enlarge the imaged field and to avoid motion artefacts. The speed and precision of retinal imaging is now limited by photodamage of the retina caused by the focused OCT beam and by the speed of the scanning mechanics. Full-field swept-source (FF-SS)-OCT decreases irradiance on the retina and dispenses moving parts by using a camera to acquire the full volume of the retina in parallel. Here we show that FF-SS-OCT is rapid and precise enough to image pulsation in the retina induced by the heart beat. Series of OCT volumes 1.8 × 0.7 mm wide and 1.8 mm deep were recorded in young volunteers over a few cycles of the heart beat. Morphology of the retinal vessels, blood flow and tissue motion as caused by vessel pulsation were calculated from the OCT data. FF-SS-OCT was able to visualise the main structures of the neuronal retina, including vessels and small capillaries and without any motion artefacts. Information on three different dynamic processes was obtained from only one recorded series of OCT volumes: pulsation of blood flow and blood pressure in retinal vessels as well as pulsation of the choroid. Delays between arterial and venous pulse and delay between pulsation in retinal and choroidal vessels were calculated. With a time resolution of 0.5 ms, FF-SS-OCT is able to visualise previously unmeasurably fast changes in the retina, including the propagation of pulse waves.

Translated title of the contributionImaging Blood Flow and Pulsation of Retinal Vessels with Full-Field Swept-Source OCT
Original languageGerman
JournalKlin Monatsbl Augenheilkd
Volume233
Issue number12
Pages (from-to)1324-1330
Number of pages7
ISSN0023-2165
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Biomedical Engineering

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