Quantification Of Resolution For A Dynamic Focusing Ocm Microscope

Achieving high lateral resolution still remains a challenge for in vivo Optical Coherence Microscopy (OCM) biological imaging. While to address this challenge, the numerical aperture (NA) of the microscope objective in the sample arm of the OCM interferometer may be increased, it introduces trade-offs in terms of loss in the depth of focus over which lateral resolution can still be maintained. As a critical step to offset this problem, we recently presented the optical system design of a dynamic focusing (DF) optical coherence microscope with a built-in liquid lens for re-focusing through the sample depth with no moving parts at in vivo speeds. We present experimental measurements of the modulation transfer function (MTF) acquired from the fabricated research prototype. The measurements were obtained though the edge detection method as a function of the voltage applied and at various positions in the field of view (FOV) within a 2mm cubic sample. Results demonstrate a resolution of 2 Âμm across the voltage range and the FOV, which validates the expectation by design of a quasi-invariant resolution of less than 3μm over a 2mm×2mm lateral cross-section across the 2mm depth of skin-equivalent tissue. Images of a tadpole sample acquired with the probe at different focal depths are also shown to demonstrate gain in resolution with focusing through different depth zones. © 2009 SPIE