OCT

Low coherence interferometry (LCI), low coherence reflectometry, optical coherence tomography (OCT) or partial coherence reflectometry all refer to the same basic set-up, an interferometer under low coherence illumination. A variety of LCI systems have been researched and applied to different fields, in measuring electric or magnetic field, pressure, acceleration, flows, etc. One of the most exciting application of LCI is OCT for imaging tissue. This has revolutionised the imaging technology of superficial tissue, images from retina with less than 5 microns have been recently reported.
Low-Coherence Interferometry is a powerful tool to "section" a transparent object. The technique is currently evolving quickly with applications in medicine in general and ophthalmology in particular. The OCT technology is non-invasive and provides high depth resolution, therefore the technology was applied to different types of tissue, skin, hair, burns, etc. Visualisation of cells, microorganisms, hair, brain and the interior of arteries have been reported with depth and transversal resolution of 5-15 microns. OCT has also been used to image integrated circuits, characterise fibre Bragg gratings and optical waveguides and in surface analysis. In combination with confocal microscopy, OCT can in principle offer 1 micron resolution along all three axes. The OCT field requires an interdisciplinary approach.
The AOG in Kent is at the forefront of OCT system development. The group has pioneered the en-face OCT technology, the first dual channel confocal-OCT instrument for the eye, multi-interferometer configuration to collect simultaneously images from different depths and produced 3D OCT visualisation in real time.