Fundamentals of Optical Coherence Tomography: A Critical Review

OCT is a high resolution imaging modality that uses low coherence interferometry (LCI) techniques (in situ and real time) with axial resolution of 1–15μm to perform high resolution imaging of biological tissues [1]. OCT is suitable for real time imaging modality of transparent tissues up to depth limit of ~2 mm by scanning the reference mirror. [2,3]. Initially, LCI was applied in measurement of in vivo corneal thickens in noninvasive high precision and high resolution ophthalmologic biometry using a dual beam interferometer. David Huang et al. [4] in 1990’s made advances in two dimensional LCI of eyes towards clinical studies [4]. In the same decade Brezinski et al [6] started the development of OCT for imaging in nontransparent tissues like vulnerable plaques mapping and human coronary artery [5,6]. The significant applications of OCT include clinical diagnostics of cardiovascular system, joints, gastrointestinal tract, bladder, female reproductive tract, respiratory tract, surgical guidance and dentistry [7].