We present a real-time realization of OCT-based elastographic mapping local strains and distribution of the Young’s modulus in biological tissues, which is in high demand for biomedical usage. The described variant exploits the principle of Compression Optical Coherence Elastography (C-OCE) and uses processing of phase-sensitive OCT signals. The strain is estimated by finding local axial gradients of interframe phase variations. Instead of the popular least-squares method for finding these gradients, we use the vector approach, one of its advantages being increased computational efficiency. Here, we present a modified, especially fast variant of this approach. In contrast to conventional correlation-based methods and previously used phase-resolved methods, the described method does not use any search operations or local calculations over a sliding window. Rather, it obtains local strain maps (and then elasticity maps) using several transformations represented as matrix operations applied to entire complex-valued OCT scans. We first elucidate the difference of the proposed method from the previously used correlational and phase-resolved methods and then describe the proposed method realization in a medical OCT device, in which for real-time processing, a “typical” central processor (e.g., Intel Core i7-8850H) is sufficient. Representative examples of on-flight obtained elastographic images are given. These results open prospects for broad use of affordable OCT devices for high-resolution elastographic vitalization in numerous biomedical applications, including the use in clinic.

—A method for multiple mutual synchronization of parallel computational threads, which is used in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography systems, is described. Due to the effective...

The application of computational methods to correct distortions in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography due to fast probe movements relative to a studied object is described. This technique is intended for use in endoscopy or in the study of external biological tissues using a handheld probe. The effectiveness of the method was confirmed experimentally.

The design and principle of operation of the module for data acquisition and control of a broadband near-IR spectrometer are described. It was developed as the main interface device in the system for visualizing intraocular structures using optical coherence tomography. The achieved performance characteristics of this module make it possible to create a spectral diagnostic optical coherence tomography system with a high resolution value of a few micrometers. The USB 3.0 interface is used as the main computer communication channel, thus providing the compactness, portability, and versatility of the diagnostic system. The data-acquisition system is capable of operating against the background of computationally complex asynchronous procedures for synthesizing a continuous flow of tomographic images in real time, due to which the visualization system can operate in an interactive mode.

A compact OCT device and a method for image reconstruction are described. The proposed algorithm contains a novel procedure for motion artifact suppression based on a correction of the phase of the original interferometric signal due to the mutual correlation of adjacent A-scans. This procedure corrects distortions caused by unwanted displacements of the probe relative to the object in real time at a speed of up to 3 mm/s and an image acquisition rate of 20 B-scans per second. All processing is performed in real time using only the CPU, allowing the device to be controlled from a consumer-grade laptop or compact PC without the need for a discrete GPU. Due to its compact size, the device can be used in the conditions of an ENT examination room or operating room and can be freely moved to another room without the help of additional personnel, if necessary.