Thermo-optical delay line for optical coherence tomography

Eduardo Margallo-Balbás; Gregory Pandraud; Patrick J. French

doi:10.1117/12.754324

10 October 2007 Thermo-optical delay line for optical coherence tomography

Eduardo Margallo-Balbás, Gregory Pandraud, Patrick J. French

Proceedings Volume 6717, Optomechatronic Micro/Nano Devices and Components III; 671704 (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.754324
Event: International Symposium on Optomechatronic Technologies, 2007, Lausanne, Switzerland

Abstract

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a powerful medical imaging technology. Its ability to non-invasively probe tissues in depth with high resolution has lead to applications in many fields of medicine, with a large potential for surgical guidance. One of the technological challenges impairing faster adoption of OCT is the relative complexity of the corresponding optical instrumentation, which translates into expensive and bulky setups. In this paper a compact fast-scanning optical delay line based on the thermo-optical effect of silicon is studied. Although this effect has been applied to other optical components, the necessary frequency behaviour together with the relatively large scanning range required are unique to the application. Cycling speeds of over 1kHz and ranges of more than 1mm are needed for video-rate acquisition of relevant tissue volumes. A structure is proposed to meet these specifications. A bulk micro machined freestanding waveguide is connected to the substrate by means of evenly spaced support beams. It is shown by means of the Finite Element Method that the geometrical parameters of the beams modulate the thermal behaviour of the waveguide. A linear trade-off between maximum working frequency and power dissipation for any given waveguide size and required scanning range has been found. Our results show that the proposed implementation of a fast-scanning delay line can match the requirements of Time Domain Optical Coherence Tomography.

Citation Download Citation

Eduardo Margallo-Balbás, Gregory Pandraud, and Patrick J. French "Thermo-optical delay line for optical coherence tomography", Proc. SPIE 6717, Optomechatronic Micro/Nano Devices and Components III, 671704 (10 October 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.754324

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