Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography for three-dimensional skin imaging

This paper reports on the latest advances in line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT), a recently invented imaging technology that now allows the generation of either horizontal ( x × y ) section images at an adjustable depth or vertical ( x × z ) section images at an adjustable lateral position, as well as three-dimensional images. For both two-dimensional imaging modes, images are acquired in real-time, with real-time control of the depth and lateral positions. Three-dimensional ( x × y × z ) images are acquired from a stack of horizontal section images. The device is in the form of a portable probe. The handle of the probe has a button and a scroll wheel allowing the user to control the imaging modes. Using a supercontinuum laser as a broadband light source and a high numerical microscope objective, an isotropic spatial resolution of ∼1 µm is achieved. The field of view of the three-dimensional images is 1.2 mm × 0.5 mm × 0.5 mm ( x × y × z ). Images of skin tissues are presented to demonstrate the potential of the technology in dermatology.