In vivo deep tissue imaging using wavefront shaping optical coherence tomography

Abstract: Multiple light scattering in tissue limits the penetration of optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. Here, we present in-vivo OCT imaging of a live mouse using wavefront shaping to enhance the penetration depth. A digital micro-mirror device (DMD) was used in a spectral-domain OCT system for complex wavefront shaping of an incident beam which resulted in the optimal delivery of light energy into deep tissue. Ex-vivo imaging of chicken breasts and mouse ear tissues showed enhancements in the strength of the image signals and the penetration depth, and in-vivo imaging of the tail of a live mouse provided a multilayered structure inside the tissue, otherwise invisible in conventional OCT imaging. Signal enhancements by a factor of 3-7 were acquired for various experimental conditions and samples.