Retina-simulating phantom for optical coherence tomography

Abstract. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a rapidly growing imaging modality, particularly in the field of ophthalmology. Accurate early diagnosis of diseases requires consistent and validated imaging performance. In contrast to more well-established medical imaging modalities, no standardized test methods currently exist for OCT quality assurance. We developed a retinal phantom which mimics the thickness and near-infrared optical properties of each anatomical retinal layer as well as the surface topography of the foveal pit. The fabrication process involves layer-by-layer spin coating of nanoparticle-embedded silicone films followed by laser micro-etching to modify the surface topography. The thickness of each layer and dimensions of the foveal pit are measured with high precision. The phantom is embedded into a commercially available, water-filled model eye to simulate ocular dispersion and emmetropic refraction, and for ease of use with clinical OCT systems. The phantom was imaged with research and clinical OCT systems to assess image quality and software accuracy. Our results indicate that this phantom may serve as a useful tool to evaluate and standardize OCT performance.

[1]  Elham Hatef,et al.  Comparison of Time Domain and Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Measurement of Macular Thickness in Macular Edema Secondary to Diabetic Retinopathy and Retinal Vein Occlusion , 2012, Journal of ophthalmology.

[2]  Nicusor Iftimia,et al.  Multimodal adaptive optics retinal imager: design and performance. , 2012, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision.

[3]  T. Joshua Pfefer,et al.  Multilayer thin-film phantoms for axial contrast transfer function measurement in optical coherence tomography , 2013, Biomedical optics express.

[4]  M. Shahidi,et al.  Retinal thickness analysis for quantitative assessment of diabetic macular edema. , 1991, Archives of ophthalmology.

[5]  Lucas Wexler,et al.  Optical Coherence Tomography Of Ocular Diseases , 2016 .

[6]  B. Pogue,et al.  Review of tissue simulating phantoms for optical spectroscopy, imaging and dosimetry. , 2006, Journal of biomedical optics.

[7]  A. Sommer,et al.  An evaluation of optic disc and nerve fiber layer examinations in monitoring progression of early glaucoma damage. , 1992, Ophthalmology.

[8]  T. Joshua Pfefer,et al.  Characterizing the point spread function of retinal OCT devices with a model eye-based phantom , 2011, CLEO: 2011 - Laser Science to Photonic Applications.

[9]  M. V. D. van der Linden,et al.  Influence of cataract on optical coherence tomography image quality and retinal thickness , 2006, British Journal of Ophthalmology.

[10]  Daniel X Hammer,et al.  Foveal fine structure in retinopathy of prematurity: an adaptive optics Fourier domain optical coherence tomography study. , 2008, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[11]  Deirdre R. Meldrum,et al.  Thin PDMS Films Using Long Spin Times or Tert-Butyl Alcohol as a Solvent , 2009, PloS one.

[12]  U. Schmidt-Erfurth,et al.  Comparison of retinal thickness values and segmentation performance of different OCT devices in acute branch retinal vein occlusion , 2011, Eye.

[13]  Kelsey M. Kennedy,et al.  Review of tissue simulating phantoms with controllable optical, mechanical and structural properties for use in optical coherence tomography , 2012, Biomedical optics express.

[14]  E A Swanson,et al.  Quantification of nerve fiber layer thickness in normal and glaucomatous eyes using optical coherence tomography. , 1995, Archives of ophthalmology.

[15]  Cynthia H McCollough,et al.  The phantom portion of the American College of Radiology (ACR) computed tomography (CT) accreditation program: practical tips, artifact examples, and pitfalls to avoid. , 2004, Medical physics.

[16]  Lala Ceklic,et al.  Macular thickness measurements in healthy eyes using six different optical coherence tomography instruments. , 2009, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[17]  C. Cheung,et al.  Relationship between retinal nerve fiber layer measurement and signal strength in optical coherence tomography. , 2008, Ophthalmology.

[18]  Robert J. Zawadzki,et al.  New developments in eye models with retina tissue phantoms for ophthalmic optical coherence tomography , 2012, BiOS.

[19]  Ton G van Leeuwen,et al.  Comparison of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements by spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography systems using a phantom eye model , 2013, Journal of biophotonics.

[20]  D. Williams,et al.  Visual consequences of the foveal pit. , 1980, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[21]  Robert J. Thomas,et al.  Optical properties of ocular tissues in the near infrared region , 2006, SPIE BiOS.

[22]  J. Duker,et al.  Optical coherence tomography of age-related macular degeneration and choroidal neovascularization. , 1996, Ophthalmology.

[23]  Freddy T. Nguyen,et al.  Optical coherence tomography: a review of clinical development from bench to bedside. , 2007, Journal of biomedical optics.

[24]  Ashkan Arianpour,et al.  An optomechanical model eye for ophthalmological refractive studies. , 2013, Journal of refractive surgery.

[25]  A J Welch,et al.  Spectrally resolved white-light interferometry for measurement of ocular dispersion. , 1999, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision.