In vivo ultrahigh-resolution, functional optical coherence tomography

Summary form only given.Optical coherence tomography (OCT), has been extensively evaluated as a possible diagnostic tool for high-speed, noninvasive, high-resolution in vivo and in situ imaging in a variety of medical fields. Based on low coherence interferometry, the axial resolution of OCT is limited by the bandwidth of the light source, usually a superluminescent diode, to typically 10-15 /spl mu/m. This is approximately one order of magnitude better than any other conventional technique. However many of the early changes associated with diseases are still below its detection limit. Recent developments of femtosecond Kerr-lens mode-locking of Ti:sapphire solid-state lasers have established a generation of powerful low-coherence light sources for OCT.