Geometrically accurate real-time volumetric visualization of the middle ear using optical coherence tomography
Joshua Farrell, Junzhe Wang, Dan MacDougall, Xiaojie Yang, Kimberly Brewer, Floor Couvreur, Nael Shoman, David P. Morris, Robert B. A. Adamson
Abstract
We introduce a novel system for geometrically accurate, continuous, live, volumetric middle ear optical coherence tomography imaging over a 10.9 m m ×30 ∘ ×30 ∘ field of view (FOV) from a handheld imaging probe. The system employs a discretized spiral scanning (DC-SC) pattern to rapidly collect volumetric data and applies real-time scan conversion and lateral angular distortion correction to reduce geometric inaccuracies to below the system’s lateral resolution over 92% of the FOV. We validate the geometric accuracy of the resulting images through comparison with co-registered micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) volumes of a phantom target and a cadaveric middle ear. The system’s real-time volumetric imaging capabilities are assessed by imaging the ear of a healthy subject while performing dynamic pressurization of the middle ear in a Valsalva maneuver.