Tailored-Reflectivity Microstructures for Measuring Signal Sensitivity of Optical Coherence Tomography Medical Imaging Systems

Published

May 25, 2025

Author(s)

Greta Babakhanova, Declan Fitzgerald, Joshua Guag, Zhuolin Liu, Daniel Hammer, Ryan Sochol, ANANT AGRAWAL

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a medical imaging technique which has transformed the practice of ophthalmology via high-resolution visualization and measurement of numerous ocular structures, the retina in particular. Despite its widespread use, the development of tools that help ensure high-quality diagnostic outcomes from OCT systems has not kept pace with the technology's rapid advancements. In this work we present a novel microstructure array phantom capable of directly evaluating an OCT system's sensitivity: its ability to distinguish meaningful signal from background noise. Through a combination of two-photon direct laser writing (DLW) and thermally activated selective topographic equilibrium (TASTE), optically-smooth microstructures were successfully fabricated and shown to be effective in directly quantifying OCT sensitivity threshold, an advancement over the current practice of extrapolating system sensitivity in the high-signal regime. This phantom serves as a proof-of-concept for an easily-disseminated regulatory science tool that will increase consistency of performance reporting anywhere an OCT system is used. The advanced fabrication techniques used in this study also serve as a demonstration of what future retinal phantoms could contain, helping to close the gap between the planar, largely-2D phantoms typically used for OCT systems and the geometrically-complex, biomimetic phantoms common to other biomedical imaging modalities.

Citation

Advanced Materials Technologies

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202401959

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Keywords

Optical Coherence Tomography, Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing, Direct Laser Writing, Ophthalmic Imaging, Signal Sensitivity

Citation

Babakhanova, G. , Fitzgerald, D. , Guag, J. , Liu, Z. , Hammer, D. , Sochol, R. and Agrawal, A. (2025), Tailored-Reflectivity Microstructures for Measuring Signal Sensitivity of Optical Coherence Tomography Medical Imaging Systems, Advanced Materials Technologies, [online], https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202401959, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=959503 (Accessed November 23, 2025)