High dynamic range 3D motion tracking using circular scans with optical coherence tomography.

Motion artifacts, from such sources as heartbeats, respiration, or peristalsis, often degrade microscopic images or videos of live subjects. We have developed a method using circular optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans to track the transverse and axial motion of biological samples at speeds ranging from several micrometers per second to several centimeters per second. We achieve fast and high-precision measurements of the magnitude and direction of the sample's motion by adaptively controlling the circular scan pattern settings and applying interframe and intraframe analyses. These measurements are the basis of active motion compensation via feedback control for future in vivo microscopic and macroscopic imaging applications.