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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
131

Inline Coherent Imaging Applied to Laser Micromachining

Ji, YANG 30 April 2014 (has links)
Laser processing has the advantage of minimal sample contact and thus little tool wear over time compared to conventional machining. However, this leads to the difficulty of real-time depth monitoring and control. To help understand the process and achieve automation of laser micromachining, a coherent imaging technique adapted from spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is applied “inline”with a machining laser to monitor the depth changing information. The axial resolution of the inline coherent imaging (ICI) system is 7–8 microns and the acquisition rate is up to 230 kHz. The capture time is as low as 1.5 microseconds. 3D laser machining usually requires ultrafast lasers and homogeneous materials. With ICI, a feedback system is developed for 3D sculpture suitable even for heterogeneous materials without any sophisticated material characterization. 3D patterns with sizes up to 1 mm × 1 mm × 0.2 mm are sculpted in bone and wood with a ps UV laser. 3D patterns with sizes up to 6 mm × 6 mm × 2 mm are sculpted in bone with a CW IR laser. Many laser applications require high scan speed facilitated by scanning optics. The versatility of ICI is also demonstrated in a galvo-telecentric beam delivery system. ICI is used in a process of trench (as long as 10 mm) etching of steel to monitor the intrapulse and interpulse morphology changes as well as the sweep-to-sweep (up to 36 sweeps) depth changes. High scan speed (up to 375 mm/s) trench etching of silicon are also monitored and the parameter space is explored without destructive post-processing. Motion during imaging capture time (>1.5 microseconds) may cause contrast degradation. To reduce the motion artifacts, preliminary experiments on stroboscopic ICI based on a kHz pulse repetition rate femtosecond laser are described. By “sampling” the motion of the machining front discretely with a “sampling time” as short as the imaging pulse duration, our results demonstrate that stroboscopic ICI is a promising way to improve the ICI contrast against motion artifacts. / Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2014-04-30 13:56:35.793
132

Avaliação do promotor OCT-4 de equinos em uma abordagem transgênica em células-tronco embrionárias de murinos /

Gonçalves, Fernanda da Silva. January 2010 (has links)
Resumo: O fator de transcrição Oct-4 é bem conservado entre as espécies e é conhecido por ser expresso em embriões e células-tronco embrionárias (CTE), sendo um importante marcador da pluripotência. Recentemente, foi relatado que a combinação de Oct-4 com três outros fatores de transcrição Klf-4, c-Myc e Sox2 foram capazes de reprogramar células somáticas a um estado indiferenciado pluripotente, chamadas células-tronco pluripotentes induzidas ("células iPS"), as quais apresentam várias das mesmas propriedades das CTE incluindo a pluripotência, auto-renovação e proliferação. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a funcionalidade do promotor Oct-4 de eqüino em CTE de murinos. Três vetores plasmidiais expressando GFP ("green fluorescent protein") sob o controle do promotor Oct-4 de equinos, camundongo e quatro vetores lentivirais, também contendo o gene reporter GFP e os promotores Oct-4 de equinos, camundongo e humanos, pLZ2-ecOCT-EGFP (meq) (sequência equivalente de camundongos), pLZ2-ecOCT-EGFP (heq) (sequência equivalente de humanos), pLZ2-mOCT-EGFP e pLZ2-hOCT-EGFP, respectivamente, foram construídos. Todos os vetores também contêm um sítio de resistência à blasticidina que permite a seleção das células estáveis e das células transduzidas. Essas construções plasmidiais foram verificadas se funcionavam eficientemente, bem como o efeito do promotor Oct-4 em transfectar transientes e estáveis CTE. As construções com promotor Oct-4 de camundongo, humano e eqüino (sequência análoga à de camundongo) produziram somente 6% de células GFP positivas com intensidade de fluorescência (IF) >1000 pela análise em citômetro de fluxo, enquanto que o plasmídeo contendo o promotor Oct-4 de eqüino (sequência equivalente à de humanos) produziu menos células GFP positivas (>3%) com IF >1000, quando... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The pluripotency transcription factor Oct-4 is well conserved among species and is known to be expressed in embryos and embryonic stem (ES) cells; it is being an important pluripotency marker. It was recently demonstrated that the combination of Oct-4 with three other factors Klf-4, c-myc and Sox2 were able to reprogram somatic cells to a pluripotent and undifferentiated state. These cells known as induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells share several properties with ES cells including self-renewal, proliferation and pluripotency. The aim of this study was to assess the functionality of the horse Oct-4 promoter in mouse ES cells. Three plasmids vectors expressing GFP (green fluorescent protein) under the control of the horse, mouse and four lentivirus vectors also containing reporter gene GFP and horse, mouse and human promoters, pLZ2-ecOCT-EGFP (mouse sequence equivalent), pLZ2-ecOCT-EGFP (human sequence equivalent), pLZ2-mOCT-EGFP and pLZ2-hOCT-EGFP, respectively, were built. All these vectors also contain a blasticidin resistance cassette to allow selection of transfected stable cells and transduced cells. Afterwards, to assess the functionality of the Oct-4 promoter all plasmids were tranfected the into transient and stable mouse ES cells. Constructs with mouse, human and horse (mouse analog sequence) Oct-4 promoter produced only 6% GFP positive cells with fluorescence intensity (FI)>1000 by 20 FACs assay, while plasmid horse (human analog sequence) Oct-4 promoter produced less GFP positive cells (>3%) with FI>1000, when compared with the positive control and among groups. However, GFP expression was not present in stable cells, whereas there were Blasticidin-resistant colonies-forming from 6 days post-transfection. To optimize the system in mouse ES cells, pLZ2-mOCT-EGFP and pLZ2-hOCT-EGFP lentivectors, were tested as controls. It was used HIV-1-derived... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientadora: Gisele Zoccal Mingoti / Coorientador: Joaquim Mansano Garcia / Banca: César Roberto Esper / Banca: Flávio Vieira Meirelles / Banca: Áureo Evangelista Santana / Banca: Simone Cristina Méo Niciura / Doutor
133

Estudo da absor??o das esp?cies pesadas do g?s natural em octanol: efeitos da temperatura e vaz?o / Study of absorption of the heavy components from natural gas in octanol: effects of the temperature and flow

Farias, Ariano Brito de 28 September 2015 (has links)
Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2016-07-08T21:11:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ArianoBritoDeFarias_DISSERT.pdf: 1699559 bytes, checksum: 34e87398edd5ddd9e4071c66e736ef1a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-07-12T20:56:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ArianoBritoDeFarias_DISSERT.pdf: 1699559 bytes, checksum: 34e87398edd5ddd9e4071c66e736ef1a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-12T20:56:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ArianoBritoDeFarias_DISSERT.pdf: 1699559 bytes, checksum: 34e87398edd5ddd9e4071c66e736ef1a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-09-28 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico (CNPq) / Na ind?stria do petr?leo, o g?s natural ? um componente vital no suprimento de energia do mundo e uma importante fonte de muitos hidrocarbonetos. ? uma das mais limpas, mais segura e mais aplic?vel de todas as fontes de energia, e ajuda a conhecer a crescente demanda mundial por energia limpa no futuro. Com a crescente participa??o do g?s natural na matriz energ?tica no Brasil, o principal objetivo de seu uso tem sido o abastecimento de energia el?trica atrav?s da gera??o de energia t?rmica. No processo de produ??o atual, como em uma Unidade de Processamento de G?s Natural (UPGN), o g?s natural passa por diversas unidades de separa??o visando ? produ??o de g?s natural liquefeito e g?s combust?vel. Este ?ltimo deve ser especificado para atender as m?quinas t?rmicas. No caso dos po?os remotos, o processo de absor??o dos componentes pesados visando o seu ajuste ? uma alternativa para de aumentar a malha energ?tica do pa?s e/ou local. Atualmente, devido ? elevada demanda por este g?s processado, a pesquisa e o desenvolvimento de t?cnicas que visam o ajuste do g?s natural s?o estudados. M?todos convencionais hoje empregados, como a absor??o f?sica, possuem bons resultados. O objetivo do trabalho ? avaliar a remo??o dos componentes pesados do g?s natural. Nesta pesquisa foi utilizado como absorvente f?sico o ?lcool oct?lico. Foi estudada a influ?ncia dos par?metros, como temperatura (5?C e 40?C) e vaz?o (25 e 50 ml/min) sobre o processo de absor??o em termos de capacidade de absor??o, expresso pela quantidade absorvida; e em termos cin?ticos, expresso pelo coeficiente de transfer?ncia de massa. Conforme esperado pela literatura, foi observado que a absor??o das fra??es pesadas de hidrocarbonetos ? favorecida em baixas temperaturas. Por outro lado, tanto a temperatura como a vaz?o favorece a transfer?ncia de massa, efeito cin?tico. A cin?tica de absor??o de remo??o dos componentes pesados foi acompanhada atrav?s de an?lise cromatogr?fica e os resultados experimentais mostraram elevado percentual de recupera??o dos componentes pesados. Al?m disso, foi observado que o emprego de ?lcool oct?lico como agente absorvedor demonstrou ser vi?vel o processo de separa??o. / In the oil industry, natural gas is a vital component of the world energy supply and an important source of hydrocarbons. It is one of the cleanest, safest and most relevant of all energy sources, and helps to meet the world's growing demand for clean energy in the future. With the growing share of natural gas in the Brazil energy matrix, the main purpose of its use has been the supply of electricity by thermal power generation. In the current production process, as in a Natural Gas Processing Unit (NGPU), natural gas undergoes various separation units aimed at producing liquefied natural gas and fuel gas. The latter should be specified to meet the thermal machines specifications. In the case of remote wells, the process of absorption of heavy components aims the match of fuel gas application and thereby is an alternative to increase the energy matrix. Currently, due to the high demand for this raw gas, research and development techniques aimed at adjusting natural gas are studied. Conventional methods employed today, such as physical absorption, show good results. The objective of this dissertation is to evaluate the removal of heavy components of natural gas by absorption. In this research it was used as the absorbent octyl alcohol (1-octanol). The influence of temperature (5 and 40 ?C) and flowrate (25 and 50 ml/min) on the absorption process was studied. Absorption capacity expressed by the amount absorbed and kinetic parameters, expressed by the mass transfer coefficient, were evaluated. As expected from the literature, it was observed that the absorption of heavy hydrocarbon fraction is favored by lowering the temperature. Moreover, both temperature and flowrate favors mass transfer (kinetic effect). The absorption kinetics for removal of heavy components was monitored by chromatographic analysis and the experimental results demonstrated a high percentage of recovery of heavy components. Furthermore, it was observed that the use of octyl alcohol as absorbent was feasible for the requested separation process.
134

Doppler optical coherence tomography in determination of suspension viscosity

Lauri, J. (Janne) 17 September 2013 (has links)
Abstract Doppler optical coherence tomography (DOCT) provides a non-disruptive, high resolution and real-time method for imaging flow velocity profiles inside small channels and capillaries. DOCT has been mostly used in the biomedical field to image blood flow. However, applications in the field of rheology have been rare. In this thesis, the time domain DOCT (TD-DOCT) was utilized to measure flow velocity profiles inside capillaries with high resolution. Time domain configuration was chosen due to the ability to implement dynamic focusing and, in addition, to have sufficient velocity range, especially at high speeds. The accuracy and reliability of the laboratory-built DOCT device was verified with Newtonian suspension and, further, the performance was compared to the commercial DOCT. In vivo measurements with slime mould Physarum polycephalum showed the versatility of DOCT to measure the flow velocity profile of a different kind of scattering suspension even with very low flow rates. The effects of multiple scattering on the accuracy of the measured flow velocity profiles were experimentally studied with two phantom configurations. The first case consisted of the static superficial layer, where the plain glass capillary with flowing Intralipid suspension was embedded into a cuvette. In the second case the moving superficial layer was made by introducing a second glass capillary in front of the studied flow. The results showed that multiple scattering has noticeable effect on the accuracy of the measured flow velocity profiles, especially at the deeper regions. Novel application of the DOCT technique is presented by implementing it to a capillary viscometer. As a result, the absolute viscosity of the Newtonian suspension is derived with high precision directly from the measured flow velocity profile and pressure drop without making any assumption of the flow under study. The results are consistent with the reference values measured with the commercial viscometer. / Tiivistelmä Doppler optinen koherenssitomografia (DOCT) on tekniikka, jolla on mahdollista mitata suspensioiden virtausnopeusprofiili virtausta häiritsemättömästi, reaaliaikaisesti ja tarkalla resoluutiolla ohuista kapillaareista. DOCT-tekniikkaa on hyödynnetty erityisesti lääketieteen alueella silmän rakenteen kuvantamisessa ja veren virtausmittauksissa. Tekniikan sovellukset nesteiden reologian tutkimuksessa ovat olleet harvinaisia. Tämän työn tarkoituksena on kehittää DOCT-tekniikkaa ja soveltaa sitä kapillaariviskometrissä viskositeetin määritykseen suoraan mitatusta virtausnopeusprofiilista. Tässä työssä hyödynnettiin laboratoriossa rakennettua aikatason DOCT-laitetta (TD-DOCT), jolla mitattiin virtausnopeusprofiili kapillaarin sisältä mikrometrien resoluutiolla. TD-DOCT valittiin, koska siinä voitiin käyttää dynaamista fokusointia parantamaan sivusuuntaista resoluutiota ja signaali-kohinasuhdetta. Tämän lisäksi se soveltuu laaja-alaisesti eri virtausnopeuksille, erityisesti nopeille virtauksille. Rakennetun DOCT-laitteen tarkkuus ja luotettavuus todennettiin mittaamalla Newtonista suspensiota ja vertaamalla mittaustuloksia kaupallisella DOCT:lla tehtyihin mittauksiin. Mittaukset elävässä organismissa, Physarum polycephalum -limasienessä, osoittavat laitteen soveltuvuuden erilaisten suspensioiden virtausnopeusprofiilin mittaukseen myös hyvin hitaissa virtauksissa. Moninkertaisen sironnan vaikutusta mitattujen profiilien tarkkuuteen tutkittiin kahdella eri konfiguraatiolla. Ensimmäisessä asetelmassa virtausnopeusprofiili mitattiin kapillaarista, joka oli upotettu valoa sirottavaan Intralipid-suspensioon, ja jonka upotussyvyyttä voitiin säätää. Toisessa asetelmassa muodostettiin dynaaminen valoa sirottava kerros asettamalla toinen Intralipidiä sisältävä kapillaari mitattavan kapillaarin eteen. Tulokset osoittavat, että monikertainen sironta vaikuttaa mitatun virtausnopeusprofiilin tarkkuuteen erityisesti kun valoa sirottava kerroksen paksuus kasvaa. Tässä työssä DOCT -tekniikkaa käytetään ensimmäistä kertaa kapillaariviskometrin yhteydessä. Newtonisen suspension absoluuttinen viskositeetti määritetään hyvin tarkasti suoraan mitatusta virtausnopeusprofiilista ja painehäviöstä ilman oletuksia virtaavasta nesteestä. Mitatut viskositeettiarvot vastaavat vertailumittauksia, jotka tehtiin kaupallisella rotaatioviskosimetrilla.
135

Experimental investigation and numerical simulation of laser light propagation in strongly scattering media with structural and dynamic inhomogeneities

Bykov, A. (Alexander) 20 April 2010 (has links)
Abstract Light scattering diagnostics of turbid media containing both structural and dynamic inhomogeneities is currently of significant importance. One of the important directions in modern light scattering diagnostics is the development of methods for probing biological media with visible- and near-infrared radiation allowing for visualization of the biotissue structure. Optical methods for studying the biotissue structure and characterization of its optical properties are very promising and have been rapidly developing during the past decade. The present work is aimed at improving and discovering new potentials of currently existing methods of laser diagnostics of biological tissues containing both structural and dynamic inhomogeneities. In particular, the feasibilities of spatially resolved reflectometry and time-of-flight techniques for the problem of noninvasive determination of glucose level in human blood and tissues were examined both numerically and experimentally. The relative sensitivities of these methods to changes in glucose level were estimated. Time-of-flight technique was found to be more sensitive. The possibilities of Doppler optical coherence tomography for imaging of dynamic inhomogeneities with high resolution were considered. This technique was applied for the first time for the imaging of complex autowave cellular motility and cytoplasm shuttle flow in the slime mold Physarum polycephalum. The effect of multiple scattering on the accuracy of the measured flow velocity profiles for the case of single flow and for the case of the flow embedded into the static medium with strong scattering was studied. It was shown that this effect causes significant distortion to the measured flow velocity profiles and it is necessary to take this into account while making quantitative measurements of flow velocities.
136

Segmentace vrstev sítnice ve snímcích optické koherentní tomografie / Intra-retinal layer segmentation in optical coherence tomography images

Zlotý, Petr January 2012 (has links)
This work describes optical coherence tomography, it's principle and methods for automatic segmentation intra-retinal layers in OCT images . There is proposed algorithm for boundary detection of two intra retinal layers, RFNL and RPE layer based on thresholding and second algorithm for detection of seven layers, which is based on graph search algorithm. In summary is compared accuracy against manualy segmented layers and there is also proposed solution for problematic parts.
137

Morphologische Untersuchung der Netzhaut tagaktiver Raubvögel mittels Histologie und OCT

Vetterlein, Wencke 12 January 2018 (has links)
In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die Netzhaut einiger tagaktiver Raubvögel hinsichtlich ihrer morphologischen und morphometrischen Eigenschaften mit verschiedenen Methoden untersucht. Über die Histologie werden Gestalt und Subspezialisierungen der Netzhaut von neun Vögel sieben verschiedener Spezies in ihrer nasal-temporalen und superior-inferioren Ausdehnung betrachtet. Besonderes Augenmerk lag hierbei auf dem Verhältnis der Photorezeptor- und Neuronenpopulationen zueinander, da hier über den Grad von Konvergenz oder Divergenz der Verschaltung Informationen über die intraretinale Signalverarbeitung gewonnen werden können. Über das Verfahren der Immunhistochemie wurde zudem untersucht, ob sich die Spezies hinsichtlich der intraretinalen Verteilung einiger ausgewählter Marker von Strukturen der Müllerzellen und der Photorezeptoren unterscheiden. Eine weitere angewandte Methode war die optische Kohärenztomographie, ein bildgebendes Verfahren, das non-invasiv in vivo Schnittbilder der Netzhaut erzeugt. Hier konnte gezeigt werden, dass diese aus der humanen Augenheilkunde bekannte Untersuchungstechnik auch am aviären Patienten anwendbar ist. Desweiteren wurde die Darstellbarkeit der aviären Netzhaut, ihrer Besonderheiten und pathologischer Veränderungen bei den verschiedenen Raubvogelspezies untersucht. Für bestimmte Regionen in der Raubvogelnetzhaut wie die Fovea centralis und temporalis, sind in historischen Untersuchungen Formunterschiede beschrieben worden und es konnte gezeigt werden, dass diese auch in vivo bestehen. Zuletzt wird die Frage behandelt, welche Unterschiede der Vergleich zwischen den beiden Verfahren der Netzhautdarstellung aufdeckt, inwiefern beide fehlerbehaftet sind und was bei der Interpretation beachtet werden sollte.:Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Einleitung 1 1.1 Grundlagen zur Netzhaut 1 1.2 Die optische Kohärenztomographie (OCT) 6 1.3 Aufgabenstellung und klinische Relevanz 7 2 Material und Methoden 10 2.1 Untersuchungsmaterial 10 2.2 Spezies der histomorphologischen Untersuchung 10 2.3 Histologie und Immunhistochemie 14 2.4 Vergleich von OCT-Abbildung und histologischem Korrelat 25 2.5 Untersuchung der Ultrastruktur der aviären Netzhaut 28 3 Ergebnisse 30 3.1 Histologische und immunhistochemische Analyse der Netzhaut von tagaktiven Raubvogelspezies 30 3.2 Untersuchung retinaler Strukturen bei tagaktiven Raubvögeln mittels OCT 84 3.3 Vergleich der Darstellung in OCT und Histologie 91 3.4 Elektronenmikroskopie der äußeren Netzhaut des Raubvogels 95 4 Diskussion 98 4.1 Morphometrische Untersuchungen in Histologie und Immunhistochemie 98 4.2 OCT-Untersuchung von tagaktiven Raubvögeln 110 4.3 Verhältnis von OCT und histologischem Abbild 113 4.4 Fazit und Ausblick 115 Zusammenfassung 117 Literatur 121 Anhang
138

Extended Focus Range High Resolution Endoscopic Optical Coherence Tomography

Lee, Kye-Sung 01 January 2008 (has links)
Today, medical imaging is playing an important role in medicine as it provides the techniques and processes used to create images of the human body or parts thereof for clinical purposes (medical procedures seeking to reveal, diagnose or examine disease) or medical science (including the study of normal anatomy and function). Modalities are developing over time to achieve the highest possible resolution, speed of image acquisition, sensitivity, and specificity. In the past decade, advances in optics, fiber, as well as laser technology have enabled the development of noninvasive optical biomedical imaging technology that can also be applied to endoscopy to reach deeper locations in the human body. The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate a full system design and optimization of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system to achieve high axial and lateral resolution together with an extended depth of focus for endoscopic in vivo imaging. In this research aimed at advancing endoscopic OCT imaging, two high axial resolution optical coherence tomography systems were developed: (1) a spectrometer-based frequency-domain (FD) OCT achieving an axial resolution of ~2.5 µm using a Ti:Sa femtosecond laser with a 120nm bandwidth centered at 800nm and (2) a swept-source based FD OCT employing a high speed Fourier domain mode locked (FDML) laser that achieves real time in vivo imaging with ~8 µm axial resolution at an acquisition speed of 90,000 A-scans/sec. A critical prior limitation of FD OCT systems is the presence of mirror images in the image reconstruction algorithm that could only be eliminated at the expense of depth and speed of imaging. A key contribution of this research is the development of a novel FD OCT imager that enables full range depth imaging without a loss in acquisition speed. Furthermore, towards the need for better axial resolution, we developed a mathematical model of the OCT signal that includes the effect on phase modulation of phase delay, group delay, and dispersion. From the mathematical model we saw that a Fourier domain optical delay line (FD ODL) incorporated into the reference arm of the OCT system represented a path to higher performance. Here we then present a method to compensate for overall system dispersion with a FDODL that maintains the axial resolution at the limit determined solely by the coherence length of a broadband source. In the development of OCT for endoscopic applications, the need for long depth of focus imaging is critical to accommodate the placement of the catheter anywhere within a vessel. A potential solution to this challenge is Bessel-beam imaging. In a first step, a Bessel-beam based confocal scanning optical microscopy (BCSOM) using an axicon and single mode fiber was investigated with a mathematical model and simulation. The BCSOM approach was then implemented in a FD OCT system that delivered high lateral resolution over a long depth of focus. We reported on the imaging in biological samples for the first time with a double-pass microoptics axicon that demonstrated clearly invariant SNR and 8 um lateral resolution images across a 4 mm depth of focus. Finally, we describe the design and fabrication of a catheter incorporated in the FD OCT. The design, conceived for a 5 mm outer diameter catheter, allows 360 degree scanning with a lateral resolution of about 5 um across a depth of focus of about 1.6 mm. The dissertation concludes with comments for related future work.
139

Sweep Stability Characterization of a Vernier-Tuned Distributed Bragg Reflector (VT-DBR) All-Semiconductor Tunable Swept Laser System at 1550 NM for Sensing Applications

Martens Biersach, Roric Christian 01 June 2015 (has links) (PDF)
The short-term jitter and longer-term wander of the frequency sweep profile of a Vernier-Tuned Distributed Bragg Reflector (VT-DBR) laser at 1550 nm used in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and other sensing applications is characterized in this work. The VT-DBR has demonstrated success in source-swept OCT (SSOCT), performing both intensity and phase-sensitive OCT. The purpose of this paper is to investigate one of the unique aspects of the VT-DBR laser that makes it successful in OCT: the stability of the linear optical frequency sweep. A highly stable linear optical frequency sweep implies benefits for further fiber sensing applications including fiber Bragg grating and spectroscopy sensors. Short-term jitter measurements of the optical frequency sweep are taken using a 3-cavity 100 GHz free spectral range solid etalon, an athermal fiber Bragg grating, a molecular-based gas absorption reference cell, and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. These four optical filters are used to convert time fluctuations into intensity fluctuations that can be measured by high speed optical receivers. Short term jitter values on the order of 0.5 – 0.6 pm RMS (63 – 82 MHz RMS) are typical values in the VT-DBR lasers systems characterized in this work. This level of jitter is compelling for OCT and fiber-sensing applications. Longer-term wander is characterized using a multiple-gas absorption reference cell. The long term stability and temperature insensitivity of the absorption cell is ideal for long-term wander characterization of the laser frequency sweeps. Wander values on the order of 2.6 pm of wavelength shift over an 8 hour time frame are reported in this work. The slope of the frequency versus time function of the laser sweep, on the order of 100 MHz/sample, is found to deviate by no more than 0.03% over the same 8 hour time frame. Both the long term wavelength shift and consistency of the slope indicate that these sources will perform well in OCT and fiber sensing applications. Mechanisms responsible for short-term jitter and longer- term wavelength wander likely include contributions from the laser source itself and from the high speed electronic drive circuitry that creates the wavelength ramp. Investigation of ambient temperature’s influence on the wavelength wander is also highlighted in the work.
140

Développement et validation de sondes en fibre optique miniaturisées pour le guidage intra-opératoire d’interventions intraoculaires

Abid, Alexandre 03 1900 (has links)
Les procédures chirurgicales intraoculaires sont des procédures difficiles par la précision qu’elles demandent, on parle de microchirurgie, mais aussi par la difficulté et la faible qualité de visualisation des tissus à traiter. En effet, dans la plupart des procédures intraoculaires le chirurgien utilise uniquement un microscope ophtalmologique qui ne permet la visualisation des tissus que par la pupille du patient et offre une perception limitée de la profondeur. La Tomographie en Cohérence Optique (OCT) fournit des images en profondeur des tissus sains de manière non invasive, elle est utilisée couramment en diagnostic ophtalmologique et est de plus en plus utilisée intra-opérativement. Dans cette thèse nous allons présenter deux systèmes OCT intra-opératifs qui visent à assister les chirurgiens sur deux procédures intraoculaires, la vitrectomie et l’injection sous-rétinienne. Pour ces deux projets nous avons utilisé le matériel chirurgical utilisé cliniquement pour plusieurs raisons : s’assurer d’utiliser des outils adéquats (dimensions, efficacité, sécurité) pour la procédure, garder des outils que les chirurgiens utilisent régulièrement et avec lesquels ils sont familiers et limiter les coûts de développement. Pour le système OCT nous avons utilisé des sondes OCT en fibre optique car elles sont flexibles, bon marché et de petit diamètre. Leur focalisation peut également être modifiée dépendamment de l’application avec une fibre optique GRIN à leur extrémité pour augmenter le signal OCT. Nous avons ainsi attaché à ces outils chirurgicaux des sondes OCT en fibre optique. Pour le projet portant sur les injections sous-rétiniennes il a fallu dans un premier temps développer des sondes OCT avec des diamètres plus petits que ceux existant. Pour ce faire nous avons développé une méthode permettant de réduire le diamètre des sondes avec de l’acide fluorhydrique et grâce à un design permettant de conserver les propriétés optiques des sondes. Ce travail est présenté dans le premier article. Le second article présente un système permettant de guider les injections sous-rétiniennes. L’injection sous-rétinienne est une intervention chirurgicale de haute précision visant à restaurer et/ou préserver la vision des patients souffrant de maladies rétiniennes. Néanmoins, l’injection sous-rétinienne reste à la limite des capacités physiologiques humaines en raison des tremblements de la main et peut être compromise par le reflux du médicament si l’injection n’est pas assez profonde dans la rétine. Nous avons développé un système pour guider l’injection avec un micromanipulateur et donner des informations précises sur la profondeur au chirurgien avec l’OCT intra-opératif. Après avoir miniaturisé une sonde OCT en fibre optique avec la méthode présentée dans l’article 1 nous avons pu l’insérer dans une canule utilisée cliniquement. La sonde couplée à un système OCT que nous avons développé acquiert un signal A-scan qui va permettre de connaitre la distance entre la canule et la rétine mais aussi de sélectionner la profondeur de l’injection dans les couches rétiniennes. La canule est attachée à un micromanipulateur qui assure son déplacement dans l’œil. Une image M-scan est construite avec le signal OCT et le chirurgien peut directement sélectionner sur l’image la profondeur de l’injection. Nous avons développé l’interface sur Labview. Après avoir sélectionné la cible de l’injection le programme de guidage va déplacer la canule et injecter le volume adéquat grâce à une pompe contrôlable. Nous avons validé notre système de guidage sur des yeux de porcs ex-vivo. Sur 40 injections 38 présentaient un décollement rétinien ciblé et localisé, preuve de la réussie de l’injection rétinienne ce qui représente un taux de succès de 95% (CI : 83.1 – 99.4). Nous avons aussi grâce à un algorithme de traitement de l’image calculé le volume présent sous la rétine après l’injection que nous avons comparé au volume injecté. Nous avons ainsi trouvé que 75% du volume initialement injecté se retrouve bien sous la rétine. Le troisième article présente un système permettant d’arrêter automatiquement le vitrecteur lors d’une vitrectomie pour réduire les dommages accidentels sur la rétine. La survenue de déchirures rétiniennes iatrogèniques dans la vitrectomie par la pars plane est une complication qui compromet l’efficacité globale de la chirurgie. Un certain nombre de déchirures rétiniennes iatrogènes se produisent lorsque la rétine est coupée accidentellement par le vitrecteur. Nous avons développé un vitrecteur intelligent capable de détecter en temps réel une coupure rétinienne accidentelle et de désactiver rapidement la machine de vitrectomie pour les prévenir. Ce vitrecteur intelligent est composé d’une sonde OCT attachée au vitrecteur et va avoir comme rôle de détecter si le vitrecteur aspire la rétine et va endommager ces tissus sains. La sonde OCT agit comme un détecteur de présence devant l’ouverture du vitrecteur, ceci en comparant un signal de référence avec le signal en direct. Cette comparaison de signal OCT va commander un bras robotique pour actionner la pédale d’arrêt du vitrecteur. Ainsi le chirurgien n’a pas besoin d’interpréter un signal, la décision d’arrêt du vitrecteur dû à la présence de la rétine est prise automatiquement. Ceci va permettre de réduire grandement, de 300 ms à 29 ms, le délai de la prise de décision d’arrêt du vitrecteur précédemment limité par le temps de réaction du chirurgien. Nous avons développé les sondes OCT, le système OCT ainsi que l’algorithme d’arrêt automatique de ce système. Nous avons validé sur des yeux porcins in-vivo, deux chirurgiens ont utilisé notre système en essayant d’endommager les tissus rétiniens. 70% (CI : 56.39 – 82.02) des tentatives de dommages rétiniens des chirurgiens furent atténuées ou empêchées par notre système. Ce projet a abouti au dépôt d’un brevet ("Smart Vitrector", Provisional patent application, US 63109040). / Intraocular surgical procedures are difficult procedures because of the precision they require, they are often referred as microsurgery, but also by the little information available to the surgeon. In most intraocular procedures the surgeon only uses an ophthalmic microscope which allows visualization of tissue just through the patient’s pupil and offers limited depth perception. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) provides in-depth images of healthy tissue in a non-invasive manner, is commonly used in ophthalmologic diagnostics, and is increasingly used intraoperatively. In this thesis we will present two intraoperative OCT systems that aim to assist surgeons with two intraocular procedures, vitrectomy and subretinal injection. For these two projects we used the surgical equipment used clinically for several reasons : to make sure to use adequate tools (dimensions, efficiency, safety) for the procedure, to keep tools that surgeons use regularly and with which they are familiar and limit development costs. For the OCT system we used fiber optic OCT probes as they are flexible, cheap and small in diameter. Their focus can also be modified, depending the application, with a GRIN fiber at their tip to increase the OCT signal. We have attached optical fiber OCT probes to these surgical tools. For the subretinal injections project it was first necessary to develop OCT probes with smaller diameters than existing ones. To do this, we have developed a method to reduce the diameter of the probes with hydrofluoric acid and a design to maintain the optical properties of the probes. This work is presented in the first article. The second article presents a system for guiding subretinal injections. Subretinal injection of drugs is a challenging surgical intervention aiming to restore and/or preserve the vision of patients suffering from retinal diseases. Nevertheless, the subretinal injection remains at the edge of human physiological capacity because of hand tremor and can be mitigated by drug reflux if the injection is not deep enough in the retina. We developed a system to guide the injection with a micromanipulator and give precise depth information to the surgeon with intraoperative OCT. To do so we first miniaturized an optical fiber OCT probe with the method presented in article 1, we were able to insert it into a cannula used clinically. The probe coupled to an OCT system that we have developed acquires an A-scan signal which enables to know the distance between the cannula and the retina but also to select the depth of the injection into the retinal layers. The cannula is attached to a micromanipulator that moves it inside the eye. An M-scan image is built with the OCT signal and the surgeon can directly select on the image the depth of the injection. We developed the interface on Labview. After selecting the injection target, the guidance program will move the cannula and inject the appropriate volume using a controllable pump.We have validated our guidance system on pig eyes ex-vivo. Out of 40 injections, 38 presented a retinal detachment, proof of a successful retinal injection, which represents a success rate of 95% (CI : 83.1 – 99.4). Thanks to an image processing algorithm, we also calculated the bleb volume under the retina after the injection, which we compared to the initial injected volume. We have found that 75% of the injected volume ends in the subretinal space. The third article presents for automatically stopping the vitrector during a vitrectomy. The occurrence of iatrogenic retinal breaks in pars plana vitrectomy is a complication that compromises the overall efficacy of the surgery. A subset of iatrogenic retinal break occurs when the retina is cut accidentally by the vitrector. We developed a smart vitrector that can detect in real-time potential accidental retinal cut and activate promptly a vitrectomy machine to prevent them. To do so an OCT probe is attached to the vitrector and will have the role of detecting if the vitrector sucks the retina and will damage these healthy tissues. The OCT probe acts as a presence detector in front of the vitrector opening, by comparing a reference signal with the live signal. This OCT signal comparison will control a robotic arm to operate the vitrector stop pedal. Thus, the surgeon does not need to interpret a signal, the decision to stop the vitrector due to the presence of the retina is taken automatically. This will greatly reduce, from 300 ms to 29 ms, the delay to stop the vitrector previously limited by the reaction time of the surgeon. We have developed the OCT probes, the OCT system, and the automatic shutdown algorithm for this system. We validated our system on in-vivo porcine eyes, two surgeons used the modified vitrector trying to damage retinal tissue. 70% (CI : 56.39 – 82.02) of surgeons’ retinal damage attempts were mitigated or prevented by our system. This project resulted in a patent ("Smart Vitrector", Provisional patent application, US 63109040).

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