Integrated-optics-based swept-source optical coherence tomography

We designed, fabricated, and characterized an integrated-optics-based swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) system in TriPleX technology. An external 1300 nm swept source is coupled to the chip, which contains waveguide structures for interferometric depth ranging and balanced detection. The complete OCT chip has a footprint of 0.4  cm×1.8  cm. Light from the chip is focused onto the sample using an aspheric lens; the lateral resolution is 21±1  μm. OCT measurements, performed with a moveable mirror, demonstrate a sensitivity of −80  dB and imaging up to the maximum depth of 5.09 mm. Corrected for dispersion, the measured OCT axial resolution of 12.7±0.5  μm is in good agreement with the bandwidth limited resolution. Finally, we demonstrate cross-sectional OCT imaging of a multilayered tissue phantom over the whole depth range with the integrated-optics-based SS-OCT system.