Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Edith Cowan University
Degree Name
Doctor Of Philosophy
School
School of Science
First Supervisor
Dr Steven Richardson
Second Supervisor
Associate Professor Steven Hinckley
Abstract
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive high-resolution imaging technology. It utilises the coherence property of light to visualise biological tissue cross-sections and produce A-scans. A-scans contain numerous peaks that are associated with layer interfaces in a given sample. Trained medical staff may be able to make a qualitative interpretation of an OCT A-scan. However, this interpretation is not always reliable in terms of identifying the key features of the sample structure. To provide an accurate prognosis and a potential treatment scheme, a more objective measure is in order. The process of inferring sample structure from an A-scan is known as the inverse scattering problem. There are two stages to mathematically solve the OCT inverse scattering problem. The first stage is to establish an OCT model as a means to simulate the A-scan of a known sample structure. This is known as the direct scattering problem. The OCT model is of significant importance in providing a quantitative measure of how well a sample structure fits the available A-scan. The second stage is to develop an efficient and reliable algorithm to infer the sample structure from the A-scan. Solving the inverse scatting problem is about establishing an algorithm to systematically search the space of feasible optical properties of the sample to best fit the available A-scan, thus inferring the tissue structure. Aligning with the two stages, the research proceeds under two main foci. The first focus is the development of the OCT models for the direct scattering problem. This includes extending the first principle OCT model to incorporate absorption, scattering and multiple reflections to create simulated A-scans. The extended OCT model will be used to study the impact of light sources, and the impact of absorption, scattering and multiple reflections on the simulated A-scans. The second focus is the solutions to the inverse scattering problem. This includes investigating and implementing a robust deterministic algorithm to efficiently and accurately solve the inverse scattering problem.
DOI
10.25958/6x26-d992
Access Note
Access to this theses is embargoed until 30th September 2025
Recommended Citation
Guan, A. (2024). Mathematical modelling of optical coherence tomography and solutions of the inverse scattering problem. Edith Cowan University. https://doi.org/10.25958/6x26-d992