Optical coherence tomography cross section image of hamster skin. The returned
signal is processed in two different ways to obtain the two images. (Top image)
An OCT image obtained from the magnitude of the backscattered light. From top
to bottom, distinct layers are: air, epidermis and dermis, subdermal fat, muscle,
and connective tissue. (Bottom image) An OCT image obtained by including the
phase of the backscattered light, thus indicating areas of Doppler shift (due
to moving blood). Three blood vessels can be seen. The red vessels on the left
are flowing away from the sample probe and the blue vessel on the right is flowing
towards the sample probe.
FD Last Updated : June 16, 2000