Velocity-resolved 3D retinal microvessel imaging using single-pass flow imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography

We demonstrate in vivo velocity-resolved, volumetric bidirectional blood flow imaging in human retina using single-pass flow imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SPFI-SDOCT). This technique uses previously described methods for separating moving and non-moving scatterers within a depth by using a modified Hilbert transform. Additionally, a moving spatial frequency window is applied, creating a stack of depth-resolved images of moving scatterers, each representing a finite velocity range. The resulting velocity reconstruction is validated with and strongly correlated to velocities measured with conventional Doppler OCT in flow phantoms. In vivo velocity-resolved flow mapping is acquired in healthy human retina and demonstrate the measurement of vessel size, peak velocity, and total foveal blood flow with OCT.