Tracking mechanical wave propagation within tissue using phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography: motion artifact and its compensation

We describe theoretical and experimental investigations of motion artifacts that can arise in the detection of shear wave propagating within tissue with phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography. We find that the motion artifact is a combined product of sample surface motion and refractive index difference between sample and air, which cannot be neglected when estimating the tissue motion within tissue. A method of compensating the motion artifact is demonstrated, the results of which emphasize the need for surface motion compensation when measuring the mechanical response for elastography or other biomedical applications. (C) 2013 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)