Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography

We present an improved time-domain optical coherence tomography technique designed for ultrahigh-resolution B-scan imaging in real-time. The technique, called line-field confocal optical coherence tomography, is based on a Linnik-type interference microscope with line illumination using a supercontinuum laser and line detection using a line-scan camera. B-scan imaging with dynamic focusing is achieved by acquiring multiple A-scans in parallel. In vivo cellular level resolution imaging of skin is demonstrated at 10 frame/s with a penetration depth of similar to 500 mu m, with a spatial resolution of 1.3 mu m x 1.1 mu m (transverse x axial).