Long axial range swept-source OCT instrument enhanced by Complex Master-Slave processing

We report on the use of the Complex Master-Slave (CMS) method to obtain a long axial range in a swept-source OCT system, well above the axial range limit imposed by the k-clock of the optical source. This is achieved without the need for software-based k-domain re-sampling or employing an additional Mach-Zehnder interferometer providing a stable k-clock signal to the digitizer board. An imaging range of over 17 mm is reported in each case using a commercially available swept source from either Axsun and Santec operating in the 1 µm region, with a 100 kHz repetition rate, which is about three times the range achievable using either source's built-in k-clock. We have also analyzed the impact the digitization has on the axial range and resolution of the system.