Real-time surface tracking system using common-path spectral domain optical coherence tomography

An enhanced surface tracking system based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) modality has been developed and tested for use in a surgical guidance system. A surface detection algorithm based on a Savitzky-Golay filter of A-scan data and thresholding was applied to realtime depth tracking. The algorithm output controlled a motorized stage to adjust the probe position according to the sample 's topological variance in real-time. As a result, the root mean square error (RMSE: 4.2 μm) of our algorithm was relatively lower than the conventional method (RMSE: 16.6 μm). Also, OCT images obtained using the algorithm showed a significantly extended imaging range and active surface tracking in real time. Consequently, the devised method demonstrated potential for use in systems for guiding surgical robots and endoscopic OCT.