Computational augmentation of spatially coherent full-field optical coherence microscope for cellular-resolution and millimeter-depth imaging

We demonstrate a spatially coherent full-field OCM hardware, which is specifically designed to be incorporated with computational signal processing. The hardware provides the in-focus lateral resolution of 1.7µm, but its theoretical depth of focus (DOF) is only 5.5µm. However, the absence of the confocal effect and additional phase-only spatial frequency filtering can enable post-acquisition extension of the imaging depth up to a few millimeters with a high signal-to-noise ratio. The cellular-level volumetric imaging of the cancer spheroid is demonstrated over the full depth of the spheroid (around 0.3mm).