In vivo dynamic imaging of arterioles of human fingers using optical coherence tomography at 1.3 μm

We demonstrate for the first time the in vivo time-sequential imaging of arterioles of human fingers at 0.2 frames/s using all-optical-fiber optical coherence tomography (OCT) at 1.3 mu m. The expansion and contraction of the arteriole can be observed clearly. Our experimental result leads us to a new interpretation in physiology that an arteriole markedly expands and contracts in response to the physiological function of the arteriole itself controlled by sympathetic nerves, and the elastic motion of arterioles is almost independent of heartbeat.