Temperature-dependent optical properties of individual vascular wall components measured by optical coherence tomography

Optical properties of tissues and tissue components are important parameters in biomedical optics. We report measurements of tissue refractive index n and the attenuation coefficient mu(t) using optical coherence tomography (OCT ) of individual vascular wall layers and plaque components. Moreover, since the temperature dependence of optical properties is widely known, we compare measurements at room and body temperatures. A decrease of n and mu(t) is observed in all samples, with the most profound effect on samples with high lipid content. The sample temperature is of influence on the quantitative measurements within OCT images. For extrapolation of ex-vivo experimental results, especially for structures with high lipid content, this effect should be taken into account. (c) 2006 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.