Vector Network Analyser-based Terahertz Solution for High-quality Medical Imaging

This paper introduces a comparative evaluation between Terahertz (THz) imaging (based on a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA)), and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). The use of the VNA is assessed in suppressing the issue of speckle noise introduced in OCT imaging, which hinders clinical interpretation. Depth profiles of the sample (A-Scans) were produced by both systems which, when stacked, build a B-scan image. Each system was visually evaluated by its ability to spatially resolve both along and normal to the beam axis, using a phantom resembling a tooth with a hole, including a lattice structure representing decay. Relative to commonly appreciated x-ray imaging, results show that comparatively VNA-based imaging can be done to greater spatial resolution than with infrared OCT.