Calibration of optical coherence tomography angiography with a microfluidic chip

A microfluidic chip with microchannels ranging from 8 to 96 μm was used to mimic blood vessels down to the capillary level. Blood flow within the microfluidic channels was analyzed with split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography (SSADA)-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography. It was found that the SSADA decorrelation value was related to both blood flow speed and channel width. SSADA could differentiate nonflowing blood inside the microfluidic channels from static paper. The SSADA decorrelation value was approximately linear with blood flow velocity up to a threshold V_sat of 5.83±1.33 mm/s (mean±standard deviation over the range of channel widths). Beyond this threshold, it approached a saturation value D_sat. D_sat was higher for wider channels, and approached a maximum value D_sm as the channel width became much larger than the beam focal spot diameter. These results indicate that decorrelation values (flow signal) in capillary networks would be proportional to both flow velocity and vessel caliber but would be capped at a saturation value in larger blood vessels. These findings are useful for interpretation and quantification of clinical OCT angiography results.