<i>In vivo</i> dynamic optical coherence tomography of human skin with hardware- and software-based motion correction

In vivo application of dynamic optical coherence tomography (DOCT) is hindered by bulk motion of the sample. We demonstrate DOCT imaging of in vivo human skin by adopting a sample-fixation attachment to suppress bulk motion and a subsequent software motion correction to further reduce the effect of sample motion. The performance of the motion-correction method was assessed by DOCT image observation, statistical analysis of the mean DOCT values, and subjective image grading. Both the mean DOCT value analysis and subjective grading showed statistically significant improvement of the DOCT image quality. In addition, a previously unobserved high DOCT layer was identified though image observation, which may represent the stratum basale with high keratinocyte proliferation.