Optical coherence tomography in biomedical research

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive, high-resolution, interferometric imaging modality using near-infrared light to acquire cross-sections and three-dimensional images of the subsurface microstructure of biological specimens. Because of rapid improvement of the acquisition speed and axial resolution of OCT over recent years, OCT is becoming increasingly attractive for applications in biomedical research. Therefore, OCT is no longer used solely for structural investigations of biological samples but also for functional examination, making it potentially useful in bioanalytical science. The combination of in vivo structural and functional findings makes it possible to obtain thorough knowledge on basic physiological and pathological processes. Advanced applications, for example, optical biopsy in visceral cavities, have been enabled by combining OCT with established imaging modalities. This report gives an outline of the state of the art and novel trends of innovative OCT approaches in biomedical research in which the main focus is on applications in fundamental research and pre-clinical utilization.

Use of OCT Imaging in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Age Related Macular Degeneration

“…In TD-OCT, tissue-reflectance information in depth (an A-scan represents a reflectivity profile in depth) is gradually built up over time by moving a mirror in the reference arm of the interferometer. OCT B-scans (a B-scan represents a cross-section image, a lateral x depth map) are generated by collecting many A-scans (Walther et al, 2011). SD-OCT can be implemented in two formats, Fourier domain (FD-OCT) and swept source (SS-OCT).…”

“…Information on depth is transformed from the frequency domain to the time domain, without using a moving reference mirror to obtain complete A-scans. The absence of moving parts allows the image to be acquired rapidly -about 60 times faster than with TD-OCT (Walther et al, 2011). The SD-OCT units allow the improvement of the detection and monitoring of retinal diseases, because these ones have ultra high-speed scan rate, superior www.intechopen.com Use of OCT Imaging in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Age Related Macular Degeneration 255 axial and lateral resolution, cross-sectional (2D) scan, 3D raster scanning and a higher imaging sensitivity than the traditional TD-OCT units.…”

3D optical coherence tomography as new tool for microscopic investigations of nucleate boiling on heated surfaces

“…However, to evaluate the conclusion of microscopic simulation experimental data are necessary but not available in a sufficient complexity up to the present. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a relatively young imaging technique [6,7], which is already established in biomedical applications [8]. OCT is a contactless and high resolution imaging technique based on white light interferometry utilizing broadband light sources in the near infrared (NIR) range.…”

In vivo imaging of human oral hard and soft tissues by polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

“…Since polarization imaging is innovative and promising for medical diagnosis of pathologies, technical solutions for clinical in vivo applications are in demand. Because optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a prospective noninvasive imaging technique for three-dimensional high-resolution imaging of subsurface tissue morphology [1][2][3][4] with the possibility of functional imaging by polarization-sensitive OCT (PS OCT), it is attractive for depth-resolved tissue-specific contrast imaging with high speed and sensitivity in vivo. Although conventional intensity-based OCT provides a high spatial resolution in the micrometer range, tissue micro-and nanostructures cannot be resolved optically.…”