Quantitative analysis on tongue inspection in traditional Chinese medicine using optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Tongue inspection (TI) is an important and unique diagnostic method in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), because significant connections between various viscerae diseases and abnormalities in the tongue have been verified. In TCM, TI is simple and non invasive, but in clinical applications, TI is subjectively based on the experience and technique of physicians. To avoid this problem, optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging is introduced here for TI. We study OCT imaging in rats in vivo from chronic gastritis group (model) and normal group (control) and quantitatively analyze the relative parameters, such as the thickness and the moisture degree of TI. Our results show that OCT images properly demonstrate the thickness of the tongue coating and the moisture degree of the tongue in both groups, and the thickness is increased in the model group from that in the normal group, while the moisture degree decreases. As a result, OCT technology has the potential to provide physicians with an objective diagnostic standard for visual TI in TCM clinical practice and research.

In vitro study of ultrasound and different-concentration glycerol–induced changes in human skin optical attenuation assessed with optical coherence tomography

“…A schematic of the OCT system was shown in the literature. 37 The broadband light source is a superluminescent diode with a central wavelength at 1310 nm and a bandwidth of 50 nm. The light source yields a 15-m axial resolution in free space, or approximately 10 m in tissue, as the mean refractive index of bulk tissue is assumed to be 1.38.…”

In VivoDetection of the Effect of Electroacupuncture on “Zusanli” Acupoint in Rats with Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis through Optical Coherence Tomography

“…A schematic of the OCT system is shown in a previous study [25]. The broadband light source was a superluminescent diode with a central wavelength of 1310 nm and a bandwidth of 50 nm.…”

“…This technique combines the advantages of interferometers and confocal microscopes to probe weakly backscattered photons from microstructures beneath tissue surfaces. OCT has been successfully applied in vivo in medical imaging and diagnostics, such as ophthalmic [14, 15], dermatological [16–18], eye [19], glucose [20], and oral [21–25] treatments.…”

Digital Indexing the Coated Tongue

“…In constipation the tongue is covered by white coating, which is more prominent in middle of the tongue. The lateral parts of the tongue are free of coating but erythematous (Dong H, 2008).…”