Optical biopsy and imaging using optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography is a new imaging technique that can perform high-resolution, micrometre-scale, cross-sectional imaging in biological systems. The technology has been developed, and reduced to, preliminary clinical practice in ophthalmology. The challenging problem that OCT may address is the development of 'optical biopsy' techniques. These techniques can provide diagnostic imaging of tissue morphology without the need for excision of specimens. Many investigations remain to identify optimal areas for clinical application, and additional engineering must be done to integrate vertically the technology and to reduce it to clinical practice. Nevertheless, preliminary studies indicate the feasibility of developing this technology for a wide range of clinical and research diagnostic imaging applications. The ability to non-excisionally evaluate tissue morphology using a catheter or an endoscope could have a significant impact on the diagnosis and management of a wide range of diseases.

Optical coherence tomography—current technology and applications in clinical and biomedical research

“…OCT is promising in many fields of cancer diagnosis, especially where excisional biopsy or another invasive method is typically used but undesirable [223]. OCT is endoscope-compatible [41] and thus well suited to examine hollow organs like the gastrointestinal tract [224][225][226], the bronchi [227] and the urinary bladder [228].…”

L’OCT plein champ

“…Dans cette introduction, nous citons différentes variantes de l'OCT, ce qui permettra au lecteur de suivre la bibliographie sur ce thème. Classiquement, l'OCT produit des images en coupe axiale (mode B comme en imagerie échographique), la dimension transverse de l'image étant obtenue par balayage d'un faisceau lumineux et la dimension axiale (la profondeur), en faisant varier la différence de marche dans l'interféromètre [1][2][3]. Depuis son invention au début des années 1990, l'OCT a connu de nombreux développements.…”

Photoablation of inner limiting membrane and inner retinal layers using the Erbium:YAG‐laser: An in vitro study

“…The principle of OCT and the specifications of the used system have been described in detail elsewhere [39,40]. The OCT-beam was directed onto the retinal explant using a mirror.…”