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Imaging tissue response to electrical and photothermal stimulation with nanometer sensitivity
Taner Akkin1, Digant P Davé, Jong-In Youn
1The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station C0800, ENS-610, Austin, TX 78712, USA. akkin@ece.utexas.edu
Lasers in Surgery and Medicine
|October 23, 2003
Summary
This study introduces a novel fiber-based phase sensitive optical low coherence reflectometer (PS-OLCR) for noninvasively measuring tissue response to stimuli. The PS-OLCR system precisely detects nanometer-scale path length changes, enabling advanced biomaterial research and diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Biomaterials Science
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Tissue response to thermal, electrical, and chemical stimuli is crucial for health and survival.
- Assessing these responses requires precise measurement techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report experimental results assessing tissue response to various stimuli.
- To introduce a novel low coherence differential phase interferometer for this purpose.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a novel fiber-based phase sensitive optical low coherence reflectometer (PS-OLCR).
- Employed back-reflected light for noninvasive sensing.
- Achieved high lateral and longitudinal resolution (approx. 10 microm).
- Measured sub-wavelength optical path-length changes (Angstrom/nanometer range) via phase difference extraction between orthogonal polarization modes.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated precise analysis of surface topography and tissue response (swelling/collapse) by splitting light into polarization states.
- Showcased time-resolved measurements of nanometer-scale path length changes in response to electrical and thermal stimuli.
Conclusions:
- PS-OLCR is a valuable tool for detecting ultra-small path length changes.
- The system holds potential for investigating biomaterial phenomena.
- Applications include tissue surface profilometry, tissue/cell response measurement, and high-resolution imaging.