In vitro measurement conditions for optical coherence tomography (OCT)

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Histopathology
• Optical Imaging

Background:

• Accurate correlation between optical coherence tomography (OCT) and histology is crucial for differentiating healthy and degenerated tissues.
• In vitro studies require optimized imaging parameters for reliable tissue analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate methods for precise OCT scanning plane localization within histological specimens.
• To investigate the influence of tissue water content and temperature on OCT imaging quality.
• To determine optimal tissue marking techniques for enhanced visualization.

Main Methods:

• In vitro evaluation of various tissue marking methods: sooted fine needles, laser-generated ablation craters, and color markers.
• Investigation of porcine and human tissues to assess the impact of temperature and water content on OCT imaging.
• Quantitative assessment of scanning plane localization accuracy.

Main Results:

• Sooted fine needles provided the most accurate localization of the OCT scanning plane (approx. 50 microm accuracy).
• Tissue water content directly influences OCT image quality; dehydration reduces imaging depth and increases surface reflections.
• Tissue temperature above 15°C did not affect OCT image quality.

Conclusions:

• Sooted fine needles are effective for precise OCT scanning plane localization in histological samples.
• Controlling tissue water content is critical for optimizing in vitro OCT imaging for diagnostic purposes.
• These findings facilitate improved correlation between OCT and histological data for tissue analysis.