Combined Raman spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography device for tissue characterization

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Spectroscopy
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides high-resolution structural imaging but lacks molecular specificity.
• Raman spectroscopy (RS) offers biochemical information but typically requires precise targeting.
• Integrating OCT and RS can overcome individual limitations for comprehensive tissue analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a dual-modal device for sequential Raman spectroscopy (RS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) acquisition.
• To demonstrate the synergistic benefits of combining OCT's structural imaging with RS's molecular specificity.
• To validate the device's capability in identifying ambiguous structures and analyzing tissue in various scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Sequential acquisition of OCT and RS data along a common optical axis.
• System characterization of the dual-modal device performance.
• Demonstration using a scattering phantom, ex vivo breast tissue, and in vivo scab analysis.

Main Results:

• The device precisely guided RS acquisition using OCT images.
• Structurally ambiguous features in OCT images were identified using RS.
• Successful in vivo tissue analysis of a scab was performed, showcasing the device's practical application.

Conclusions:

• The dual-modal RS-OCT device enables precise, complementary tissue analysis.
• This integrated approach enhances diagnostic capabilities by combining structural and molecular information.
• The system holds potential for advanced biomedical imaging and diagnostics.