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Optical micro-scale mapping of dynamic biomechanical tissue properties
Xing Liang1, Amy L Oldenburg, Vasilica Crecea
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology,University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Optics Express
|July 24, 2008
Summary
A new optical coherence elastography (OCE) system measures tissue biomechanics at the micro-scale. This dynamic, non-invasive method accurately maps elastic moduli, aiding health and disease research.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biophysics
- Optical Imaging
Background:
- Mechanical forces are vital for tissue development and function.
- Accurate measurement of tissue biomechanical properties is essential for understanding health and disease.
- Existing methods for micro-scale biomechanical assessment are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel, dynamic, non-invasive, high-speed optical coherence elastography (OCE) system.
- To enable micro-scale measurement of biomechanical properties in biological tissues.
- To investigate the potential of OCE for clinical and basic science applications.
Main Methods:
- Utilized spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and a mechanical wave driver to create the OCE system.
- Validated the system using silicone phantoms and compared results with a standardized indentation method.
- Employed phase-resolved imaging to map dynamic elastic moduli of ex vivo human breast tissue.
Main Results:
- OCE measurements on silicone phantoms showed good agreement with established methods.
- Demonstrated the capability to map dynamic elastic moduli of normal and neoplastic human breast tissue.
- Achieved a high sensitivity of 0.08% in elastic moduli mapping.
Conclusions:
- The developed OCE system provides accurate, high-speed, micro-scale biomechanical property mapping.
- Spatial mapping of elastic moduli offers significant potential for investigating biomechanics in health and disease.
- OCE is a promising tool for both basic science and clinical investigations of tissue mechanics.
