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Longitudinal Morphological and Physiological Monitoring of Three-dimensional Tumor Spheroids Using Optical Coherence Tomography

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Optical coherence tomography - development, principles, applications.

Adolf Friedrich Fercher¹

¹ZBMTP - Medizinische Physik, Medizinische Universität Wien, Währinger Straße 13, A-1090 Wien. adolf.fercher@meduniwien.ac.at

Zeitschrift Fur Medizinische Physik

|December 8, 2010

Summary

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an advanced medical imaging technique. This review covers its development, principles, and diverse applications in fields like ophthalmology and cardiology.

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Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Medical Imaging
Ophthalmology

Background:

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has emerged as a pivotal non-invasive imaging modality.
Its development signifies a major advancement in visualizing subsurface tissue structures.
Understanding OCT's foundational principles is crucial for appreciating its clinical impact.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a comprehensive review of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) development.
To elucidate the fundamental principles and signal properties of OCT systems.
To highlight key applications of OCT across various medical specialties.

Main Methods:

Review of historical development and technological advancements in OCT.
Explanation of the physical principles underlying OCT signal generation and detection.
Compilation of recent case studies demonstrating OCT's utility in clinical practice.

Main Results:

Detailed description of basic OCT system configurations and signal processing.
Analysis of OCT signal characteristics and recording methodologies.
Demonstration of OCT's successful application in ophthalmology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and dermatology.

Conclusions:

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a versatile and highly relevant imaging technology.
OCT's principles allow for detailed cross-sectional imaging of biological tissues.
Its widespread applications underscore its significance in modern medicine.