Optical coherence elastography - OCT at work in tissue biomechanics [Invited]

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Biophysics
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Elastography, the imaging of tissue mechanical properties, emerged in the late 1980s.
• Optical Coherence Elastography (OCE) began in 1998, initially developing slowly.
• Advancements in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) technology in the early to mid-2000s spurred significant progress in OCE.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical development of Optical Coherence Elastography (OCE).
• To identify factors contributing to the recent acceleration of OCE research.
• To highlight key recent advances and future prospects in OCE.

Main Methods:

• Review of early developments in OCE.
• Analysis of technological maturation of OCT.
• Examination of publication trends in OCE research.

Main Results:

• OCE has experienced rapid growth, with publication numbers increasing significantly between 2015 and 2016.
• The maturation of OCT technology is a primary driver for OCE's recent acceleration.
• Despite growth, OCE remains a smaller field compared to cell mechanics and medical elastography.

Conclusions:

• OCE is a rapidly advancing field with exceptionally bright future prospects.
• Continued development of OCT technology will likely further propel OCE innovation.
• OCE holds significant potential for future applications in biomedical research and diagnostics.