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Updated: Feb 19, 2026
In vivo Structural Assessments of Ocular Disease in Rodent Models using Optical Coherence Tomography
Published on: July 24, 2020
Optical assessment of the in vivo tympanic membrane status using a handheld optical coherence tomography-based
Kibeom Park1, Nam Hyun Cho2,3, Mansik Jeon1
1a School of Electronics Engineering, College of IT Engineering , Kyungpook National University , Daegu , Korea.
Objective:
Conventional otoscopes and oto-endoscopes, which are used to examine the tympanic membrane (TM), do not provide tomographic information. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) non-invasively reveals the depth-resolved internal microstructure of the TM with very high spatial resolution. We designed this study to examine the TMs with middle ear diseases using a handheld otoscope employing 860 nm spectral domain (SD)-OCT, combined with video camera and to demonstrate the clinical applicability of this system.
Design:
A total of 120 patients with otologic symptoms were enrolled. TM images were obtained using the handheld OCT-based otoscope (860 nm central wave length, 15 μm axial resolution, 15 μm lateral resolution, and 7 mm scanning range using relay lens). Both OCT and oto-endoscope images were compared according to the clinical characteristics such as perforation, retraction, and postoperative healing process.
Results:
The objective grade about the thickness of perforation margins and the accurate information about the extent of TM retraction that was not distinguishable by oto-endoscopic exam could be identified using this system. The postoperative healing process of TMs could be also followed using the OCT device.
Conclusion:
These analyses from the surgeon-oriented perspective suggest another useful application of the handheld OCT device.
