Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Application of Optical Coherence Tomography to a Mouse Model of Retinopathy
Published on: January 12, 2022
Identification of Human Pathological Mitral Chordae Tendineae Using Polarization-sensitive Optical Coherence
Eusebio Real1,2, José Manuel Icardo3, Gaspar Fernández-Barreras4
1Photonics Engineering Group, Department TEISA, University of Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain. eusebio.real@unican.es.
Abstract:
Defects of the mitral valve complex imply heart malfunction. The chordae tendineae (CTs) are tendinous strands connecting the mitral and tricuspid valve leaflets to the papillary muscles. These CTs are composed of organized, wavy collagen bundles, making them a strongly birefringent material. Disorder of the collagen structure due to different diseases (rheumatic, degenerative) implies the loss or reduction of tissue birefringence able to be characterized with Polarization Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography (PS-OCT). PS-OCT is used to discriminate healthy from diseased chords, as the latter must be excised and replaced in clinical conventional interventions. PS-OCT allows to quantify birefringence reduction in human CTs affected by degenerative and rheumatic pathologies. This tissue optical property is proposed as a diagnostic marker for the identification of degradation of tendinous chords to guide intraoperative mitral valve surgery.
Related Concept Videos
Group Polarization
Molecular Shape and Polarity
Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction
Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction
Polar Coordinates
Mitral Valve Prolapse I: Introduction

