Full-field swept-source optical coherence tomography and neural tissue classification for deep brain imaging

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Neuroimaging
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers high-resolution imaging of biological tissues.
• Real-time neurosurgical guidance requires advanced imaging modalities capable of differentiating brain structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the first full-field swept-source OCT system operating at 1310 nm for neuroimaging.
• To demonstrate the system's capability for real-time differentiation of brain tissue types.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a full-field swept-source OCT system with an endoscopic probe tip.
• Neuroimaging experiments on ex vivo brain tissues and in vivo rat brains.
• Application of classification algorithms using texture features and optical attenuation for tissue analysis.

Main Results:

• Successful differentiation of three distinct brain tissue types using OCT imaging.
• Demonstration of micron-scale resolution imaging of brain structures.
• Validation of the endoscopic OCT system's compatibility with deep brain stimulation neurosurgery.

Conclusions:

• The developed swept-source OCT system is a promising tool for real-time neurosurgical guidance.
• OCT can intrinsically differentiate brain regions with high resolution.
• This technology has potential applications in minimally invasive neurosurgery.