BME Seminar Series: Woonggyu Jung, Ph.D.
Probe-Based Optical Imaging - Toward in vivo Translational Study
Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Abstract
Probe-based imaging means minimally invasive, portable and fast imaging techniques for diagnosing diseases or monitoring tissues. It requires practical performances such high resolution, real time visualization of specific tissue regions rather than full visualization of large area. The concept of probe-based imaging is getting important, and is used very broadly, because continuous tissue monitoring can provide accurate diagnosis, clear determination of the surgical area, and confirmation of the surgical margin after a procedure.
Optical imaging inherently offers many advantages which are well suited for probe-based imaging:
- Higher spatial resolution and sensitivity
- Tissue and molecular information based on scattering, absorption, and fluorescence
- Availability of contrast agents for specific targeted biomarkers
- Lower costs
Furthermore, implementation using fiber optics can offer portability and accessibility for in vivo applications. Thus, optical imaging technique has a potential to provide ideal platform for probe-based diagnostics and image-guided treatments. However, translation from laboratory settings to clinical environment poses unique engineering challenges such as miniaturization of probes, real-time speed requirements. Solving these challenges often requires the state-of-the-art tools including micro-optics and MEMS technologies.
This presentation covers the latest work of probe-based high resolution optical imaging using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multiphoton microscopy (MPM) for in vivo clinical applications. Specifically, the talk will highlight handheld OCT for primary care medicine and fiber based compact MPM. Long term objective of these researches is to use complementary imaging systems to better assess the biological specimen and to enable clinical diagnosis.