The feasibility of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for imaging histological changes associated with the development of a progressive rind breakdown (RBD) disorder of ‘Nules Clementine’ mandarin ( Citrus reticulate Blanco.) was investigated. The investigation utilised fruit with different levels of the disorder, carefully selected from a batch of fruit stored for eight weeks at 8 ± 0.5 °C. Images of healthy and RBD-affected intact mandarin fruit were acquired using a Thorlabs OCT system based on a broadband 930 nm source. OCT provided high resolution 2D images of fruit rind to a depth of about 1.1 mm. Immediate and non-destructive acquisition ...

We describe a novel application of correlation mapping optical coherence tomography (cmOCT) for sub-surface fingerprint biometric identification. Fingerprint biometrics including automated fingerprint identification systems, are commonly used to recognise the fingerprint, since they constitute simple, effective and valuable physical evidence. Spoofing of biometric fingerprint devices can be easily done because of the limited information obtained from the surface topography. In order to overcome this limitation a potentially more secure source of information is required for biometric identification applications. In this study, we retrieve the microcirculation map of the subsurface fingertip by use of the cmOCT technique. To increase probing depth ...

We report a method for optical monitoring of tumors in an animal model using optical coherence tomography (OCT). In a spectral domain OCT system, a superluminescent diode light source with a full width of 66 nm at half maximum and peak wavelength of 950 nm was used to take images having an axial resolution of 6.8 μ m. Cancer cells of PC-3 were cultured and inoculated into the hypodermis of auricle tissues in BALB/c nude mice. We observed tumor formation and growth at the injection region of cancer cells in vivo and obtained the images of tumor mass center ...

Immunization is one of the most efficient and cost-effective means for the prevention of diseases. The latest trend for inducing protective immunity is topical application of vaccines to intact skin rather than invasive administration via injection. Apart from being a non-invasive route of drug delivery, skin itself also offers advantages through the presence of cells of the immune system in both the dermis and epidermis. However, vaccine penetration through the outermost layers of skin is limited by the barrier provided by the Stratum corneum. In the current study utilizing conventional Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) we investigate the transcutaneous delivery of ...

Imaging methods such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), confocal reflectance/ fluorescence microscopy, second-harmonic generation microscopy, and 2-photon microscopy are limited by the optical scattering properties of the skin to superficial depths. Optical clearing technique using high refractive index and hyperosmolarity agents can reduce the scattering of biological tissues. With this approach, better optical imaging depth and contrast have been presented and deeper optical treatment has been achieved. However, noninvasive optical clearing of skin in vivo is difficult, because the outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, presents a significant barrier to topically applied OCAs. In this work, OCT imaging ...

The strong optical scattering of skin tissue makes it very difficult for optical coherence tomography (OCT) to achieve deep imaging in skin. Significant optical clearing of in vivo rat skin sites was achieved within 15 min by topical application of an optical clearing agent PEG-400, a chemical enhancer (thiazone or propanediol), and physical massage. Only when all three components were applied together could a 15 min treatment achieve a three fold increase in the OCT reflectance from a 300 μm depth and 31% enhancement in image depth Zthreshold.

Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve that is usually associated with an increased internal pressure of the eye and can lead to a decreased vision and eventually blindness. It is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide with more than 80 million people affected and approximately 6 million blind. The standard clinical treatment for glaucoma, after unsuccessful administration of eyedrops and other treatments, is performing incisional surgery. However, due to post-surgical complications like scarring and wound healing, this conventional method has a global success rate of only about 60%. In comparison, as femtosecond laser surgery may be performed ...

Recently researchers at Yale University demonstrated a very novel application of optical coherence tomography using a Thorlabs OCT system.  The research involved characterizing microfluidic flow of fluid driven by cilia.  Below is a summary of this interesting novel application of OCT.Motile cilia are fingerlike projections from different epithelial surfaces that move in a periodic manner to generate directional fluid flow. For example, respiratory cilia generate a microfluidic-scale flow that moves pathogen and allergen-containing mucus out of the lungs. Defects in motile cilia lead to recurrent respiratory infections. Despite the importance of cilia in rare disease such as primary ciliary ...