Otitis media (OM) is a common disease of the middle ear, with 80% of children experiencing an infection before age three. Diagnostic methods rely on interpretation of symptoms from an otoscope, which help physicians visualize the eardrum. To provide precise structural and biochemical information, a prototype non-contact multimodal Raman spectroscopy (RS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) system and handheld probe were created. Observation of in vitro physiologically-relevant ear models and comparison to in vivo scans from pediatric subjects presenting with OM detail application-specific development. Design challenges for clinical use, including maximum permissible exposure and physical size constraints, are presented.
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