Evaluation of optical reflectance techniques for imaging of alveolar structure

Carolin I. Unglert; Eman Namati; William C. Warger II; Linbo Liu; Hongki Yoo; DongKyun Kang; Brett E. Bouma; Guillermo J. Tearney M.D.

doi:10.1117/1.JBO.17.7.071303

11 June 2012 Evaluation of optical reflectance techniques for imaging of alveolar structure

Carolin I. Unglert, Eman Namati, William C. Warger II, Linbo Liu, Hongki Yoo, DongKyun Kang, Brett E. Bouma, Guillermo J. Tearney M.D.

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Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 17, Issue 7, 071303 (June 2012). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.17.7.071303

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3-D) visualization of the fine structures within the lung parenchyma could advance our understanding of alveolar physiology and pathophysiology. Current knowledge has been primarily based on histology, but it is a destructive two-dimensional (2-D) technique that is limited by tissue processing artifacts. Micro-CT provides high-resolution three-dimensional (3-D) imaging within a limited sample size, but is not applicable to intact lungs from larger animals or humans. Optical reflectance techniques offer the promise to visualize alveolar regions of the large animal or human lung with sub-cellular resolution in three dimensions. Here, we present the capabilities of three optical reflectance techniques, namely optical frequency domain imaging, spectrally encoded confocal microscopy, and full field optical coherence microscopy, to visualize both gross architecture as well as cellular detail in fixed, phosphate buffered saline-immersed rat lung tissue. Images from all techniques were correlated to each other and then to corresponding histology. Spatial and temporal resolution, imaging depth, and suitability for in vivo probe development were compared to highlight the merits and limitations of each technology for studying respiratory physiology at the alveolar level.

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Carolin I. Unglert, Eman Namati, William C. Warger II, Linbo Liu, Hongki Yoo, DongKyun Kang, Brett E. Bouma, and Guillermo J. Tearney M.D. "Evaluation of optical reflectance techniques for imaging of alveolar structure," Journal of Biomedical Optics 17(7), 071303 (11 June 2012). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.17.7.071303

Published: 11 June 2012

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