Event Date
Abstract
Morphological imaging with optical coherence tomography (OCT) has made major strides in the past few decades. While advances of using OCT have been spectacular, its limitation in depth penetration is a major drawback. Recently, we have demonstrated that we can generate OCT imaging by prioritising the multiple scattering signal using a new collection geometry that we term spatially offset OCT (SO-OCT). By completely decoupling the incident and collection paths of OCT, we can tune the collection of ballistic light and multiply scattered light, respectively, at different depths in the sample. This leads to substantially enhanced imaging depth and contrast through a decrease in the effective attenuation in scattering samples and the preservation of the signal within the dynamic range of the detectors. Contrast between structures with different scattering properties is rendered differently in SO-OCT relative to conventional OCT; structures within the range of preferential off-axis scattering, hereby termed mesoscale structures, are rendered with better contrast.
In this talk, we explain the principle behind spatial offset OCT. We demonstrate the improved contrast at depth achievable using SO-OCT, especially in highly scattering tissues, thus allowing deep tissue imaging. Our results show the high potential of SO-OCT as a new tool in biomedical imaging. Finally, SO-OCT is well suited for integration into optical fibers as well as multimodal imaging facilitating impactful clinical translation.
Biography:
Peter E. Andersen, PhD is Group Leader of the Biophotonic Imaging Group and Head of the PhD School at DTU Health Tech, Technical University of Denmark. He has over 25 years of experience in biophotonics, focusing on multimodal imaging technologies such as optical coherence tomography and nonlinear microscopy, and their clinical translation. Dr. Andersen has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed publications, co-edited a book, and holds seven patents, three transferred to industry. He is co-founder of Norlase ApS. His contributions to education include co-founding the International Summer School on Biophotonics, which has trained over 700 PhD students worldwide. He is the 2025 recipient of the Esther Hoffman Beller Medal (Optica) and leads major research initiatives, including an ERC Synergy Grant (€10M).