Combining Optical Coherence Tomography with Fluorescence Microscopy: A closer look into tissue

摘要

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a technique, capable of high resolution and non-invasive 3D imaging in vivo by detection of backscattered light from cellular and sub cellular structures. Due to visualization of micrometer sized tissue constituents and high penetration depths of up to 2 mm, it is already well established in medical fields like ophthalmology and dermatology. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), on the contrary, gives further information on structural tissue components stained with suitable dyes. In combination, these two methods yield three dimensional and high resolution data providing geometrical and structural details of tissue. In this study, we present simultaneous OCT and LSCM image acquisition resulting in a lateral resolution of better than 6.2 μm for OCT and 0.8 μm for LSCM, respectively. The axial resolution of the OCT amounts to 8 μm. Two laser lines, 488 nm and 561 nm, are combined to provide fluorescence excitation of green and red dyes. By using a long working distance objective, it is possible to perform experiments on bulky specimens like isolated organs or animal models in vivo. First studies indicate the ability to identify strains of elastic fibers within lung tissue in combination with the three dimensional morphology of the lung.