Bringing Molecular Contrast to OCT

描述（由申请人提供）：与任何其他光学成像技术相比，光学相干断层扫描具有上级深度穿透、相当的空间分辨率和上级时间分辨率，但是它缺乏利用其他光学成像模式所具有的分子对比度的能力。分子对比度为这些技术提供了通过施用对比剂来增强特定组织形态的对比度的能力。它还使他们能够记录造影剂浓度的时间演变，这是一种对药物开发和发现、发育生物学和临床诊断非常有用的特性。我们打算耦合已被证明的非线性光谱技术的光学相干断层扫描，以提供分子对比度。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Optical coherence tomography has superior depth penetration, comparable spatial resolution, and superior temporal resolution than any other optical imaging technique, however it lacks the ability to utilize molecular contrast that other optical imaging modalities possess. Molecular contrast provides these techniques with the ability to enhance the contrast of particular tissue morphologies by the administration of contrast agents. It also enables them to record the time evolution of contrast agent concentration, a property extremely useful for drug development and discovery, developmental biology, and clinical diagnostics. We intend to couple proven nonlinear spectroscopic techniques to optical coherence tomography, in order to provide molecular contrast.