ASSESSMENT OF EARLY OSTEOARTHRITIC CHANGES WITH OCT

描述(改编自申请者摘要)：长期目标 这项工作是为了开发一种新的关节内成像方法来克服 目前风湿病诊断成像的局限性。最近的报道 提示关节软骨损伤的进展 骨性关节炎可能会被修改，这就增加了对更好方法的需求 成像软骨的早期变化并监测这些变化的进展 改变。各种成像方式已被应用于 对早期骨关节炎异常的评估，但结果有限。这个 假设光学相干层析成像(OCT)是一种新的光纤方法 基于光学的微米级成像，可以作为一种高性能的开发方法 分辨率，微创，关节内成像，以解决当前 关节诊断学的局限性。OCT类似于B超 用红外光而不是声波成像。OCT是 对于关节内诊断成像具有吸引力，因为其高 分辨率(4-20微米)、宽动态范围(110分贝)、小巧紧凑的设计和 能够通过小光纤进行成像。申请者 建议主要通过背景可行性来检验假设 旨在评估该方法的最终效用的实验。这些 背景实验侧重于确定以下各项的优势和局限性 用于关节内成像和最大化性能的OCT。具体的 目标是：1.对广泛的关节软骨进行成像 以确定与OCT成像相关的限制和优势。2.至 利用光-分子相互作用的量子化性质 骨性关节炎生化变化的光谱研究 关节软骨。3.展示OCT在 兔膝关节活体成像。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from Applicant's Abstract): The long term objective of this work is to develop a new method of intra articular imaging to overcome current limitations in reheumatologic diagnostic imaging. Recent reports suggesting that the progression of articular cartilage damage in osteoar-thritis may be modified have heightened the need for better methods to image early changes in cartilage and monitor the progression of these changes. A variety of imaging modalities have been applied to the assessment of early osteoarthritic abnormalities with limited results. The hypothesis is that optical coherence tomography (OCT), a new method of fiber optic based micron scale imaging, can be developed as a method of high resolution, minimally invasive, intra articular imaging to address current limitations in joint diagnostics. OCT is analogous to ultrasound B mode imaging using infrared light rather than acoustical waves. OCT is attractive for intra articular diagnostic imaging because of its high resolution (4-20 um), broad dynamic range (110 dB), small compact design and ability to perform imaging through small optical fibers. The applicants proposed to test the hypothesis principally through background feasibility experiments designed to assess the ultimate utility of the approach. These background experiments focus on identifying advantages and limitations of OCT for intra articular imaging and maximizing performance. The specific aims are to: 1. To perform imaging on a wide range of articular cartilage to identify limitations and advantages associated with OCT imaging. 2. To use the quantitized nature of light-molecular interaction to spectroscopically explore the biochemical changes of osteoarthritic articular cartilage. 3. To demonstrate the ability of OCT to perform in vivo imaging in a rabbit knee joint.