Long-wavelength 1.7-micron optical coherence tomography for otologic imaging and hearing research

项目摘要/摘要 在美国，听力损失影响了近四分之一成年人的生活质量，但在许多情况下确实如此 很难确定原因。CT成像可为小骨性结构提供高分辨率对比度 中耳/内耳和MRI可以在软组织中提供中等分辨率的对比度，但有必要 用于软性耳蜗组织的高分辨率成像。光学相干层析成像(OCT)是一种 能够满足这一需求的技术正在成为一种潜在的非侵入性耳科成像方法 由于它能够记录高分辨率的体积图像，血流和振动通过几个 几毫米的组织。这些优势也使OCT成为基础听力研究中的热门工具。 耳蜗血流量是一项特别有用的量化指标，因为噪声诱导的听力动物模型 年龄相关性听力损失的身体研究发现，耳蜗血流量受损是 他们的病原学。振动测量是另一个有用的指标，因为体内测量的耳蜗调谐和增益是 被用来研究动物模型中的耳蜗力学。然而，目前OCT系统在 1.3μm穿透人体骨性耳囊的能力有限，也可进入骨性耳囊的基底弯。 老鼠的耳蜗线。扩展OCT成像深度可实现血流采集和振动测量 来自生理重要位置的数据，如人类的血管纹和大脑中动脉的基底弯 小鼠耳蜗，使用1.3微米OCT很难成像。因此，我们的目标是发展长期- 波长1.7μm OCT系统，可减少1.7微米处的组织散射，从而实现更深层次的成像。 我们的目标是开发一种手持式OCT耳镜设备，用于无创临床成像和血流 通过耳道在人类耳蜗组织中进行量化。这可能使第一次非侵入性测量 人体内的耳蜗血流量。我们还计划开发一种台式立体显微镜OCT系统 在1.7μm，以启用OCT测振仪在小鼠耳蜗基底部旋转，其中记录的差异 耳蜗的机制仍有待探索。该项目的完成将导致创建新的图像 用于耳科临床和基础听力研究的设备。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Hearing loss affects the quality of life in nearly one-in-four adults in the United States, yet in many cases it is difficult to identify the cause. CT imaging can provide high-resolution contrast in the small bony structures in the middle/inner ear, and MRI can provide medium-resolution contrast in soft tissues, but there exists a need for high-resolution imaging of the soft cochlear tissues. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is one technology that can fill this need and is gaining traction as a potential method for non-invasive otologic imaging due to its ability to record high-resolution volumetric images, blood flow, and vibrations through several millimeters of tissue. These advantages have also made OCT a popular tool in basic hearing research. Cochlear blood flow is a particularly useful metric to quantify since animal models of noise-induced hearing loss, and cadaveric studies of age-related hearing loss have identified impaired cochlear blood flow as part of their etiology. Vibrometry is another useful metric since in-vivo measurements of cochlear tuning and gain are being used to investigate cochlear mechanics in animal models. However, current OCT systems operating at 1.3 μm are limited in their ability to penetrate the bony otic capsule in humans, and also into the basal turn of the mouse cochlea. Extending the imaging depth of OCT may enable collection of blood flow and vibrometry data from physiologically important locations, such as the stria vascularis in humans and the basal turn of the mouse cochlea, which have been difficult to image using 1.3 µm OCT. Therefore, we aim to develop long- wavelength 1.7 μm OCT systems that will enable deeper imaging due to reduced tissue scattering at 1.7 µm. We aim to develop a handheld OCT otoscope device for non-invasive clinical imaging and blood flow quantification in the human cochlea via the ear canal. This may enable the first non-invasive measurements of cochlear blood flow in humans. We also aim to develop a benchtop stereomicroscope OCT system operating at 1.7 μm to enable OCT vibrometry in the basal turn of the mouse cochlea, where documented differences in cochlear mechanics remain to be explored. Completion of this project will result in the creation of new imaging devices for the otology clinic and for basic hearing research.