Optical coherence tomography in biomedical research.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive, high-resolution, interferometric imaging modality using near-infrared light to acquire cross-sections and three-dimensional images of the subsurface microstructure of biological specimens. Because of rapid improvement of the acquisition speed and axial resolution of OCT over recent years, OCT is becoming increasingly attractive for applications in biomedical research. Therefore, OCT is no longer used solely for structural investigations of biological samples but also for functional examination, making it potentially useful in bioanalytical science. The combination of in vivo structural and functional findings makes it possible to obtain thorough knowledge on basic physiological and pathological processes. Advanced applications, for example, optical biopsy in visceral cavities, have been enabled by combining OCT with established imaging modalities. This report gives an outline of the state of the art and novel trends of innovative OCT approaches in biomedical research in which the main focus is on applications in fundamental research and pre-clinical utilization.