My research focus is on the development of novel optical instrumentation and methods that address challenges in clinical medicine and basic biological research. Light is uniquely well suited for non-invasively interrogating the microscopic structure, molecular composition, and biomechanical properties of biological tissues. Realizing these capabilities in a practical instrument requires a multidisciplinary approach, focused on specific challenges, that integrates advanced concepts from physics, engineering and material science with biology and clinical experience. The location of our laboratory on the campus of a major clinical research hospital fosters regular interaction across these disciplinary areas.
Our research team of students, post-docs and fellows represents a broad cross-section of expertise spanning lasers, fiber optics, imaging and image processing and catheter and endoscope fabrication. Since the goal of our work is the translation of new technologies into clinical medicine, projects are conducted in the laboratory, in the animal research facilities and in the clinics and surgeries of the hospital.
Specific areas of clinical focus include: early detection of precancerous lesions and intramucosal cancer of the esophagus; detection, characterization and monitoring of coronary atherosclerosis; conformal laser therapy; and, advanced microscopy. Specific technologies currently under development include: optical coherence tomography; optical frequency-domain imaging; confocal microscopy; optical Doppler imaging; and, laser speckle imaging.
(A) depicts the distal end of the 2-mm- diameter linear scanning OCT probe, (B) is a photograph of the probe being used during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Other devices, including a hand-held probe, a laparoscope, and a rotating catheter have been constructed and are currently being used in clinical pilot studies.
Thus far, the results of in-vivo OCT imaging have been encouraging. The high resolution and contrast of OCT enables visualization of tissue architectural morphology. In many cases, patterns of these microscopic features, which include histologic layers, small blood vessels, and glands, directly correlate with a pathologic diagnosis. For example, as depicted in the In-vivo images below,
a regular layered structure representing squamous mucosa is consistently found in the normal esophagus (A). Loss of this layered architecture and the presence of glandular structures are features of Barrette's metaplasia (B), while severe architectural glandular disorganization is seen in esophageal adenocarcinoma (C). |
