T6. Optical Coherence Tomography: Methods and Biomedical Applications

Current advances in optical technologies provide new means to study and manipulate biological systems using endo- and exogenous chromophores or scatterers. The discoveries in the field of biomedical optics have utilized light-based techniques to obtain information about biological tissues over different scales, i.e. from single molecule to animals and human patients. Therefore, it is expected that biomedical optics will become an important player in next generation diagnostics and therapy. This tutorial will focus on optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCT uses low-coherence light to capture high-resolution, two- and three-dimensional images from within optical scattering media. The tutorial will be organized as a hands-on workshop where the attendees will be introduced to OCT by (i) performing numerical simulations of light transport in biological tissues, (ii) remote participation in experimental OCT measurements, and (iii) analyzing the measured data. Each part of the tutorial will be led by experts in the field providing instruction and assisting the attendees in practical assignments. Other promising optical techniques for clinical applications will also be discussed (e.g., spectroscopy, photoacoustics).