Multifunctional OCT Imaging Facility for Rodent Eye Imaging

Abstract

Purpose : Limitations exist in commercial devices for experimental rodent eye imaging as software algorithms and hardware components are not easy to modify and to transfer into the clinic. The aim of this project was to design and establish a highly flexible multimodal Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) facility for the development of novel methods and algorithms for in vivo OCT 2D and 3D imaging, OCT-Angiography (OCA) and ocular surface inflammation quantification using different rodent models.

Methods : The system was designed by the manufacturer of a commercially available OCT device (iOCT, OptoMedical Technologies GmbH, Luebeck, Germany) for high quality OCT and fluorescence imaging of the anterior and posterior segment. The optical coherence and fluorescence angiography mode allows co-registered imaging of vessels. In addition, the bright field mode enables clinical evaluation of the specimen.

Results : In vivo images of different mouse models for e.g. corneal and retinal neovascularization, uveitis and ocular allergy demonstrate the functionality of the device. Corneal and conjunctival blood vessels can be recorded by OCA. The results are co-registered by fluorescence angiography. To allow for exact measurements of e.g. corneal thickness or volume, the images are processed using an automatic geometric correction algorithm.

Conclusions : In contrast to commercially available systems for small animal eye imaging, the realized system allows modification and in-depth analysis of the data. This enables evaluation and development of advanced OCT imaging modalities such as Doppler, Speckle variance or Polarization sensitive OCT and early in vivo studies. Due to the technical similarity to a certified and clinically established device, fast translation of new approaches into the clinic is promoted.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.

 

a) Experimental OCT facility, b) OCA of vascularized murine cornea, c) Cross-sectional OCT image of murine anterior chamber