Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the human cochlea has potential to reveal pathophysiological details of hearing disorders and cochlear function via vibrometry and angiography. However, the ability of 1.3μm OCT to image the detailed microanatomy inside the cochlea is limited by light scattering in the tympanic membrane and otic capsule. Since light scattering in biological tissues is reduced at longer wavelengths, we investigated the use of a 1.7μm swept-source laser for OCT imaging of an ex-vivo human cochlea to compare with 1.3μm OCT imaging. We found that 1.7μm OCT could provide sharper details and greater contrast inside the cochlea compared to 1.3μm OCT due to reduced multiple scattering from the bony otic capsule. These results support the continued development of 1.7μm OCT for cochlear imaging.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Tang et al. (2024) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: