Biomedical Optics & Medical Imaging

Biomedical Imaging
Biomedical imaging is one of the oldest tools in the physician's bag. Microscopes, basic lenses, and portable light were often developed to detect and treat human ailments.

Biomedical Optics
Biomedical optics includes research, inspection, diagnostics, and therapy of biological tissues using light-based technologies in medicine and the life sciences.

BioMEMS
BioMEMS stands for biological microelectromechanical systems, and is the miniaturization and microfabrication of silicon, glass, and polymer devices as applied to biomedical research, clinical medicine and biochemical processes.

Biophotonics
Biophotonics is a multidisciplinary research area using light-based technologies in medicine and the life sciences.

Breast Cancer
Breast cancer can be detected and treated using several different light therapies. Traditionally breast cancer has been treated using radiation or radiotherapy, but can also be treated using photodynamic therapy (PDT), and removed using laser surgery.

Cancer
Cancer is a disease in which a cell or group of cells display uncontrolled growth, invasion, and somtimes metastasis. There are many different optics tools and devices used in the treatment and detection of cancer.

Cardiology
Cardiologists use several light-based tools for treating heart conditions. Electrophysiology testing can be used for assessment, but requires insertion into the heart muscle.

Dermatology
Dermatology is the study of human skin. It encompasses laser removal of hair or tattoos, ultraviolet (UV) light therapies for treating acne and other skin conditions, photodynamic therapy for the treatment of skin cancer and precancerous growths, and radiation therapies.

Endoscopy
Endoscopy involves looking inside the body or other areas that are otherwise inaccessible using fiber optics, fiberscope, or other light sources, along with an electronic imaging device so the physician can see inside the patient.

Laser Surgery
Laser surgery is surgery using a laser to cut tissue rather than a scalpel.

Laser Therapy
Laser therapy typically uses low-level lasers or light-emitting diodes to alter cell function, although other technologies such as OCT-guided lasers and laser-excited nanoparticles have also been applied.

Lasers in Dentistry
Lasers in dentistry are becoming more common, being used to treat both soft and hard biological tissues.

Medical Imaging
Medical imaging of the human body is used for medical procedures seeking to reveal, diagnose or examine disease, or medical science including the study of anatomy and physiology.

Molecular Probes
Molecular probes and molecular beacons use fluorescent materials to illuminate cells in order to better understand cellular function.

Ophthalmic Optics
Ophthalmic optics describes lenses and other optical devices that deal with the eye, usually used to correct vision.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive, interferometric technique that uses signal acquisition and processing to create cross-sectional images with materials that are optically scattering, such as biological tissue.

Optical Trapping
Optical trapping enables the manipulation of particles in the micron-size regime without damaging them. Optical tweezers are capable of manipulating nanometer and micrometer-sized dielectric particles by exerting extremely small forces via a highly focused laser beam.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment that uses a photosensitizer drug, and light of a particular wavelength, from a laser or other source, to kill cancer cells.

Plasmonics
Plasmonics refers to the investigation, development and applications of enhanced electromagnetic properties of metallic nanostructures.

Quantum Dots
Ongoing rapid progress in the synthesis of a variety of biofunctionalized colloidal nanocrystals with optical and other properties not associated with bulk materials symbolizes a breakthrough in physics and chemistry of condensed matter.

Tumor Treatment
Tumor treatment with photonics is a rapidly developing area.

Ultrasound Imaging
Ultrasound imaging, ultrasound scanning or sonography, utilizes high-frequency sound waves to image soft biological tissues such as muscle, breast tissue, or internal organs and arteries.