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At least 19 records

Computer-aided Veress needle guidance using endoscopic optical coherence tomography and convolutional neural networks

During laparoscopic surgery, the Veress needle is commonly used in pneumoperitoneum establishment. Precise placement of the Veress needle is still a challenge for the surgeon. In this study, a computer-aided endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) system was developed to effectively and safely guide Veress needle insertion. This endoscopic system was tested by imaging subcutaneous fat, muscle, abdominal space, and the small intestine from swine samples to simulate the surgical process, including the situation with small intestine injury. Each tissue layer was visualized in OCT images with unique features and subsequently used to develop a system for automatic localization of the Veress needle tip by identifying tissue layers (or spaces) and estimating the needle-to-tissue distance. We used convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in automatic tissue classification and distance estimation. In conclusion, the average testing accuracy in tissue classification was 98.53 ± 0.39%, and the average testing relative error in distance estimation reached 4.42 ± 0.56% (36.09 ± 4.92 μm).

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Optical coherence tomography imaging of plant root growth in soil

Complex interactions between roots and soil provide the nutrients and physical support required for robust plant growth. Yet, visualizing the root-soil interface is challenged by soil’s opaque scattering characteristics. In this paper, we describe methods for using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to provide non-destructive 3D and cross-sectional root imaging not available with traditional bright field microscopy. OCT is regularly used for bioimaging, especially in ophthalmology where it can detect retinal abnormalities. Prior use of OCT in plant biology has focused on surface defects of above ground tissues, predominantly in food crops. Our results show OCT is also viable for detailed, in situ study of living plant roots.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

From pixels to patterns: Coupling Optical Coherence Tomography and machine learning for monitoring coastal wetland root systems

Coastal wetlands are crucial in shoreline stabilization, carbon sequestration, and storm protection. Yet, due to limitations in traditional destructive sampling techniques, the belowground biomass (live root mass) and necromass (dead and decaying roots) remain difficult to assess in coastal wetlands, limiting our understanding on coastal resilience, nutrient cycling, and soil structure. This study employs Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) as a high-resolution imaging technique to analyze root biomass and necromass in the Terrebonne Basin, Louisiana. A Random Forest (RF) model was developed to classify root health states based on OCT-derived features, achieving an accuracy of 70% in distinguishing live from dead root segments. The results demonstrate that OCT, combined with ML, offers a promising novel approach to root analysis, providing fine-scale insights into root morphology and decay patterns that are not easily captured by conventional methods. This research lays the foundation for future integration of OCT with complementary imaging modalities such as X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) and advanced ML algorithms to enhance classification accuracy and scalability. Future work aims to expand the dataset diversity across different wetland types and apply the methodology for large-scale, repeatable assessments of root biomass turnover and accumulation, with important implications for wetland monitoring, conservation, and restoration under changing environmental conditions.

AI/ML↗

3D Optical Coherence Tomography image processing in BISCAP: characterization of biofilm structure and properties

Abstract Motivation BISCAP is a state-of-the-art tool for automatically characterizing biofilm images obtained from Optical Coherence Tomography. Limited availability of other software tools is reported in the field. BISCAP’s first version processes 2D images only. Processing 3D images is a problem of greater scientific relevance since it deals with the entire structure of biofilms instead of their 2D slices. Results Building on the image-processing principles and algorithms proposed earlier for 2D images, these were adapted to the 3D case, and a more general implementation of BISCAP was developed. The primary goal concerns the extension of the initial methodology to incorporate the depth axis in 3D images; multiple improvements were also made to boost computational performance. The calculation of structural properties and visual outputs was extended to offer new insights into the 3D structure of biofilms. BISCAP was tested using 3D images of biofilms with different morphologies, consistently delivering accurate characterizations of 3D structures in a few minutes using standard laptop machines. Low user dependency is required for image analysis. Availability and implementation BISCAP is available from https://github.com/diogonarciso/BISCAP. All images used in the tutorials and the validation examples are available from https://web.fe.up.pt/∼fgm/biscap3d.

Narciso, Diogo A. C. (ORCID:0000000227767477)↗

Development of polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography imaging platform and metrics to quantify electrostimulation-induced peripheral nerve injury in vivo in a small animal model

Neuromodulation devices are rapidly evolving for the treatment of neurological diseases and conditions. Injury from implantation or long-term use without obvious functional losses is often only detectable through terminal histology. New technologies are needed that assess the peripheral nervous system (PNS) under normal and diseased or injured conditions. We aim to demonstrate an imaging and stimulation platform that can elucidate the biological mechanisms and impacts of neurostimulation in the PNS and apply it to the sciatic nerve to extract imaging metrics indicating electrical overstimulation. A sciatic nerve injury model in a 15-rat cohort was observed using a newly developed imaging and stimulation platform that can detect electrical overstimulation effects with polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography. The sciatic nerve was electrically stimulated using a custom-developed nerve holder with embedded electrodes for 1 h, followed by a 1-h recovery period, delivered at above-threshold Shannon model k-values in experimental groups: sham control (SC, n = 5, 0.0 mA / 0 Hz), stimulation level 1 (SL1, n = 5, 3.4 mA / 50 Hz, and k = 2.57), and stimulation level 2 (SL2, n = 5, 6.8 mA / 100 Hz, and k = 3.17). The stimulation and imaging system successfully captured study data across the cohort. When compared to a SC after a 1-week recovery, the fascicle closest to the stimulation lead showed an average change of +4 % / – 309 % (SL1/SL2) in phase retardation and –79 % / – 148 % in optical attenuation relative to SC. Analysis of immunohistochemistry (IHC) shows a +1 % / – 36 % difference in myelin pixel counts and –13 % / + 29 % difference in axon pixel counts, and an overall increase in cell nuclei pixel count of +20 % / + 35 % . These metrics were consistent with IHC and hematoxylin/eosin tissue section analysis. The poststimulation changes observed in our study are manifestations of nerve injury and repair, specifically degeneration and angiogenesis. Optical imaging metrics quantify these processes and may help evaluate the safety and efficacy of neuromodulation devices.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Epidural anesthesia needle guidance by forward-view endoscopic optical coherence tomography and deep learning

Epidural anesthesia requires injection of anesthetic into the epidural space in the spine. Accurate placement of the epidural needle is a major challenge. To address this, we developed a forward-view endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) system for real-time imaging of the tissue in front of the needle tip during the puncture. We tested this OCT system in porcine backbones and developed a set of deep learning models to automatically process the imaging data for needle localization. A series of binary classification models were developed to recognize the five layers of the backbone, including fat, interspinous ligament, ligamentum flavum, epidural space, and spinal cord. The classification models provided an average classification accuracy of 96.65%. During puncture, it is important to maintain a safe distance between the needle tip and the dura mater. Regression models were developed to estimate that distance based on the OCT imaging data. Based on the Inception architecture, our models achieved a mean absolute percentage error of 3.05% ± 0.55%. Overall, our results validated the technical feasibility of using this novel imaging strategy to automatically recognize different tissue structures and measure the distances ahead of the needle tip during the epidural needle placement.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Deep-learning-aided forward optical coherence tomography endoscope for percutaneous nephrostomy guidance

Percutaneous renal access is the critical initial step in many medical settings. In order to obtain the best surgical outcome with minimum patient morbidity, an improved method for access to the renal calyx is needed. In our study, we built a forward-view optical coherence tomography (OCT) endoscopic system for percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) guidance. Porcine kidneys were imaged in our experiment to demonstrate the feasibility of the imaging system. Three tissue types of porcine kidneys (renal cortex, medulla, and calyx) can be clearly distinguished due to the morphological and tissue differences from the OCT endoscopic images. To further improve the guidance efficacy and reduce the learning burden of the clinical doctors, a deep-learning-based computer aided diagnosis platform was developed to automatically classify the OCT images by the renal tissue types. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) were developed with labeled OCT images based on the ResNet34, MobileNetv2 and ResNet50 architectures. Nested cross-validation and testing was used to benchmark the classification performance with uncertainty quantification over 10 kidneys, which demonstrated robust performance over substantial biological variability among kidneys. ResNet50-based CNN models achieved an average classification accuracy of 82.6%±3.0%. The classification precisions were 79%±4% for cortex, 85%±6% for medulla, and 91%±5% for calyx and the classification recalls were 68%±11% for cortex, 91%±4% for medulla, and 89%±3% for calyx. Interpretation of the CNN predictions showed the discriminative characteristics in the OCT images of the three renal tissue types. The results validated the technical feasibility of using this novel imaging platform to automatically recognize the images of renal tissue structures ahead of the PCN needle in PCN surgery.

Wang, Chen↗

Tunable semiconductor laser with two acousto-optic tunable filters in its external cavity

We report a laser with a linear external cavity containing a near-IR injection semiconductor optical amplifier as a gain element and two acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTFs) with quasi-collinear interaction of acoustic and light waves. At identical frequencies of RF signals that control the filters and ensure compensation for the Doppler frequency shift of light passing through the AOTFs, the steady-state laser emission linewidth can be reduced to about 25 MHz, which is almost three orders of magnitude smaller than that in the case of one filter (20 GHz). The position of the emission line, which remains narrow, slowly fluctuates within a spectral range about 3 GHz wide, which seems to be due to the large length of the external cavity and insufficient thermal stabilization of its components. This does not prevent us from obtaining light with a large coherence length. In emission wavelength sweep mode, the instantaneous emission linewidth increases with tuning rate, reaching 0.022 nm (8.8 GHz) at the highest tuning rate: 10{sup 4} nm s{sup −1}. In the case of automatic control over the output optical power at a level of 3 mW, the tuning range is 815 – 875 nm. Such instruments are of practical interest for optical coherence tomography, spectroscopy, optical metrology, and other application areas. (lasers)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Tailoring polyvinyl alcohol-sodium alginate (PVA-SA) hydrogel beads by controlling crosslinking pH and time

Abstract Hydrogel-encapsulated catalysts are an attractive tool for low-cost intensification of (bio)-processes. Polyvinyl alcohol-sodium alginate hydrogels crosslinked with boric acid and post-cured with sulfate (PVA-SA-BS) have been applied in bioproduction and water treatment processes, but the low pH required for crosslinking may negatively affect biocatalyst functionality. Here, we investigate how crosslinking pH (3, 4, and 5) and time (1, 2, and 8 h) affect the physicochemical, elastic, and process properties of PVA-SA-BS beads. Overall, bead properties were most affected by crosslinking pH. Beads produced at pH 3 and 4 were smaller and contained larger internal cavities, while optical coherence tomography suggested polymer cross-linking density was higher. Optical coherence elastography revealed PVA-SA-BS beads produced at pH 3 and 4 were stiffer than pH 5 beads. Dextran Blue release showed that pH 3-produced beads enabled higher diffusion rates and were more porous. Last, over a 28-day incubation, pH 3 and 4 beads lost more microspheres (as cell proxies) than beads produced at pH 5, while the latter released more polymer material. Overall, this study provides a path forward to tailor PVA-SA-BS hydrogel bead properties towards a broad range of applications, such as chemical, enzymatic, and microbially catalyzed (bio)-processes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Characterization and biofouling potential analysis of two cyanobacterial strains isolated from Cape Verde and Morocco

Abstract Cyanobacteria are new sources of value-added compounds but also ubiquitous and harmful microfoulers on marine biofouling. In this work, the isolation and identification of two cyanobacterial strains isolated from Cape Verde and Morocco, as well as their biofilm-forming ability on glass and Perspex under controlled hydrodynamic conditions, were performed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that cyanobacterial strains isolated belong to Leptothoe and Jaaginema genera (Leptothoe sp. LEGE 181153 and Jaaginema sp. LEGE 191154). From quantitative and qualitative data of wet weight, chlorophyll a content and biofilm thickness obtained by optical coherence tomography, no significant differences were found in biofilms developed by the same cyanobacterial strain on different surfaces (glass and Perspex). However, the biofilm-forming potential of Leptothoe sp. LEGE 181153 proved to be higher compared with Jaaginema sp. LEGE 191154, particularly at the maturation stage of biofilm development. Three-dimensional biofilm images obtained from confocal laser scanning microscopy showed different patterns between both cyanobacterial strains and also among the two surfaces. Because standard methodologies to evaluate cyanobacterial biofilm formation, as well as two different optical imaging techniques, were used, this work also highlights the possibility of integrating different techniques to evaluate a complex phenomenon like cyanobacterial biofilm development.

Romeu, Maria J. (ORCID:0000000210945425)↗

X-ray computed tomography using partially coherent Fresnel diffraction with application to an optical fiber

A reconstruction algorithm for partially coherent x-ray computed tomography (XCT) including Fresnel diffraction is developed and applied to an optical fiber. The algorithm is applicable to a high-resolution tube-based laboratory-scale x-ray tomography instrument. The computing time is only a few times longer than the projective counterpart. The algorithm is used to reconstruct, with projections and diffraction, a tilt series acquired at the micrometer scale of a graded-index optical fiber using maximum likelihood and a Bayesian method based on the work of Bouman and Sauer. The inclusion of Fresnel diffraction removes some reconstruction artifacts and use of a Bayesian prior probability distribution removes others, resulting in a substantially more accurate reconstruction.

Levine, Zachary H. (ORCID:000000029928276X)↗

Transport of intensity equation: a tutorial

When it comes to “phase measurement” or “quantitative phase imaging”, many people will automatically connect them with “laser” and “interferometry”. Indeed, conventional quantitative phase imaging and phase measurement techniques generally rely on the superposition of two beams with a high degree of coherence: complex interferometric configurations, stringent requirements on the environmental stabilities, and associated laser speckle noise severely limit their applications in optical imaging and microscopy. On a different note, as one of the most well-known phase retrieval approaches, the transport of intensity equation (TIE) provides a new non-interferometric way to access quantitative phase information through intensity only measurement. Despite the insufficiency for interferometry, TIE is applicable under partially coherent illuminations (like the Köhler’s illumination in a conventional microscope), permitting optimum spatial resolution, higher signal-to-noise ratio, and better image quality. In this tutorial, we give an overview of the basic principle, research fields, and representative applications of TIE, focus particularly on optical imaging, metrology, and microscopy. The purpose of this tutorial is twofold. It should serve as a self-contained introduction to TIE for readers with little or no knowledge of TIE. On the other hand, it attempts to give an overview of recent developments in this field. These results highlight a new era in which strict coherence and interferometry are no longer prerequisites for quantitative phase imaging and diffraction tomography, paving the way toward new generation label-free three-dimensional microscopy, with applications in all branches of biomedicine.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Bayesian Optical Heterodyne Tomography

We introduce a complete workflow for Bayesian quantum state tomography of generic continuous-variable states. We also summarize experimental results applying this workflow to the tomographic reconstruction of thermal and coherent states of light.

Chapman, Joseph↗

Phase-Dependent Squeezing in Dual-Comb Interferometry

Manipulating the quantum noise of continuous-wave lasers through squeezing has reshaped optical interferometry. However, progress in optical frequency comb interferometry with pulsed squeezed sources has been limited, despite the role of frequency combs in ultraprecise optical metrology. Here, we introduce a new time-domain approach to characterizing squeezed femtosecond light pulses using dual-comb interferometry. Time-domain interferograms are generated via multiheterodyne beating between the modes of a Kerr soliton-squeezed frequency comb and a coherent state comb. The interferogram noise reveals phase-dependent squeezing and antisqueezing, dipping as much as 3.8 ± 0.2 dB below the shot noise level at alternating zero crossings. We model this nonstationary quantum noise as a periodic optical displacement of the squeezed comb by the coherent comb. These results support a route toward quantum-enhanced dual-comb timing applications and high-speed quantum state tomography with dual-comb interferometers.

Herman, Daniel Issac [University of Colorado, Boul↗

Probing electromagnetic nonreciprocity with quantum geometry of photonic states

Reciprocal and nonreciprocal effects in dielectric and magnetic materials provide crucial information about the microscopic properties of electrons. However, experimentally distinguishing the two has proven to be challenging, especially when the associated effects are extremely small. To this end, we propose a contactless detection using a cross-cavity device where a material of interest is placed at its center. We show that the optical properties of the material, such as Kerr and Faraday rotation, or birefringence, manifest in the coupling between the cavity's electromagnetic modes and in the shift of their resonant frequencies. By calculating the dynamics of a geometrical photonic state, we formulate a measurement protocol based on the quantum metric and quantum process tomography that isolates the individual components of the material's complex refractive index and minimizes the quantum mechanical Cramér-Rao bound on the variance of the associated parameter estimation. Our approach is expected to be applicable across a broad spectrum of experimental platforms including Fock states in optical cavities, or coherent states in microwave and THz resonators. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Petrides, Ioannis (ORCID:0000000174842444)↗