Optical assessment of the in vivo tympanic membrane status using a handheld optical coherence tomography-based otoscope

Kibeom Park, Nam Hyun Cho, Mansik Jeon, Sang Heun Lee, Jeong Hun Jang, Stephen A. Boppart, Woonggyu Jung, Jeehyun Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Conventional otoscopes and oto-endoscopes, which are used to examine the tympanic membrane (TM), do not provide tomographic information. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) non-invasively reveals the depth-resolved internal microstructure of the TM with very high spatial resolution. We designed this study to examine the TMs with middle ear diseases using a handheld otoscope employing 860 nm spectral domain (SD)-OCT, combined with video camera and to demonstrate the clinical applicability of this system. Design: A total of 120 patients with otologic symptoms were enrolled. TM images were obtained using the handheld OCT-based otoscope (860 nm central wave length, 15 μm axial resolution, 15 μm lateral resolution, and 7 mm scanning range using relay lens). Both OCT and oto-endoscope images were compared according to the clinical characteristics such as perforation, retraction, and postoperative healing process. Results: The objective grade about the thickness of perforation margins and the accurate information about the extent of TM retraction that was not distinguishable by oto-endoscopic exam could be identified using this system. The postoperative healing process of TMs could be also followed using the OCT device. Conclusion: These analyses from the surgeon-oriented perspective suggest another useful application of the handheld OCT device.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)367-374
Number of pages8
JournalActa Oto-Laryngologica
Volume138
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 3 Apr 2018

Keywords

  • Optical coherence tomography
  • otitis media
  • otoscope
  • tympanic membrane

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