Key Points
- Researchers have developed a new, non-mechanical bioimaging device for eye scanning.
- It replaces the moving mirrors in current devices with a liquid-based “electrowetting” system.
- The new device is smaller, more durable, and uses less power. It has already been successfully tested by imaging the eye of a zebrafish.
- The technology could improve the detection of eye diseases and even heart conditions.
Researchers have developed a new, more reliable bioimaging device that could one day improve how doctors detect eye and even heart conditions. The new technology eliminates the spinning mirrors found in current eye-scanning devices, making it smaller, more durable, and less power-hungry.
The device is a new take on optical coherence tomography (OCT), a common technology used in eye clinics to take high-resolution, 3D images of the retina. The problem with current OCT devices is that they rely on mechanical parts like moving mirrors, which can fail over time.
This new device, published in Optics Express and created by engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder, uses a process called “electrowetting” instead.
The device changes the surface shape of a liquid to perform the same optical functions as the moving mirrors, but in an entirely non-mechanical way. This not only increases the device’s lifespan but also means it requires significantly less electrical power.
The researchers tested their new device by imaging the eye of a zebrafish, which has a structure surprisingly similar to the human eye. The test was a success. The device was able to clearly map the cornea and iris of the fish’s eye, meeting the high-resolution targets the team had set.
This breakthrough could open new doors for mapping the retina to diagnose conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration earlier and more accurately. The team also believes the technology could be used to create smaller, more flexible endoscopes for imaging inside the human body, potentially revolutionizing how doctors diagnose heart disease.
