Real-Time Monitoring of Laser Thermal Therapy Using Dynamic Optical Coherence Tomography

Laser thermal therapy offers high precision for procedures like tumor removal but lacks robust real-time monitoring of tissue photothermolysis, risking incomplete treatment or damage to healthy tissue. Current guidance methods offer limited spatial architectural information, while imaging modalities such as MRI and ultrasound face compromises in real-time capability or resolution. Dynamic Optical Coherence Tomography (D-OCT) presents a compelling solution, providing label-free, non-invasive, real-time, micrometer-resolution cross-sectional imaging. This study introduces an experimental D-OCT framework using a swept-source OCT system to monitor laser ablation inex vivoporcine liver tissue samples andin vivomouse ear skin. An adaptive algorithm quantifies temporal fluctuations for thermal dynamic contrast (TDC), refined by model-based compensation to distinguish true tissue dynamics. Fusing D-OCT-derived dynamic contrast with structural OCT images and OCT angiography provides comprehensive characterization of tissue responses. This D-OCT approach shows promise as a novel, real-time, high-resolution tool for guiding laser interventions.