Rapid multiexposure in vivo brain imaging system using vertical cavity surface emitting lasers as a light source.

We demonstrate an imaging technique implementing vertical cavity lasers with extremely low transient times for a greatly simplified realization of a multiexposure laser speckle contrast imaging system. Data from multiexposure laser speckle imaging was observed to more closely agree with absolute velocity measurements using time of flight technique, when compared to long-exposure laser speckle imaging. Furthermore, additional depth information of the vasculature morphology was inferred by accounting for the change in the static scattering from tissue above vessels with respect to the total scattering from blood flow and tissue.

Continuous sensing of tumor-targeted molecular probes with a vertical cavity surface emitting laser-based biosensor.

Molecular optical imaging is a widespread technique for interrogating molecular events in living subjects. However, current approaches preclude long-term, continuous measurements in awake, mobile subjects, a strategy crucial in several medical conditions. Consequently, we designed a novel, lightweight miniature biosensor for in vivo continuous optical sensing.

Rapid monitoring of cerebral ischemia dynamics using laser-based optical imaging of blood oxygenation and flow.

Imaging blood flow or oxygenation changes using optical techniques is useful for monitoring cortical activity in healthy subjects as well as in diseased states such as stroke or epilepsy. However, in order to gain a better understanding of hemodynamics in conscious, freely moving animals, these techniques must be implemented in a small scale, portable design that is adaptable to a wearable format. We demonstrate a novel system which combines the two techniques of laser speckle contrast imaging and intrinsic optical signal imaging simultaneously, using compact laser sources, to monitor induced cortical ischemia in a full field format with high temporal acquisition rates.

Multi-modality optical neural imaging using coherence control of VCSELs.

Neural optical imaging can evaluate cortical hemodynamic fluctuations which reflect neural activity and disease state. We evaluate the use of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) as illumination source for simultaneous imaging of blood flow and tissue oxygenation dynamics ex vivo and in vivo and demonstrate optical imaging of blood flow changes and oxygenation changes in response to induced ischemia. Using VCSELs we show a rapid switching from a single-mode to a special multi-mode rapid current sweep operation and noise values reduced to within a factor of 40% compared to non-coherent LED illumination.