Applying harmonic optical microscopy for spatial alignment of atrial collagen fibers.

Background: Atrial fibrosis creates a vulnerable tissue for atrial fibrillation (AF), but the spatial disarray of collagen fibers underlying atrial fibrosis is not fully elucidated.

Objective: This study hypothesizes that harmonics optical microscopy can illuminate the spatial mal-alignment of collagen fibers in AF via a layer-by-layer approach.

Patients And Methods: Atrial tissues taken from patients who underwent open-heart surgery were examined by harmonics optical microscopy.