Recently-developed technology takes three-dimensional colour picture of living tissue
It is possible to take three-dimensional colour images of surface tissue by using a new measuring technique. Physicist Jonathan Palero describes this possibility in his doctoral thesis. This technique enables scientists to examine the tissue in vivo, without being removed from the body and being dissected. Palero took his doctoral degree on July 11, at Utrecht University.
The unusual microscope Palero used during his research, has been equipped with a 'femtosecond' laser and a specific colour-sensitive detector. Tissue in the skin is being bombarded by ultrashort laser pulses by which the different components of tissue become fluorescent. By using a colour-sensitive detector it is possible to observe a colour spectrum from each angle in the sample. The colour spectrum of the biologically undamaged tissue provides information on the structure and biochemistry of the tissue (see also photograph). In this way changes in the skin may be observed very well, for instance, by UV-radiation and it may possibly discriminate tumours as well. Differences between various tissues will be displayed by using this technology without having the tissue coloured or marked beforehand.
Advantages
By using ultrashort laser pulses it is possible to realize a five to ten times higher in-depth than by using the standard 'optical biopsy' methods. The recent method of depicting is a promising and non-invasive diagnostic method, which will offer opportunities to detect diseases more quickly and more directly without having to remove tissue.
Obtaining a doctorate
Jonathan Palero (Physics and Astronomy) obtained his doctorate with a thesis entitled 'Nonlinear spectral imaging of biological tissues' on 11 July 2007. His supervisor was professor Hans Gerritsen. Jonathan Palero’s doctoral research has also been made possible by the FOM Foundation together with the Erasmus University Medical Centre.
For more information, please contact:
Peter van der Wilt, public relations officer Utrecht University, (030) 253 37 05.