Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Photo-Thermal Coherent Confocal Microscope, Sean Sullivan, Charles Dimarzio

Charles A. DiMarzio

Confocal microscopy has been shown to be useful in imaging skin slightly below the junction of the dermis and epidermis. However, the depth of imaging is a significant limitation. We present a novel concept designed both to improve the depth of penetration and to increase the information content of images obtained with a reflectance confocal microscope. Using an approach similar to optoacoustics, we plan to explore the use of laser heating to generate tissue expansion, which will be measured by the microscope. The microscope will incorporate a pulsed heating laser along the same optical path as the imaging laser in …