Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Institut national de la recherche scientifique
$146,054.00
New generation high-energy tunable femtosecond laser for nonlinear optical microscopes to investigate advanced imaging of ophthalmic tissue
FY 2006-07
Summary
Recent innovations in laser technology have resulted in a remarkable advancement in the generation and application of ultrashort laser pulses. Femtosecond lasers are now used by scientists to "watch" a molecule fall apart as it undergoes a chemical reaction, and by surgeons to perform laser surgery with unprecedented precision. Ultrafast laser technology is still advancing at a rapid rate, and ultimately short pulses may soon be used to perform laser eye surgery with sub-micron precision. Our long-term goal is to increase our capability to image the eye, for improved quality of eye health of Canadians. To achieve this goal, one technological challenge is to be able to clearly image the extremely small "cuts" produced by the femtosecond laser. This requires real-time three-dimensional imaging of structures within the eye with sub-micron spatial resolution. We propose here to simultaneously use multiple (multi-modality) nonlinear optical microscopy methods, to obtain more comprehensive information of the sample. One important method, named epidetected Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (e-CARS) microscopy, is an ideal method to realize such ultimate imaging. e-CARS microscopy provides a unique approach to imaging biological samples by using molecular vibrations as a contrast mechanism. e-CARS microscopy is capable of three-dimensional imaging of minute structures with sub-micron resolution, and can be easily implemented into laser surgical systems, since the same optics used in laser surgery can be used for e-CARS microscopy. Thus, in vivo e-CARS microscopy will greatly contribute to the enhanced precision of femtosecond laser eye surgery. Another potentially important application is the diagnosis and follow-up of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This retinal disease is the leading cause of legal blindness in Canada. Approximately 25% of Canadians over 75 years of age are affected to some level. The development and application of e-CARS microscopy will contribute to the better understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease, and will help to find a cure for AMD.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
346200-2007
Name nom
Ozaki, Tsuneyuki
Department département
Centre Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (ÉMT) Varennes
Organization id
56
Institution établissement
Institut national de la recherche scientifique
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2006
Competition year année de concours
2007
Award amount
146054
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
29
Committee name en
General Physics
Committee name fr
Physique générale
Area of application code
518
Area of application group en
Manufacturing processes and products
Area of application group fr
Procédés et produits industriels
Area of application en
Medical equipment and apparatus
Area of application fr
Appareils et instruments médicaux
Research subject code
3111
Research subject group en
Physics
Research subject group fr
Physique
Research subject en
Lasers
Research subject fr
Laser
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
New generation high-energy tunable femtosecond laser for nonlinear optical microscopes to investigate advanced imaging of ophthalmic tissue
Keyword
NA
Application summary
Recent innovations in laser technology have resulted in a remarkable advancement in the generation and application of ultrashort laser pulses. Femtosecond lasers are now used by scientists to "watch" a molecule fall apart as it undergoes a chemical reaction, and by surgeons to perform laser surgery with unprecedented precision. Ultrafast laser technology is still advancing at a rapid rate, and ultimately short pulses may soon be used to perform laser eye surgery with sub-micron precision. Our long-term goal is to increase our capability to image the eye, for improved quality of eye health of Canadians. To achieve this goal, one technological challenge is to be able to clearly image the extremely small "cuts" produced by the femtosecond laser. This requires real-time three-dimensional imaging of structures within the eye with sub-micron spatial resolution. We propose here to simultaneously use multiple (multi-modality) nonlinear optical microscopy methods, to obtain more comprehensive information of the sample. One important method, named epidetected Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (e-CARS) microscopy, is an ideal method to realize such ultimate imaging. e-CARS microscopy provides a unique approach to imaging biological samples by using molecular vibrations as a contrast mechanism. e-CARS microscopy is capable of three-dimensional imaging of minute structures with sub-micron resolution, and can be easily implemented into laser surgical systems, since the same optics used in laser surgery can be used for e-CARS microscopy. Thus, in vivo e-CARS microscopy will greatly contribute to the enhanced precision of femtosecond laser eye surgery. Another potentially important application is the diagnosis and follow-up of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This retinal disease is the leading cause of legal blindness in Canada. Approximately 25% of Canadians over 75 years of age are affected to some level. The development and application of e-CARS microscopy will contribute to the better understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease, and will help to find a cure for AMD.
