Medical Optics and Image Science

Imaging System Laboratory

Dr. Michael Descour. This laboratory is home to several projects which apply creative optical solutions to problems in biology and medicine. Faculty members and students work on projects ranging from optical design and fabrication to data processing, analysis and visualization. For example, in collaboration with scientists at the University of Texas at Austin (Biomedical Engineering), students are involved in the optical design, fabrication and testing of a reflectance-based confocal endoscope for the detection of cervical and oral cancers. Additionally a strong collaboration with the Department of Physiology at the University of Arizona is exploited for the development of a high-speed, imaging spectrometer for fluorescence applications. This instrument provides data for the development of spectral analysis techniques for multivariate experiments in cell physiology.

Biophotonics Laboratory

Dr. Nasser Peyghambarian. The objective is to promote multi-disciplinary research that provides rapid, noninvasive, high resolution imaging tools in biology and medicine, new approaches for detecting and preventing diseases, and innovative technologies for improving vision. The current effort is devoted to developing next-generation adaptive spectacle lens using liquid crystal as the active material. An important feature of this lens is its flexibility in changing the focusing power. One focus area is to combine several cutting-edge technologies to develop advanced scanning ophthalmoscope for early diagnosis of retinal diseases. Such projects require extensive knowledge in optics, optical design, ophthalmology, electronics, image processing, and neural network. Another focus of recent research is to investigate real-time, wide-field, depth-resolved, low-coherence holographic imaging of biomedical cells and tissues using photorefractive materials. With high-performance photorefractive devices, this technique is faster than currently used optical coherence tomography which requires intensive data processing. Other research interests include fluorescence imaging and confocal imaging with improved resolution.
 

Longer, Healthier Lives

Center for Gamma-Ray Imaging
Dr. Harrison Barrett. The Center for Gamma-Ray Imaging is a research collaboration funded by the National Center for Research Resources. The objective of the Center is to develop new gamma-ray imaging instruments with dramatically improved spatial and temporal resolution and to make them available to a wide community of biomedical and clinical researchers. The collaborative research supported by the Center will apply these new imaging tools to basic research in functional genomics, cardiovascular disease, cognitive neuroscience, breast cancer and surgical tumor detection.

Eye Oximetry Laboratory

Dr. Russell Chipman. The Eye Oximetry Laboratory is a test bed for developing scanning laser ophthalmic technologies. A multi-laser scanning laser ophthalmoscope performs spectroscopic studies of the retina. The foremost application is the measurement of oxygen saturation in retinal vessels.

Image-Quality Laboratory

Dr. Matthew Kupinski. In collaboration with the Department of Radiology, researchers seek to improve the diagnostic accuracy of physicians by designing improved medical imaging systems. They use objective measures of image quality which directly account for tasks in medical imaging such as tumor detection. Current research includes the simulation of common medical imaging systems such as x-ray and nuclear medicine imaging systems, modeling the variability in patient anatomy, and designing task-based measures for system optimization. Researchers in the image-quality laboratory are now applying task-based image-quality assessment to imaging fields outside of medical imaging.

Experimental Ultrasound and Neural Imaging Laboratory

Dr. Russell Witte. Diagnostic ultrasound imaging has excellent spatial resolution and soft tissue penetration, but typically suffers from poor contrast. The EUNIL lab in the Department of Radiology develops novel tools and techniques for enhancing ultrasound contrast designed for biomedical applications. Photoacoustic imaging, for example, generates ultrasound images based on optical absorption. Ultrasound muscle strain imaging, on the other hand, portrays human muscle contractions and deformation on the fiber bundle/millisecond scale. We particularly focus on spatial and temporal imaging of nerve, muscle and brain tissue using a combination of electrodes, light and ultrasound. We also develop novel nanoparticles for multimodal imaging and targeted therapy. Potential applications range from epilepsy and Alzheimer’s Disease to muscle rehabilitation and cancer.

Medical Image Processing

Dr. William Dallas. In collaboration with faculty members at the University of Arizona Department of Radiology, research projects related to x-ray mammography involve display characterization and optimized, real-time, processing in preparation for display. Data handling aspects involve reading sets of 4800x6400 pixel x 14-bit images. In addition to the processing and analysis of images, experiments involving physicians are constructed using the scripting capabilities of ImprocRAD (Image Processing and Analysis in Radiology) imaging software. A second project, in collaboration with faculty members at the University of Arizona Department Radiology and the Sarver Heart Center, is the investigation of the development of early warning for Right Ventricular Dysplasia, a potentially fatal disease with sudden onset. Large image sequences are prepared and analyzed. The dynamic image analysis is also supported by ImprocRAD.

Biomedical Imaging Laboratory

Dr. Arthur Gmitro. The Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, a collaborative effort with the University of Arizona Department of Radiology, was developed to design new techniques and new instrumentation for medical imaging.  The major areas of research are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical imaging.  Current research is directed at development of real-time interactive MRI, diffusion-weighted MRI, in-vivo confocal microendoscopy, and multi-spectral confocal microscopy.

Nuclear Medicine Research Laboratory

Dr. Harrison Barrett. In collaboration with the Radiology Department at The University of Arizona, researchers in the Nuclear Medicine Research Laboratory use optics to develop new imaging tools for medicine.  A major thrust of current research is the development of new gamma-ray imaging instruments.  In addition, researchers are investigating new methods of tumor detection with surgical probes, improved resolution imaging tools, and improved methods for image-quality assessment.

Ophthalmic Instrumentation and Analysis Laboratory

Dr. Jim Schwiegerling. Research revolves around the application of optical science to ophthalmic issues, including corneal topographic analysis for disease detection and visual performance assessment following surgery, optimization of refractive surgery techniques and development of ophthalmic instrumentation, wavefront sensing of aberration in the eye, and visual system modeling with raytracing software. 

Tissue Optics Laboratory

Dr. Jennifer Barton.  Research in the University of Arizona Tissue Optics Laboratory is an interdisciplinary effort.  Students from biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, optical engineering, and optical sciences currently work in the lab building new imaging devices, testing new applications, and performing signal and image analysis.  The common goal of all the lab's research is to improve healthcare through the novel use of light.  Research focuses on three technologies: optical coherence tomography, fluorescence spectroscopy, and laser coagulation of blood.  Current funding is provided by: the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Whitaker Foundation.