Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography (SSOCT) Imaging System

Purpose of this Equipment: it is effectively optical (non-contact) ultrasonography and performs tissue function/morphology imaging at much higher resolution (<20 micron) than traditional imaging modalities such as MRI or ultrasound. The SSOCT operates by illuminating tissue with a short coherence length low-power (<10mW) optical beam via a fiber-based Michelson interferometer. Reflections from sub-surface features are collected through the same interferometer for detection with a balanced photodetector and computer processing into 1D, 2-D, or 3-D images. The raw data and images can be retrieved for further intensive processing e.g. feature extraction. An integrated CCD camera in the probe provides a conventional microscopic view of the sample, which aids sample alignment. The major attractions of SSOCT are: (1) non-contact live sub-surface imaging at micron-scale resolution; (2) real-time, direct imaging of tissue morphology and function; (3) practical imaging depth of up to 3 mm; (4) no preparation of the sample or subject; (5) no ionizing radiation (high safety margin)
Research Engineer/Technician: Enock Jonathan - email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it -
phone: 00353- 061-202307

Laser Speckle Imager (FLPI)

Purpose of this Equipment: The full field blood perfusion imaging (FLPI) system provides video frame rate images of blood flow in the microvasulature- up to 25 images per second. Compared to standard laser Doppler Imaging the effective sampling depth is small. The resulting image is mainly of blood flow in the microvessels in the surface layers of the tissue being sampled for example the nutritional flow in skin. In exposed tissue where blood vessels are close to the surface e.g. open surgery, these will also be imaged. Ideally suited to any application where very dynamic changes are occurring - over a few seconds for example - when conventional laser Doppler imaging could not provide data with sufficient time resolution. It is possible to view pulsation in finger tips and variations due to deep breath, occlusion/ ischemia, reactive hyperaemia etc.
Research Engineer/Technician: Marie Louise O'Connell - email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it -
phone: 00353 061 202307

Tissue Viability Imager (TiVi)

Purpose of this Equipment: Tissue Viability describes the ability of tissue to react adequately to internal or external stimuli by altering, for example, the microvascular perfusion, elasticity, or water content. Tissue Viability Imaging then, is the technology used to non-invasively generate 2-D color maps representing specific tissue functionality. The TiVi600 Tissue Viability Imaging system comprises a high performance digital camera equipped with polarization filters and user-friendly software for image processing and presentation of the skin microvascular blood concentration in terms of two-dimensional color maps. This imaging system has the ability to see through the top layer of the skin and probe the dermal layer for information about the amount of red blood cells (RBCs) in the microvasculature. The operating principle of the TiVi600 Tissue Viability Imager is based on the fact that linearly polarized light in the visible wavelength region is partly reflected directly by the skin surface or the upper layer of the skin and partly diffusely scattered in the deeper located dermal tissue matrix. Most of the directly reflected light preserves its state of polarization, while the light being diffusely scattered in the tissue successively loses its linear state of polarization and becomes depolarized. A portion of the scattered light emerges through the skin surface as diffusely backscattered light. Consequently, the total amount of backscattered light consists of one linearly polarized portion being reflected directly from the skin surface or superficial structures and one portion with random polarization as a result of the multiple scattering processes in the tissue matrix. The depth at which the incident linearly polarized light has become almost completely randomly polarized is typically in the order of 300 micrometers, i.e. well into the reticular dermis in most skin sites.
Research Engineer/Technician: Paul McNamara - e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it -
phone: +353 061 234824

Bayspec Compact NIR Raman Spectrometer

Purpose of this Equipment: Equipped with a 1064 nm laser stabilized for Raman spectroscopy the output power is: > 500 mW, with a linewidth: 0.2 nm FWHM typically. It has a transmissive VPG that delivers unsurpassed optical throughput. The spectrograph offers full spectral coverage from 300 to 3200 wavenumbers. The detector is a 2048 pixel CCD array thermoelectrically cooled to –20 °C that drastically reduces dark currents and delivers superior signal to noise ratios. Running on BaySpec’s Micro 20/20 software the instrument has an intuitive, streamlined user interface and can output data in .txt, .csv, or .spc format. Baseline correction function is intelligently built in, which greatly facilities reduction in fluorescence interference and account for drift in background. The instrument performs measurements via an active probe that can handle samples in laboratory conditions, or field environments, thus fulfilling the promise of bring instrument to the patient.
Research Engineer/Technician: Marie Louise O'Connell - email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it -
phone: 00353 061 202307