Ultrafast laser ablation for intracochlear imaging

This month we will have the pleasure to host Marilisa Romito from the Laboratory of Optics (LO) with the presentation entitled:

"Ultrafast laser ablation for intracochlear imaging"

For organizational purposes (if you want to eat pizza!), please confirm your participation using this Doodle​.

Don’t hesitate to extend the invitation to any postdoc and colleague. Our POB seminars will be back in September!

Hope to see you there,
The team of the EPFL Photonics Chapter


Abstract:​

Intracochlear imaging is of high interest for the study and therapy of hearing disorders. However, imaging of the inner ear is extremely difficult due to different constraints. The main limitations are the multiple scattering of the surrounding biological tissues, the small dimension of the chambers, its complex structure, the encasing bones and the difficulty of instrument access.

We propose a method to enable intracochlear cellular imaging by thinning the cochlear bone using ultrafast laser ablation. Bone thinning would allow a reduction of the scattering limitations, which include signal loss and image blurring, when attempting to image through the intact cochlea.

By creating an access with a more accessible route from the outer ear, we provide a method for future in-vivo investigation of the organ of Corti and hearing loss diagnosis.