Biomedical Optics

What is Biomedical Optics?

Biomedical optics uses the physical properties of light to design and apply advanced techniques to solve pressing problems in medicine and biology. Advanced optics can be used in many biomedical pursuits, including probing tumor pathology, diffusion of cell surface receptors, single molecule spectroscopy, and expanding the limits of human vision.

Areas of Focus

Some of the advanced optical techniques our biomedical engineers use include:

  • Multiphoton laser-scanning microscopy: used to study living biological tissue.
  • Diffuse optical tomography: a non-invasive way to examine tissues in vivo, particularly for tumor detection and chemotherapy response monitoring.
  • Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching: used to study the movement of biomolecules through tissues or cells.
  • Raman spectroscopy: a chemical analysis technique that identifies materials based on how light interacts with their chemical bonds.
  • Near-field optics: a microscopy method that defies the laws of diffraction and allows for measurements at the nanometer scale.
  • Adaptive optics: carefully deforming mirrors can compensate for distorted light, which is particularly helpful in retinal imaging systems.
An assistant professor models a device prototype as Regine Choe, associate professor of biomedical engineering and and electrical and computer engineering, and Irfan Dar, biomedical engineering PhD student, look on in the cardiac ICU at the ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ Medical Center.

Leveraging Nearly 100 Years of Optical Expertise

Biomedical Optics at Rochester

The ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ has a long history of being innovators in optics and optical research, including etablishing the first optics education program at the Institute of Optics nearly 100 years ago. The Department of Biomedical Engineering has a close relationship with the institute, as well as other notable optics researchers and clinicians at the , , and the , collaborating on research, and sharing knowledge and resources.

Associate Professor Regine Choe is one of many faculty members in our department leading research to develop advanced optical techniques for biomedical applications. Choe, along with , are developing non-invasive ways to study the brain’s physiology and reduce neurological issues associated with the therapy.