Schulz-Hildebrandt Hinnerk, Wang-Evers Michael, Meyer-Schell Naja, Karasik Daniel, Casper Malte J, Eixmann Tim, Hilge Felix, Birngruber Reginald, Manstein Dieter, Hüttmann Gereon
Universität zu Lübeck, Institute of Biomedical Optics, Lübeck, Germany.
Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Member of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Gießen, Germany.
J Biomed Opt. 2025 Mar;30(3):035002. doi: 10.1117/1.JBO.30.3.035002. Epub 2025 Mar 11.
: Selective cryolipolysis is a widely used aesthetic procedure that cools subcutaneous adipose tissue to temperatures as low as to induce fat cell destruction. However, real-time monitoring techniques are lacking, limiting the ability to optimize safety and efficacy. Traditional imaging methods either fail to provide adequate penetration depth or lack the resolution necessary for visualizing subcutaneous fatty tissue dynamics. : This paper aims to demonstrate that an optical coherence tomography (OCT) needle probe can be used for real-time observation of temperature-induced changes in subcutaneous fatty tissue, potentially enhancing the assessment and optimization of cryolipolysis procedures. : We developed a side-viewing OCT-based needle probe designed for subcutaneous imaging. The probe consists of a fiber-optic system encased in a transparent, biocompatible polymer catheter with an outer diameter of . A 49-degree angled fiber enables imaging, while a piezoelectric scanning system moves the fiber transversely within the catheter. The probe achieves a lateral resolution of , a working distance of , and a lateral field of view dictated by the scanning system length. OCT imaging was performed on porcine skin with a subcutaneous fat layer >3 cm thick during controlled heating and cooling. : OCT imaging revealed increased optical scattering in subcutaneous fatty tissue during cooling, corresponding to the phase transition from liquid to solid. This effect was reversible upon warming, indicating that OCT can dynamically monitor adipocyte crystallization in real time. The observed transition temperatures varied, likely due to differences in lipid composition. : OCT-based needle imaging enables direct, high-resolution visualization of adipocyte crystallization, offering a potential tool for optimizing selective cryolipolysis treatments. This technology could improve safety and efficacy by providing real-time feedback on tissue response, facilitating a better understanding of the cooling-induced fat reduction process.
选择性冷冻溶脂是一种广泛应用的美容手术，它将皮下脂肪组织冷却至低至[具体温度]以诱导脂肪细胞破坏。然而，目前缺乏实时监测技术，限制了优化安全性和有效性的能力。传统成像方法要么无法提供足够的穿透深度，要么缺乏可视化皮下脂肪组织动态所需的分辨率。本文旨在证明光学相干断层扫描（OCT）针探头可用于实时观察皮下脂肪组织中温度诱导的变化，有可能增强冷冻溶脂手术的评估和优化。我们开发了一种用于皮下成像的基于OCT的侧视针探头。该探头由一个光纤系统组成，封装在一个外径为[具体外径]的透明生物相容性聚合物导管中。一个49度角的光纤实现成像，而一个压电扫描系统使光纤在导管内横向移动。该探头的横向分辨率为[具体分辨率]，工作距离为[具体工作距离]，横向视野由扫描系统长度决定。在控制加热和冷却过程中，对皮下脂肪层厚度>3厘米的猪皮肤进行了OCT成像。OCT成像显示，冷却过程中皮下脂肪组织的光学散射增加，这与从液体到固体的相变相对应。这种效应在升温时是可逆的，表明OCT可以实时动态监测脂肪细胞结晶。观察到的转变温度各不相同，可能是由于脂质组成的差异。基于OCT的针成像能够直接、高分辨率地可视化脂肪细胞结晶，为优化选择性冷冻溶脂治疗提供了一种潜在工具。该技术可以通过提供关于组织反应的实时反馈来提高安全性和有效性，有助于更好地理解冷却诱导的脂肪减少过程。
