Clinical Imaging, or Biological Imaging Techniques

see also medical imaging Medical imaging designates the ensemble of techniques and processes used to create images of the human body (or parts thereof) for clinical purposes (medical procedures seeking to reveal, diagnose or examine disease) or medical science (including the study of normal anatomy and function). ...

Electron Microscopy

Main article: Electron microscope

The electron microscope is a microscope that can magnify very small details with high resolving power due to the use of electrons as the source of illumination, magnifying at levels up to 2,000,000 times. A transmission electron microscope. ...

Electron microscopy is employed in anatomic pathology to identify organelles within the cells. Its usefulness has been greatly reduced by immunhistochemistry but it is still irreplaceable for the diagnosis of kidney disease, identification of immotile cilia syndrome and many other tasks. Anatomic pathology is the branch of pathology that is concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on the gross and microscopic examination of cells and tissues. ...

Other proposed or developed techniques include:

• diffuse optical tomography
• elastography
• electrical impedance tomography
• optoacoustic imaging
• ophthalmology
  • A-scan
  • B-scan
  • corneal topography
  • Heidelberg retinal tomography
  • Optical coherence tomography
  • scanning laser ophthalmoscopy

Some of these techniques are still at a research stage and not yet used in clinical routines. Diffuse optical imaging is a medical imaging modality which uses near infrared light to generate images of the body. ... Elastography is an emerging method in which stiffness or strain images of soft tissue are used to detect tumors. ... Electrical Impedance Tomograpy (EIT), is a medical imaging technique in which an image of the conductivity or permittivity of part of the body is inferred from surface electrical measurements. ... Central to optoacoustic imaging is the optoacoustic effect whereby pulsed laser energy is absorbed by a medium causing a local temperature increase followed by the generation of pressure transients (acoustic waves). ... A phoropter in use. ... A-scan ultrasound biometry, commonly referred to as an A-scan, is routine type of diagnostic test used in ophthalmology. ... B-scan ultrasonography, or B-scan, is a diagnostic test used in ophthalmology to produce a two-dimensional, cross-sectional view of the eye and the orbit. ... A corneal topogram. ... Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an interferometric, non-invasive optical tomographic imaging technique offering millimeter penetration (approximately 2--3 mm in tissue) with sub-micrometre axial and lateral resolution. ... Scanning laser ophthalmoscopy is a relatively new technology used in the diagnosis of glaucoma. ...

Non-diagnostic imaging

Neuroimaging has also been used in experimental circumstances to allow people (especially disabled persons) to control outside devices, acting as a brain computer interface. Neuroimaging includes the use of various techniques to either directly or indirectly image the structure, function, or pharmacology of the brain. ... A brain-computer interface (BCI) or direct neural interface is literally a direct technological interface between a brain and a computer not requiring any motor output from the user. ...