Seminarium MTPR - Spatio-temporal optical coherence tomography (STOC-T) – a new way of in vivo imaging

Achieving in vivo optical microscopy with quality comparable to fixed samples remains a significant challenge. We present Spatio-Temporal Optical Coherence (STOC) Imaging, an innovative technique that dynamically tailors the spatial phase of illuminating light to enhance image fidelity. When extended to three-dimensional imaging—termed Spatio-Temporal Optical Coherence Tomography (STOC-T)—this method leverages hundreds of uncorrelated spectral interferograms. By doing so, it amplifies ballistic photon contributions while suppressing scattered photon noise, yielding high-contrast, high-speed, and high-resolution images, even at considerable depths, and notably without requiring repeated scans. Applied to ophthalmic imaging, STOC-T enables advanced functional modalities such as Optoretinography (ORG), which captures photoreceptor responses to visual stimulation. We introduce Flicker Optoretinography (f-ORG), designed to quantify rapid optical-path-length changes under photopic (well-lit) conditions. f-ORG delivers reproducible, single-nanometer sensitivity in light-adapted eyes. Together, these advances deepen our understanding of retinal function and the early stages of photopigment photoactivation.