Optical Imaging Holds the Key to the Future of Medical Technologies

Optical imaging is a rapidly evolving and emerging medical imaging technology, which utilizes the light spectrum for assessing the optical properties of different body tissues. This emerging technology possesses a huge potential for improving disease prevention, medical diagnosis and treatment as well as in life science and clinical research. With the introduction of optical coherence tomography based imaging devices by Carl Zeiss Meditec AG in 1996, the world received its first optical imaging solution. Since its introduction, there have been significant technological advancements in this field and hence several new technologies have been introduced in the global optical imaging market.

Optical Imaging is a promising technology that holds immense potential to improve disease diagnosis as well as treatment. Optical imaging technologies offer a range of benefits over conventional imaging technologies such as x-rays, wherein optical imaging uses non-ionizing radiation that reduces exposure to harmful radiations to a minimum level. The basic principle upon which the optical imaging modalities work, include absorption, detection and identification of the reflected or diffracted photons at different wavelengths that excite the fluorescent probes present in the system to produce high resolution images. Recent developments and advancements in the field of fiber optics and photonics have caused emergence and development of several innovative optical imaging technologies.

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The global optical imaging market has been classified into four major segments, namely, optical coherence tomography (OCT), hyperspectral imaging (HSI), photoacoustic tomography (PAT) and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The optical coherence tomography segment has been further divided into three sub-segments, namely, time-domain OCT, Fourier-domain OCT and full-field OCT. In 2012, the optical coherence tomography (OCT) segment held the largest share (76.5%) in the global optical imaging market followed by hyperspectral imaging (HSI). Among the three sub-types of the OCT, Fourier-domain OCT held the largest share. Photoacoustic tomography is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the global optical imaging market during the forecast period 2014 to 2020.

Some of the major optical imaging technologies available in the global market are optical coherence tomography (OCT), hyperspectral imaging (HSI), photoacoustic tomography (PAT) and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Among these the OCT market holds the largest market share (75.7% in 2013) and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.7% from 2014 – 2020. The key factor responsible for the growth of this segment is its widespread use in the field of ophthalmology and dentistry. In addition, the offered benefits of OCT in terms of avoidance of emission of harmful radiations and ease of examination of soft tissue through this technology are further driving factors for OCT market.