AMC and LioniX International strengthen their collaboration on the development of Optical Coherence Tomography modules
LioniX International (LXI) and Academic Medical Center (AMC) of the University of Amsterdam strengthen the collaboration of their activities in the field of Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) based Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) modules. The implementation of PIC based technologies in OCT modules will enable miniaturized handheld OCT modules broadening the scope and application field of OCT based systems.
AMC and LXI signed a collaboration agreement that accelerates the development of PIC based OCT modules with a clear link to the clinical testing, which is essential for successful market introduction for these kind of modules. Furthermore, both parties participate in an EU funded Eurostars proposal (OCTIC), that will further integrate the OCT system by hybridly integrating the laser source into the OCT module.
The PIC platform of LXI is based on silicon nitride realized by Low Pressure Chemical vapor deposition and is branded under the name TriPleX™. This platform is, with its low loss properties over a broad wavelength range, extremely suitable for OCT modules in a variety of wavelength ranges. Various publications were published already by AMC and LXI on PIC based OCT and the latest status of the development at LXI will be presented during Photonics West, “Spectral domain, common path OCT in a handheld PIC based system”, Paper 10483-55.
“Our PIC based technology enables handheld OCT modules for a broad range of applications”, says Hans van den Vlekkert, CEO of LXI. ” With AMC we have found a partner that supports our OCT module development with their state of the art expertise and a clear link to the clinic.”
Within the Biomedical Engineering & physics department of the AMC, the application of light in medicine is a major research topic. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is one of the main imaging modalities that is being used both for basic and clinical research.
“OCT is the ‘work horse’ of the biomedical photonics research field“, says Ton van Leeuwen, head of the department. “Integrating the components in photonics chips will further increase both the technical and the clinical capabilities of OCT. Furthermore, PICS based OCT will not only make the current applications cheaper but also broaden the application scope.”