Optical Coherence Elastography in Tissue Biomechanics

Optical coherence elastography (OCE) integrates optical coherence tomography with controlled mechanical excitation to map tissue mechanical properties at micrometre resolution. By detecting minute deformations induced by static compression or propagating shear waves, OCE quantifies elasticity, stiffness and viscoelasticity non-invasively and in depth. Advances in light-source technology, phase-sensitive detection and image processing have driven enhanced spatial and temporal resolution, enabling precise measurements of biomechanical parameters in ocular, dermal, musculoskeletal and neoplastic tissues. Applications range from assessing corneal rigidity and skin ageing to guiding oncological interventions and evaluating engineered constructs. Recent innovations extend the accessible frequency spectrum into the ultrasonic range, introduce non-contact stimulation modalities, and incorporate stress-sensing elements for direct quantification of Young’s modulus, positioning OCE for real-time clinical diagnostics and personalised therapy monitoring.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have dramatically expanded the functional range and quantitative precision of OCE. An ultrawideband system now probes viscoelastic waves across frequencies from acoustic to ultrasonic (100 Hz to 1 MHz), enabling depth-dependent shear modulus profiling in cartilage ex vivo and human skin in vivo with sub-millimetre resolution. A pioneering non-contact approach employing focused, air-coupled ultrasound combined with high-speed four-dimensional phase-sensitive imaging has demonstrated near real-time elastography without physical contact, suitable for delicate tissues such as the cornea. Foundational work on quantitative micro-elastography integrated a compliant silicone stress sensor into compression OCE, yielding absolute elasticity maps and successfully distinguishing benign from malignant breast tissues at the microscale, paving the way for improved surgical guidance.

Optical Coherence Elastography in Tissue Biomechanics publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in optical coherence elastography in tissue biomechanics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Optical coherence elastography (OCE): A method that combines optical coherence tomography with mechanical stimulation to measure tissue mechanical properties with micrometre-scale resolution.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT): A non-invasive imaging technique using low-coherence light to generate cross-sectional images of tissue microstructure.

Shear wave: A transverse mechanical wave whose propagation speed in tissue is directly related to its shear modulus and stiffness.

Phase-sensitive detection: A technique that measures sub-nanometre optical path length changes to detect tiny tissue displacements.

Young’s modulus: A quantitative measure of elasticity defined as the ratio of applied stress to resulting strain under uniaxial loading.

Viscoelasticity: The property of a material exhibiting both elastic (solid-like) and viscous (fluid-like) mechanical responses.

References

1. Ultra-wideband optical coherence elastography from acoustic to ultrasonic frequencies. Nature Communications (2023).
2. Acoustic micro-tapping for non-contact 4D imaging of tissue elasticity. Scientific Reports (2016).
3. Quantitative micro-elastography: imaging of tissue elasticity using compression optical coherence elastography. Scientific Reports (2015).
4. Asynchronous, semi-reverberant elastography.. Optica (2024).
5. Static compression optical coherence elastography for the measurement of porcine corneal mechanical properties ex-vivo. Journal of Applied Biomedicine (2024).
6. Retinal thermal deformations measured with phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography in vivo. Light: Science & Applications (2025).