Caroline Boudoux has been the head of the Laboratory of Optical Diagnoses and Imagery at Polytechnique Montréal since 2008. She is specialized in the use of fibre-optic components for non-invasive observation of internal organs. All of Professor Boudoux’s work employs photonics, and encompasses optical coherence tomography, endoscopy, optical machining, non-linear microscopy, and confocal microscopy.
Professor Boudoux is currently developing a fibre-optic coupler for endoscopy (mono- and multi-modal). Its double cladding enables multiple modes of tissue illumination and gathering of backscattered light from samples. The required criteria are better lighting of tissue as well as improved collection and quality of data obtained (thanks in part to the double-clad fibre). Everything is tested using an imaging system.

Another project involves development of an endoscopy system to be used in treatment of scoliosis (to assist insertion of vertebral staples). The system is based on optical coherence tomography (to comply with the standards for surgery), and has reached the initial in vivo test stage. The device will eventually be incorporated into an imaging system for use in operating rooms.

The lab is also sharpening its expertise by developing improvements to spectrally encoded confocal microscopy to enable its use in biological tissues. The microscope, being built from A to Z in the lab, comprises a laser, a scanning mechanism and a lens, plus a software application (to be synchronized) for acquisition and processing of the data.

Lastly, Professor Boudoux and her team are working on further improving efficiency of their techniques by combining optical coherence tomography with spectrally encoded confocal microscopy by employing the same scanning system for both, so as to improve image analysis. The long-term goal is to develop an endoscope that can be used to directly observe the development of pathologies in patients.