New imaging device sees bacteria behind the eardrum

Doctors can now see behind the eardrum to diagnose chronic ear infections, thanks to a new medical imaging device, which could usher in a new suite of non-invasive, 3-D diagnostic imaging tools. Patients who suffer from chronic ear infections may have a film of bacteria or other microorganisms behind the eardrum, similar to dental plaque on teeth. Finding and monitoring these biofilms is important for treating chronic ear infections. But, they can be difficult to detect; standard otoscopes only show the surface of the eardrum, not any biofilm behind it. The new device is an application of a technique called optical coherence tomography, a non-invasive imaging system devised by Stephen Boppart, University of Illinois electrical and computer engineering professor, and his research group. It uses beams of light to collect high-resolution, three-dimensional images, scanning through the eardrum to the biofilm behind it, similar to an ultrasound imaging, but using light.