From Failed Project to 40 Million Eye Scans: David Huang on the Birth of OCT

Dr. David Huang shares the remarkable journey of how a failed laser surgery project during his MD-PhD studies at MIT led to the invention of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), now used in over 40 million eye procedures annually. The story includes a pivotal moment when Professor James Fujimoto volunteered as the first human subject for OCT testing when no other students would agree to have an experimental laser pointed at their eye.

The development of OCT was made possible by the 1980s telecommunications boom, which provided crucial fiber optic components. Dr. Huang's unique background combining computer science and medicine proved essential for creating this breakthrough technology. The conversation also explores OCT's rapid commercialization, its impact on treating age-related macular degeneration, and future developments including smartphone-based screening and potential applications for diagnosing brain and heart disease through retinal imaging.

Reference Paper on OCT (Science 1991): https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1957169

02:31 Understanding Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
04:09 The Evolution of Eye Imaging Techniques
05:34 Technical Principles of OCT
10:38 Development and Early Applications of OCT
15:23 Challenges and Breakthroughs in OCT
25:54 Clinical Acceptance and Advancements in OCT
45:32 The Rise of Startups in Academia
51:27 Future of Imaging Technologies
54:02 Challenges in Developing OCT on a Chip
57:27 Rival Optical Imaging Technologies
01:05:54 Advice for Young Researchers

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