In vivo 3D FD OCT of subpleural lung parenchyma in the intact thorax

In vivo determination of three-dimensional and dynamic geometries of alveolar structures with adequate resolution is essential to develop numerical models of the lung. To gain insight into the dynamics of alveoli a thorax window was prepared in anesthetized rabbits by removal of muscle tissue between 3(rd) and 4(th) rib without harming the parietal pleura. The transparent parietal pleura allows contact-free imaging by intra-vital microscopy (IVM) and 3D optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT). We have demonstrated that it is possible to acquire the identical region in the inspiratory and expiratory phase, and that OCT in this animal model is suitable for generating 3D geometry of in vivo lung parenchyma. The 3D data sets of the fine structure of the lung beneath the pleura could provide a basis for the development of three-dimensional numerical models of the lung.