Application of holograms or holographic imaging to the world of medicine practice is a new and growing field. A hologram is a three-dimensional image formed with the interference of light. So far, holographic science has been implemented frequently on the areas of artistry, promotion, recreation and security. However, the extent and scope of usages of holographic technology is expanding. There is a tremendous chances of growth of holographic technology in several new areas incorporating: data retention and reading, material examine, artificial intelligence, travel, medicine, manufacturing etc. A major growth area for the use of holographic research is in the field of medical care. It is very likely that sooner or later, holographic technology will be used for medical diagnosis, instruction, healing and investigation. Holography has already been used in various fields of medicine. Holographic techniques have been widely applied with success for the study of different parts of human body including cornea, tympanic membrane, basilar membrane, tooth mobility, cochlea, temporal bone, chest, skull, bones etc.

Uses of Medical Holography

There are various reasons which makes the usage of holographic technique popular in the field of medicine. They are as follows:

• Medical holography allows three-dimensional imaging of internal body structures for the diagnosis and surgical planning.
  
  
• Medical holography allows high-resolution.
  
  
• It provides assistance in the treatment of disease and injury.
  
  
• In the area of biomedical imaging, HoloTomography (HT) is the creation as well as interpretation of three-dimensional healing illustrations.
  
  
• Basic medical HT involves fixed illustrations generated from conventional visualization developments such as
  • Computerized Tomography (CT)
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and
  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET).
• Advanced medical holotomography involves responding two-way three-dimensional illustrations from dedicated holographic imaging tools.
  
  
• Holographic visualization provides clear viewing of objects embedded in illumination refracting material, like body fluid or viscous tissue. That is why it makes an excellent visualization modality for many biomedical usages.
  
  
• Medical uses of holographic technology are for display and incorporating.
  
  
• Holographic interferograms are used in medical holography.
  
  
• There is holography with temporal gated pulses.
  
  
• We also have endoscopic holography in medical science.
  
  
• Holographic contour generation is used for measurements for biomedical specimen.

Types of Medical Holography

• X-Ray Holography: This can examine the samples in aqueous solution with very high resolution. There is no need for sample preparation that often results in structural alternations.
  
  
• Endoscopic Holography: This type of medical holography provides a powerful tool for non contact high resolution 3D imaging and nondestructive measurements of natural cavities found inside human body. It combines the features of endoscopy and holography. The recording of a 3D large focal depth and high resolution image of internal organs and tissues majorly enhances the detection capability. Endoscopic holography has been used with success for early detection of cancerous indurations in the wall of urinary bladder. The holographic endoscopy is of two types:
  • The hologram is recorded inside the endoscope: Full three-dimensionality of the reconstructed image with parallax and a large focal depth.
  • The Hologram Uses an External Recording Device: A conventional endoscope is used. The system records the hologram outside the endoscope with the help of an external reference beam.
    
    
• Multiplexed Holography for Medical Tomography: Multiplexed holography is used for complete visualization of three-dimensional tomographic medical data. The technique is ideal to make hologram whose images are of a different size from the original object. This type of medical holography is used in those applications in which surfaces are important such as prostheses and craniofacial surgery. Multiplexed holography is used in CT or MR scans. It retains full parallax and physical depths and is also known as volumetric multiplexed holograms or multiplane-multiplexed holograms.
  
  
• Holography in Ophthalmology: One of the earliest applications of holography in the field of ophthalmology was the recording of a three dimensional image of the eye. Any retinal detachment or foreign body can easily be detected . Medical holography can also be applied for the measurement of corneal topography and crystalline lens changes. It is also used in the study of surface characteristics of both the nerve head and the cornea. The major advantage of holographic technology is the ultra high precision with which such measurements are possible and is vital for corneal surgery.
  
  
• Holography in Otology: There are various holographic techniques used in the study of the ear. For example:
  • Double exposure and time-average holographic interferometric techniques are powerful devices for studying different parts of the human peripheral hearing organ.
  • Time-average holography is used to study the vibration behavior of models of the inner ear parts such as unrolled cochlea and coiled basilar membrane.
  • It is also used to study vibration analysis of incudo-mallar joint with forces applied to the middle ear muscles.
    
    
• Holography in Orthopedics: Holography offers an excellent tool for the study of orthopedic structures. Such studies are important in osteosynthesis, to prevent dislocations of both fractured ends that are mainly caused by decrease in strength of the fixation pins.

Applications of Medical Holography

The holographic technology is used in several fields of medical science such as follows:

Radiology Urology Ophthalmology Pathology

Dentistry Otology Orthopedics