Abstract: Systems and processes for performing posterior segment visualization and surgery assist a surgeon during surgery. Adapted instruments (I) used in ocular surgery include unique indicia, markings, or the like (40) which, when in the surgical field, can be identified by the system (FIG. 9). In turn, the system modifies the images that are projected into a display (10), e.g., a heads-up display, used by the surgeon, to display parameter data that is particular to the instrument (I) in use. The system also tracks the tip (16) of the instrument (I) in real time, determines the tissue that is closest to the instrument tip, automatically collects OCT data for that tissue, and displays images (20, 22) representative of that data in the display used by the surgeon. In this way, as the surgeon moves a surgical instrument around in the surgical field of the eye, the system automatically displays OCT image data of the tissue closest to the instrument tip.

Abstract: Systems and methods of characterizing biological tissues are provided. In the systems and methods, a first optical coherence tomography (OCT) image of a selected portion of biological tissues combined with a plurality of nanoparticles is obtained, where the plurality of nanoparticles are configured to bind to one or more types of biological molecules in the biological tissues and to produce contrast during OCT imaging. The systems and methods also include estimating a first distribution of the plurality of nanoparticles in the selected portion based on the first OCT image and characterizing the selected portion with respect to the types of biological molecules based on the distribution.