%0 Journal Article
%T Fully automated OCT-based tissue screening system.
%A Pi S
%A Ganjee R
%A Wang L
%A Arbuckle RK
%A Zhao C
%A Sahel JA
%A Wang B
%A Chen Y
%J Opt Lett
%V 49
%N 16
%D 2024 Aug 15
%M 39146083
%F 3.56
%R 10.1364/OL.530281
%X This study introduces an innovative optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging system dedicated to high-throughput screening applications using ex vivo tissue culture. Leveraging OCT's non-invasive, high-resolution capabilities, the system is equipped with a custom-designed motorized platform and tissue detection ability for automated, successive imaging across samples. Transformer-based deep-learning segmentation algorithms further ensure robust, consistent, and efficient readouts meeting the standards for screening assays. Validated using retinal explant cultures from a mouse model of retinal degeneration, the system provides robust, rapid, reliable, unbiased, and comprehensive readouts of tissue response to treatments. This fully automated OCT-based system marks a significant advancement in tissue screening, promising to transform drug discovery, as well as other relevant research fields.