title: [In vivo imaging of the corneal nerve plexus : From single image to large scale map].
abstract: The sub-basal nerve plexus (SNP) of the cornea provides the possibility of in vivo and non-invasive examination of peripheral nerve structures by corneal confocal microscopy (CCM). Thus morphological alterations of the SNP can be directly detected and quantified. A single CCM image is insufficient for a well-founded diagnosis because of the inhomogeneous distribution of the nerve fibers; therefore, there is a demand for techniques for large area imaging of the SNP. This article provides an overview of published approaches to the problem. Current developmental work at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Rostock Eye Clinic is expected to lead to a simplified handling of the technology and a further improvement in the image quality.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Angewandte Informatik, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Kaiserstraße 12, 76131, Karlsruhe, Deutschland. bernd.koehler@kit.edu.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.affiliation: Institut für Angewandte Informatik, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Kaiserstraße 12, 76131, Karlsruhe, Deutschland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allgeier
authors.affiliation: Institut für Angewandte Informatik, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Kaiserstraße 12, 76131, Karlsruhe, Deutschland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartschat
authors.affiliation: Universitätsaugenklinik, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock, Deutschland.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Guthoff
authors.affiliation: Universitätsaugenklinik, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock, Deutschland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bohn
authors.affiliation: Institut für Angewandte Informatik, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Kaiserstraße 12, 76131, Karlsruhe, Deutschland.
authors.forename: K-M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Reichert
authors.affiliation: Universitätsaugenklinik, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock, Deutschland.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stachs
authors.affiliation: Institut für Anatomie, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Deutschland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.affiliation: Institut für Angewandte Informatik, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Kaiserstraße 12, 76131, Karlsruhe, Deutschland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mikut
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000294:innervation*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D000069416:Intravital Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D012984:Software
keywords: Confocal microscopy; Eye movement; Image processing; Mosaic images; Nerve fibers