Abstract

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) allows for high resolution imaging of superficial tissue structures. The
commercialization and growth of OCT which has occurred over the past 25 years has been highly impactful,
scientifically, clinically, and economically. Many factors have helped drive this success starting with the inherent
attributes of the underlying technology and the clinical need for new cost-effective high-resolution minimallyinvasive
imaging solutions for various diagnostic and therapeutic applications. But equally important to this
success was the intertwined ecosystem of researchers, professional societies, government agencies, government
funding, regulatory bodies, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and small and large corporate entities within
biomedical optics industry and in completely adjacent areas such as telecommunication, computer, and software
industries. This talk will review some of the commercial history, current status, and briefly speculate on what
looks like a very exciting future for OCT with so many novel technological advances and promising applications
on the horizon.