In this study, for the first time, we apply optical coherence elastography to map and monitor slow strains caused by residual stresses in cartilaginous tissues subjected to thermomechanical laser-assisted reshaping in regimes used for the preparation of implants in otolaringological surgery. Such laser-fabricated implants made of the patient’s rib cartilage have already been successfully used for treating trachea stenosis. However, intraoperative verification of sufficient stability of the implant shape still lacks reliable instrumental means. Application of the developed phase-sensitive OCT-based strain mapping revealed previously inaccessible features of slow-rate strains associated with relaxation of internal stresses and made it possible to determine an allowable post-reshaping strain rate, which can be used as an objective criterion of sufficient stability of laser-fabricated cartilaginous implants. The obtained results indicate that the OCT-based strain mapping can be used...

中文翻译：

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基于OCT的应变映射观察激光重塑的软骨植入物中的内部应力松弛

在这项研究中，我们首次使用光学相干弹性成像技术来绘制和监测由软骨组织中残余应力引起的缓慢应变，这些软骨组织在耳镜外科手术准备植入物的过程中受到热机械激光辅助整形。由患者的肋软骨制成的这种激光制造的植入物已经成功地用于治疗气管狭窄。然而，术中对植入物形状的足够稳定性的验证仍然缺乏可靠的仪器手段。应用已开发的基于相敏OCT的应变图，揭示了以前缓慢的应变速率与内部应力松弛相关的特征，并使得确定允许的重塑后应变速率成为可能，可以用作激光制作的软骨植入物足够稳定性的客观标准。获得的结果表明可以使用基于OCT的应变图...