Biological imaging may refer to any

imaging Imaging is the representation or reproduction of an object's form; especially a visual representation (i.e., the formation of an image). Imaging technology is the application of materials and methods to create, preserve, or duplicate images. ...

technique used in

biology Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary i ...

. Typical examples include: *

Bioluminescence imaging Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is a technology developed over the past decade that allows for the noninvasive study of ongoing biological processes. Recently, bioluminescence tomography (BLT) has become possible and several systems have become com ...

, a technique for studying laboratory animals using luminescent protein *

Calcium imaging Calcium imaging is a microscopy technique to optically measure the calcium (Ca2+) status of an isolated cell, tissue or medium. Calcium imaging takes advantage of calcium indicators, fluorescent molecules that respond to the binding of Ca2+ ions b ...

, determining the calcium status of a tissue using fluorescent light *

Diffuse optical imaging Diffuse optical imaging (DOI) is a method of imaging using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) or fluorescence-based methods. When used to create 3D volumetric models of the imaged material DOI is referred to as diffuse optical tomography, whereas ...

, using near-infrared light to generate images of the body *

Diffusion-weighted imaging Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI or DW-MRI) is the use of specific MRI sequences as well as software that generates images from the resulting data that uses the diffusion of water molecules to generate contrast in MR images. It ...

, a type of MRI that uses water diffusion *

Fluorescence lifetime imaging Fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy or FLIM is an imaging technique based on the differences in the exponential decay rate of the photon emission of a fluorophore from a sample. It can be used as an imaging technique in confocal microscopy, t ...

, using the decay rate of a fluorescent sample * Gallium imaging, a nuclear medicine method for the detection of infections and cancers * Imaging agent, a chemical designed to allow clinicians to determine whether a mass is benign or malignant *

Imaging studies Medical imaging is the technique and process of imaging the interior of a body for clinical analysis and medical intervention, as well as visual representation of the function of some organs or tissues (physiology). Medical imaging seeks to rev ...

, which includes many medical imaging techniques *

Magnetic resonance imaging Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to form pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes of the body. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio wave ...

(MRI), a non-invasive method to render images of living tissues * Magneto-acousto-electrical tomography (MAET), is an imaging modality to image the electrical conductivity of biological tissues *

Medical imaging Medical imaging is the technique and process of imaging the interior of a body for clinical analysis and medical intervention, as well as visual representation of the function of some organs or tissues (physiology). Medical imaging seeks to rev ...

, creating images of the human body or parts of it, to diagnose or examine disease *

Microscopy Microscopy is the technical field of using microscopes to view objects and areas of objects that cannot be seen with the naked eye (objects that are not within the resolution range of the normal eye). There are three well-known branches of micr ...

, creating images of objects or features too small to be detectable by the naked human eye *

Molecular imaging Molecular imaging is a field of medical imaging that focuses on imaging molecules of medical interest within living patients. This is in contrast to conventional methods for obtaining molecular information from preserved tissue samples, such as ...

, used to study molecular pathways inside organisms *

Non-contact thermography Non-contact thermography, thermographic imaging, or medical thermology is the field of thermography that uses infrared images of the human skin to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. Medical thermology is sometimes referre ...

, is the field of

thermography Infrared thermography (IRT), thermal video and/or thermal imaging, is a process where a Thermographic camera, thermal camera captures and creates an image of an object by using infrared radiation emitted from the object in a process, which are ...

that derives diagnostic indications from infrared images of the human body. *

Nuclear medicine Nuclear medicine or nucleology is a medical specialty involving the application of radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Nuclear imaging, in a sense, is "radiology done inside out" because it records radiation emitting ...

, uses administered radioactive substances to create images of internal organs and their function. *

Optical imaging Medical optical imaging is the use of light as an investigational :wikt:imaging, imaging technique for medical applications. Examples include optical microscopy, spectroscopy, endoscopy, scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, laser Doppler imaging, and opti ...

, using light as an investigational tool for biological research and medical diagnosis * Optoacoustic imaging, using the

photothermal effect Photothermal effect is a phenomenon associated with electromagnetic radiation. It is produced by the photoexcitation of material, resulting in the production of thermal energy (heat). It is sometimes used during treatment of blood vessel lesions, l ...

, for the accuracy of spectroscopy with the depth resolution of ultrasound *

Photoacoustic Imaging Photoacoustic imaging or optoacoustic imaging is a biomedical imaging modality based on the photoacoustic effect. Non-ionizing laser pulses are delivered into biological tissues and part of the energy will be absorbed and converted into heat, le ...

, a technique to detect vascular disease and cancer using non-ionizing laser pulses *

Ultrasound imaging Medical ultrasound includes diagnostic techniques (mainly medical imaging, imaging techniques) using ultrasound, as well as therapeutic ultrasound, therapeutic applications of ultrasound. In diagnosis, it is used to create an image of internal ...

, using very high frequency sound to visualize muscles and internal organs

References

Biological techniques and tools Imaging {{biology-stub