Progress and prospect of biomedical optical imaging

The interdisciplinary of optical imaging and biomedical science dates back to the seventeenth century when the first observation of microorganisms with the microscope. Over the centuries, optical imaging has continuously expanded its connotation and extension. Due to its advantages of high resolution, multi-scale, multi-dimensional, low radiation, and easy to integrate, it has shown a steady stream of vitality in the field of biomedical science ranging from basic research to clinical diagnosis and treatments. It provides transformative scientific instruments and tools for the acquisition, processing, and visualization of bioscience information. It is the source of innovation for human beings from observing microscopic biological structures to understanding dynamic life processes. The review starts with the developments of biomedical optical imaging, focusing on several essential directions of imaging technologies, and expounds its progress and future trends.