Miniaturization of an optoelectronic holographic otoscope for measurement of nanodisplacements in tympanic membranes

An optoelectronic holographic otoscope (OEHO) is currently in use in a major hospital. The OEHO allows for nanometer-displacement measurements of the deformation of mammalian tympanic membrane (TM) under acoustic stimulation. The optical head of the current system is sufficient for laboratory use, but requires improved optical performance and a miniaturized size to be suitable for the clinic. A new optical head configuration is designed, aided by ray tracing analysis and research of the biomechanical and optical properties of the TM. A prototype is built and the optical performance quantified via developed image processing algorithms. The device is validated through comparison of analytical, computational, and experimental results and through interferometric chinchilla TM measurements

A Sustainable Science Laboratory Program for Rural Thailand

In rural Thailand, students had fewer educational opportunities than their urban counterparts. The goal of our project, sponsored by the Office of H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorns Projects, was to develop an engaging, educationally valuable, sustainable laboratory program for lower-secondary school students in Sakon Nakhon. The goal was achieved in three stages: initial program development, program testing, and program refinement. The result was a science laboratory program that contained the developed experiments as well as supplementary materials for teachers