Endoscopic optical coherence tomography of the retina at 1310 nm using paired-angle rotating scanning

Vitrectomy (removal of the vitreous humor) is an ophthalmic surgery required as a precursor to several posterior chamber procedures. Vitrectomy is commonly performed using an endoscopic vitreous cutter and fiber based light delivery for observation through a surgical microscope. Cross-sectional visualization of the retina and remnant vitreous layers during surgery using an external optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanner is impractical due to deformation in the shape of the eye and the cornea. We present a forward imaging probe with 820 &mgr;m outer diameter (21 gauge needle) for cross-sectional endoscopic OCT imaging during ophthalmic surgeries. The Paired-Angle-Rotating Scanner (PARS) OCT probe is based on angle polished gradient index (GRIN) lenses which are rotated about the optical axis. The scan pattern is determined by the angle between the GRIN lenses and the relative angular velocity. Endoscopic placement of the PARS-OCT probe tip near the retinal surface permits use of a longer wavelength light, in particular 1310 nm, which would otherwise suffer significant attenuation traversing the vitreous humor. The prototype endoscopic PARS-OCT probe is coupled to a commercially available 1310 nm swept laser source, and uses commercial software for data acquisition, processing, and display of retinal images in real time at an A-scan rate of 16 kHz. We present an analysis of aberrations due to off axis use of GRIN lenses and measure the scan pattern of the PARS probe. Images acquired on an ex vivo porcine retina are presented, motivating development of the endoscopic PARS-OCT probe for clinical evaluation

Ultrahigh speed endoscopic optical coherence tomography using micromotor imaging catheter and VCSEL technology

We developed a micromotor based miniature catheter with an outer diameter of 3.2 mm for ultrahigh speed endoscopic swept source optical coherence tomography (OCT) using a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) at a 1 MHz axial scan rate. The micromotor can rotate a micro-prism at several hundred frames per second with less than 5 V drive voltage to provide fast and stable scanning, which is not sensitive to the bending of the catheter. The side-viewing probe can be pulled back to acquire a three-dimensional (3D) data set covering a large area on the specimen. The VCSEL provides a high axial scan rate to support dense sampling under high frame rate operation. Using a high speed data acquisition system, in vivo 3D-OCT imaging in the rabbit GI tract and ex vivo imaging of a human colon specimen with 8 μm axial resolution, 8 μm lateral resolution and 1.2 mm depth range in tissue at a frame rate of 400 fps was demonstrated

Endoscopic Optical Imaging Technologies and Devices for Medical Purposes: State of the Art

The growth and development of optical components and, in particular, the miniaturization of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMSs), has motivated and enabled researchers to design smaller and smaller endoscopes. The overarching goal of this work has been to image smaller previously inaccessible luminal organs in real time, at high resolution, in a minimally invasive manner that does not compromise the comfort of the subject, nor introduce additional risk. Thus, an initial diagnosis can be made, or a small precancerous lesion may be detected, in a small-diameter luminal organ that would not have otherwise been possible. Continuous advancement in the field has enabled a wide range of optical scanners. Different scanning techniques, working principles, and the applications of endoscopic scanners are summarized in this review

Endoscopic optical coherence tomography with a flexible fiber bundle

We demonstrate in vivo endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging in the forward direction using a flexible fiber bundle. In comparison to current conventional forward looking probe schemes, our approach simplifies the endoscope design by avoiding the integration of any beam steering components in the distal probe end due to 2D scanning of a focused light beam over the proximal fiber bundle surface. We describe the challenges that arise when OCT imaging with a fiber bundle is performed, such as multimoding or cross-coupling. The performance of different fiber bundles with varying parameters such as numerical aperture, core size and core structure was consequently compared and artifacts that degrade the image quality were described in detail. Based on our findings, we propose an optimal fiber bundle design for endoscopic OCT imaging

Scanning and Actuation Techniques for Cantilever-Based Fiber Optic Endoscopic Scanners—A Review

Endoscopes are used routinely in modern medicine for in-vivo imaging of luminal organs. Technical advances in the micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) and optical fields have enabled the further miniaturization of endoscopes, resulting in the ability to image previously inaccessible small-caliber luminal organs, enabling the early detection of lesions and other abnormalities in these tissues. The development of scanning fiber endoscopes supports the fabrication of small cantilever-based imaging devices without compromising the image resolution. The size of an endoscope is highly dependent on the actuation and scanning method used to illuminate the target image area. Different actuation methods used in the design of small-sized cantilever-based endoscopes are reviewed in this paper along with their working principles, advantages and disadvantages, generated scanning patterns, and applications

Reflective optics-based line-scanning spectral domain optical coherence tomography system

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a high-resolution non-invasive and non-contact imaging technology. Traditionally, multi-axis spot-focused scanning is used for transverse scanning to obtain a two or three-dimensional OCT image. This increases the time to acquire an image and imaging performance is affected by motion artifacts. Moreover, lenses are used in the state-of-the-art OCT systems that reduce the axial resolution due to chromatic aberration, and affect the imaging quality due to distorted scan field. In order to avoid the problems mentioned above, the objective of the present thesis is to develop a reflective optics-based line-scan spectral domain OCT system for high-quality three-dimensional imaging. Cylindrical mirror used in this thesis for focusing eliminates chromatic aberration and provides a flat scan field. Line scanning reduces the requirement of scanning to one axis and thereby making the image acquisition faster. A novel reflective optics based line-scanning system with a spectrometer has been designed, and also the scanning system has been verified experimentally. The design of the scanner includes analytical and optical modeling of the proposed scanning configuration, along with the development of experimental setup and validation. Scanning system parameters that affect the imaging quality were studied and selected in the design. In addition, optical modeling of a reflective optics spectrometer was carried out, and an analytical model was developed for spectral domain OCT signal processing. Marechal criterion of Strehl Ratio above 0.8 was used as a benchmark to evaluate the imaging quality of the proposed system. To validate the line scanning model, an experimental setup consisting of a 53nm spectral bandwidth light source with cylindrical mirrors of 25.85mm and 51.7mm focal lengths was developed. Scanning was performed in both tangential and sagittal directions. The improvement in imaging performance by using sagittal scanning was demonstrated. It was also proved experimentally that the mirror focusing is insensitive variations in beam positions

Piezoelectric-transducer-based miniature catheter for ultrahigh-speed endoscopic optical coherence tomography

We developed a piezoelectric-transducer- (PZT) based miniature catheter with an outer diameter of 3.5 mm for ultrahigh-speed endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT). A miniaturized PZT bender actuates a fiber and the beam is scanned through a GRIN lens and micro-prism to provide high-speed, side-viewing capability. The probe optics can be pulled back over a long distance to acquire three-dimensional (3D) data sets covering a large area. Imaging is performed with 11 μm axial resolution in air (8 μm in tissue) and 20 μm transverse resolution, at 960 frames per second with a Fourier domain mode-locked laser operating at 480 kHz axial scan rate. Using a high-speed data acquisition system, endoscopic OCT imaging of the rabbit esophagus and colon in vivo and human colon specimens ex vivo is demonstrated

Methods and application areas of endoscopic optical coherence tomography

We review the current state of research in endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT). We first survey the range of available endoscopic optical imaging techniques. We then discuss the various OCT-based endoscopic methods that have thus far been developed. We compare the different endoscopic OCT methods in terms of their scan performance. Next, we examine the application range of endoscopic OCT methods. In particular, we look at the reported utility of the methods in digestive, intravascular, respiratory, urinary and reproductive systems. We highlight two additional applications—biopsy procedures and neurosurgery—where sufficiently compact OCT-based endoscopes can have significant clinical impacts

Endoscopic optical coherence tomography of the retina at 1310 nm using paired-angle rotating scanning

Vitrectomy (removal of the vitreous humor) is an ophthalmic surgery required as a precursor to several posterior chamber procedures. Vitrectomy is commonly performed using an endoscopic vitreous cutter and fiber based light delivery for observation through a surgical microscope. Cross-sectional visualization of the retina and remnant vitreous layers during surgery using an external optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanner is impractical due to deformation in the shape of the eye and the cornea. We present a forward imaging probe with 820 &mgr;m outer diameter (21 gauge needle) for cross-sectional endoscopic OCT imaging during ophthalmic surgeries. The Paired-Angle-Rotating Scanner (PARS) OCT probe is based on angle polished gradient index (GRIN) lenses which are rotated about the optical axis. The scan pattern is determined by the angle between the GRIN lenses and the relative angular velocity. Endoscopic placement of the PARS-OCT probe tip near the retinal surface permits use of a longer wavelength light, in particular 1310 nm, which would otherwise suffer significant attenuation traversing the vitreous humor. The prototype endoscopic PARS-OCT probe is coupled to a commercially available 1310 nm swept laser source, and uses commercial software for data acquisition, processing, and display of retinal images in real time at an A-scan rate of 16 kHz. We present an analysis of aberrations due to off axis use of GRIN lenses and measure the scan pattern of the PARS probe. Images acquired on an ex vivo porcine retina are presented, motivating development of the endoscopic PARS-OCT probe for clinical evaluation