Fiber-optic needle probes: Applications in deep tissue Imaging

Abstract

Fiber-optic needle probes are highly miniaturized imaging devices that enable imaging deep inside the body. Utilizing optical coherence tomography (OCT), these devices replace the standard scanning mechanism of an OCT scanner with all-fiber focusing optics small enough to be encased within a hypodermic needle. We describe recent innovation in the design of these probes, including novel fiber-optic configurations to achieve extended depth of focus, and the use of double-clad fiber to enable the first dual-modality fiber-optic needle probe, simultaneously acquiring both OCT and fluorescence images