A new method of optical biopsy: demonstration of mechanical contrast in deep tissue using an optical coherence elastography needle probe

Abstract

We incorporate for the first time optical coherence elastography (OCE) into a needle probe and demonstrate its ability to provide depth-resolved information about the mechanical properties of soft tissues. This allows analysis of tissues located much deeper than has previously been possible with other forms of OCE. OCE exploits the microscopic resolution of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to produce high-resolution maps of tissue mechanical properties. While OCE has potential to delineate diseased and healthy tissues (e.g., stiff tumor in soft tissue), standard techniques are limited by the penetration depth of OCT in tissue (2-3 mm). Our OCE needle probe overcomes this limitation, as it may be inserted deep within the body to perform measurements. We tested needle-based OCE in tissue-mimicking phantoms and ex vivo porcine airway tissue comprising layers of varying stiffness. Results demonstrate mechanical differentiation of tissues and identification of tissue interfaces. The proof-of-principle results presented here pave the way for future measurements in human breast tissue that will aim to establish needle-based OCE as a viable technique for intraoperative guidance of breast cancer surgery.