Handheld tunable focus confocal microscope utilizing a double-clad fiber coupler for in vivo imaging of oral epithelium.

Cory Olsovsky,Rodrigo Cuenca,Javier A Jo,John M Wright,Kristen C Maitland,Terry D Rees,Taylor Hinsdale,Yi-Shing Lisa Cheng

doi:10.1117/1.jbo.22.5.056008

Abstract

.A reflectance confocal endomicroscope with double-clad fiber coupler and electrically tunable focus lens is applied to imaging of the oral mucosa. The instrument is designed to be lightweight and robust for clinical use. The tunable lens allows axial scanning through in the epithelium when the probe tip is placed in contact with tissue. Images are acquired at 6.6 frames per second with a field of view diameter up to . In vivo imaging of a wide range of normal sites in the oral cavity demonstrates the accessibility of the handheld probe. In vivo imaging of clinical lesions diagnosed as inflammation and dysplasia illustrates the ability of reflectance confocal endomicroscopy to image cellular changes associated with pathology.

Highlights

Reflectance confocal microscopy provides three-dimensional (3-D) images of cellular and epithelial morphology to enable early cancer detection in a number of organs.[1]
We have reported on a handheld confocal endomicroscope designed to acquire images of oral epithelium in vivo to characterize cellular and tissue morphology, akin to histology.[15]
We present a robust handheld tunable reflectance confocal endomicroscope for imaging oral mucosa in vivo

Summary

Introduction

Reflectance confocal microscopy provides three-dimensional (3-D) images of cellular and epithelial morphology to enable early cancer detection in a number of organs.[1]. Technical challenges that need to be addressed to apply reflectance confocal microscopy more broadly in the oral cavity include increased accessibility of all sites in the oral cavity; reduced motion artifacts; and reduced size, weight, and rigidity of probes

Methods

Results

Conclusion