Swept-source common-path optical coherence tomography with a MEMS endoscopic imaging probe

Abstract

A MEMS-based common-path endoscopic imaging probe for 3D swept-source optical coherence tomography (SSOCT) has been developed. The common path is achieved by setting the reference plane at the rear surface of the GRIN lens inside the probe. MEMS devices have the advantages of low cost, small size and fast speed, which are suitable for miniaturizing endoscopic probes. The aperture size of the two-axis MEMS mirror employed in this endoscopic probe is 1 mm by 1 mm and the footprint of the MEMS chip is 1.55 mm by 1.7 mm. The MEMS mirror achieves large two dimensional optical scan angles up to 34° at 4.0 V. The endoscopic probe using the MEMS mirror as the scan engine is only 4.0 mm in diameter. Additionally, an optimum length of the GRIN lens is established to remove the artifacts in the SSOCT images generated from the multiple interfaces inside the endoscopic imaging probe. The MEMS based commonpath probe demonstrates real time 3D OCT images of human finger with 10.6 μm axial resolution, 17.5 μm lateral resolution and 1.0 mm depth range at a frame rate of 50 frames per second.