In vivo endoscopic optical coherence tomography by use of a rotational microelectromechanical system probe

Abstract

A novel endoscopic optical coherence tomography probe was designed and constructed with a 1.9-mm microelectromechanical system (MEMS) motor. The new MEMS endoscopic probe design eliminates the need to couple the rotational energy from the proximal to the distal end of the probe. Furthermore, the endoscopic probe's sheath and fiber have the advantages of having a much smaller diameter and being more flexible than traditional endoscopes since no reinforcement is needed to couple the rotational torque. At the distal end, a prism mounted on a micromotor deflects the light rays to create a transverse circular-scanning pathway. Because our MEMS scanner does not require the coupling of a rotational single-mode fiber, a high scanning speed is possible while eliminating unstable optical signals caused by nonuniform coupling.

Microscanners for optical endomicroscopic applications

“…Light from a single optical fiber is focused through a GRIN lens and circumferentially deflects perpendicular to the central axis of an endomicroscopic catheter with a transparent outer sheath by using a rotating microprism, which is indirectly driven by an external [45] or internal micromotor. The circumferential imaging can also be achieved by rotating a prism-fiber module at the distal end [46].…”

Endoscopic Imaging and Fabrication of Micro-endoscope Catheter in Time-domain Optical Coherence Tomography

“…[16] 은 생체내부 기관의 OCT 영상진단의 중요한 역할 을 수행 하였으며 [17] , 현재는 엔도스코프 장치의 개발과 이를 이용한 여러 생체 기관에 대한 적용 연구가 이루어지고 있다 [18][19][20][21][22] . 엔도스코프의 구성은 일반적으로 집광을 위한 렌즈, 광을 진행방향에 대해 수직 방향으로 바꾸기 위한 프리즘, 프리즘을 360도 회전시키기 위한 전동기(motor)로 이루어진 다 [16][17][20][21][22] . [17] .…”

Circumferential optical coherence tomography angiography imaging of the swine esophagus using a micromotor balloon catheter

“…Therefore, volumetric en face OCT is challenging with endoscopic OCT systems that use a proximally actuated catheter, especially in balloon catheters which have long working distances that increase the effects of scanning instability. NURD in OCT images can be significantly reduced using catheters with distal actuation scanning such as micromotors [16,17]. Micromotor catheters were first demonstrated in 2004 and enabled precise beam scanning at a slow frame rates of 1-2 frames per second (fps) which are difficult to achieve by proximal scanning [16,17].…”

“…NURD in OCT images can be significantly reduced using catheters with distal actuation scanning such as micromotors [16,17]. Micromotor catheters were first demonstrated in 2004 and enabled precise beam scanning at a slow frame rates of 1-2 frames per second (fps) which are difficult to achieve by proximal scanning [16,17]. These studies were limited by the speed of early time domain OCT systems (<2 kHz A-scan rate).…”