Endoscopic optical coherence tomography based on a microelectromechanical mirror

Abstract

An endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) system based on a microelectromechanical mirror to facilitate lateral light scanning is described. The front-view OCT scope, adapted to the instrument channel of a commercial endoscopic sheath, allows real-time cross-sectional imaging of living biological tissue via direct endoscopic visual guidance. The transverse and axial resolutions of the OCT scope are roughly 20 and $10.2 \mu \mathrm{m}$, respectively. Cross-sectional images of $500\times 1000$ pixels covering an area of $2.9 \mathrm{mm}\times 2.8 \mathrm{mm}$ can be acquired at $\sim 5 \mathrm{frames}/\mathrm{s}$ and with nearly 100-dB dynamic range. Applications in thickness measurement and bladder tissue imaging are demonstrated.