“Endoscopic Combined Optical Coherence Tomography and Laser Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy"

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Abstract: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an optical analogue of ultrasound, using reflected near-infrared light to non-destructively image tissue. A resolution of 4-20 µm and imaging depth of 1-2 mm are obtainable in biological and engineered tissues. Fluorescence spectroscopy complements OCT by providing information on biochemical makeup. We have built tabletop and endoscopic systems that combine these two modalities into a single instrument. Simultaneous OCT images and fluorescence spectra have been obtained of various tissues, including ovary, colon, and tissue engineered vascular grafts. Ex vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated the ability to visualize cell and tissue layer thicknesses and obtain information related to metabolic state of tissues. An in vivo, longitudinal study has shown that this system can monitor the development of adenomas in a spontaneous mouse colon cancer model.