Compact Forward-Viewing Endoscopic Optical Coherence Tomography

紧凑型前视内窥镜光学相干断层扫描

• 批准号: EP/X000125/1
• 负责人: Adrian Podoleanu
• 金额: $ 60.56万
• 依托单位: University of Kent
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FX000125%2F1
• 关键词: Compact; Forward; Viewing; Endoscopic; Optical

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a 3D high-resolution optical imaging technology. It is widely used for imaging internal structures of the eye and is also finding a range of other medical applications such as in dermatology and cardiology. It differs from conventional microscopy in that interferometry, together with a broadband or tunable optical source, is used to achieve optical sectioning. Through optical sectioning, and the intrinsic rejection of multiply-scattered light, OCT imaging is able to penetrate 1 to 2 mm inside scattering tissue, allowing 3D volumetric imaging. Using Fourier domain OCT techniques entire volumes can be collected, reconstructed and displayed in seconds.Endoscopic OCT brings the high-resolution volumetric imaging capabilities of OCT to the interior of the body, opening up new possibilities for minimally-invasive diagnosis and interventional monitoring. Most endoscopic OCT systems work in a side-viewing configuration, where images are acquired radially outwards from the OCT probe, similar in appearance to endoscopic ultrasound. This works well for imaging narrow, tube-like structures (such blood vessels and parts of the gastrointestinal tract), but it is not ideal for areas such as the ear, nose and throat (ENT), for the upper airways, or for general surgical guidance. These applications would benefit from a probe that is forward looking; effectively an endoscope which produces high resolution en-face images or volumes from beneath the tissue surface. However, forward-viewing OCT endoscopes are challenging to build with current technology as they require a two-dimensional fibre scanning mechanism to be built into the probe head; this scanning is typically either bulky, slow, or limited in scanning range, and leads to complex devices. This project, for the first time, proposes and evaluates solutions which add depth-resolving capabilities to en-face viewing endoscopes without a miniaturised scanner. The research will explore a new approach for distal control of scattering and interference which is amenable to miniaturisation in the form of an adapter which could be fitted to a fibre imaging bundle or a miniature camera. The investigators have recently patented an approach for such a miniature adapter that makes use of a technique called full-field swept source OCT, where multiple images are captured, each at a different illumination wavelength, and processed to recover the OCT volume. To date there has been no report of good quality depth resolved imaging via a fibre bundle, and so if successful this project will represent a significant advance in the field of fibre bundle imaging.The aims of the project are to demonstrate that the approach is a feasible and practical route to developing compact forward-viewing OCT probes with clinical utility. The earlier stages of the project involve developing a full understanding of the new technology. In parallel, a design will be developed for miniaturisation in collaboration with clinical partners advising on the design requirements. Packaged prototypes will then be developed, characterised and validated using a range of phantoms and tissue samples. In parallel with validation studies on the core probe design, additional scientific avenues will be pursued, including to combine the probe with other imaging modalities such as fluorescence.The project will build on 25 years of experience of building OCT instrumentation in the Applied Optics Group at the University of Kent, as well as achievements in developing endoscopic microscopes and OCT probes and performing coherent imaging though fibre bundles. Industrial partners will provide expertise in miniaturised fibre optic components, compact probe packaging, and miniature cameras, while clinical partners from major hospitals will provide advice and support in developing the probe towards practical clinical applications in ear, nose and throat and the upper airways of the lungs.

光学相干断层扫描（OCT）是3D高分辨率光学成像技术。它被广泛用于成像眼睛的内部结构，还发现了一系列其他医学应用，例如皮肤病学和心脏病学。它与传统显微镜不同，其中该干涉法与宽带或可调光源一起用于实现光学切片。通过光学截面以及对乘散射光的固有排斥，OCT成像能够在散射组织内穿透1到2 mm，从而允许3D体积成像。使用傅立叶域OCT技术可以收集，重建并以秒为单位。ENCOPICOCT将OCT的高分辨率体积成像能力带入身体的内部，为微小侵入性诊断和介入监测提供了新的可能性。大多数内窥镜OCT系统都在侧视配置中起作用，其中从OCT探针上径向从外观上获得图像，外观与内窥镜超声相似。这非常适合成像狭窄的管子状结构（这样的血管和胃肠道的部分），但对于诸如耳朵，鼻子和喉咙（ENT）的区域，对于上呼吸道或一般而言，它并不理想手术指导。这些应用程序将受益于正在向前寻找的调查；有效地从组织表面下方产生高分辨率的图像或体积的内窥镜。但是，前视觉内窥镜可以用当前技术构建挑战，因为它们需要将二维纤维扫描机制内置在探针头上。这种扫描通常是笨重，缓慢或有限的扫描范围，并且会导致复杂的设备。该项目首次提出和评估解决方案，这些解决方案在没有微型扫描仪的情况下为内窥镜增添了深度分辨能力。这项研究将探索一种新的方法，用于散射和干扰的远端控制，该方法可以以适配器的形式适应小型化，该适配器可以安装在纤维成像束或微型摄像头上。研究人员最近为这种微型适配器提供了一种方法，该方法利用了一种称为全场扫描源OCT的技术，其中捕获了多个图像，每个图像都处于不同的照明波长，并进行了处理以恢复OCT体积。迄今为止，还没有关于通过光纤束的高质量深度解决成像的报道，因此，如果成功，该项目将代表纤维捆绑成像领域的重大进步。该项目的目的是证明该方法是一种方法使用临床实用程序开发紧凑型前视探针的可行且实用的途径。该项目的较早阶段涉及对新技术有充分的了解。同时，将与临床合作伙伴合作开发一个设计，以进行小型化，并为设计要求提供建议。然后将使用一系列幻影和组织样品开发，表征和验证包装的原型。与核心探针设计的验证研究并行，将追求其他科学途径，包括将探针与其他成像方式（例如荧光）结合起来。肯特大学以及开发内窥镜显微镜和OCT探针的成就，并通过纤维束进行连贯的成像。工业合作伙伴将提供小型光纤组件，紧凑型探针包装和微型摄像机的专业知识，而大型医院的临床伴侣将提供建议和支持，以开发针对耳朵，鼻子和喉咙中的实用临床应用的探测，以及肺。