An imaging system for performing forward scanning imaging for application to therapeutic and diagnostic devises used in medical procedures. The imaging system includes forward directed optical coherence tomography (OCT), and non-retroreflected forward scanning OCT. Also interferometric imaging and ranging techniques and fluorescent, Raman, two-photon, and diffuse wave imaging can be used. The forward scanning mechanisms include a cam attached to a motor, pneumatic devices, a pivoting device, piezoelectric transducers, electrostatic driven slides for substantially transverse scanning; counter-rotating prisms, and offset lenses are used for arbitrary scanning. The imaging system of the invention is applied to hand held probes including probes integrated with surgical probes, scalpels, scissors, forceps and biopsy instruments. Hand held probes include forward scanning lasers. The imaging system is also applicable to laparoscopes and endoscopes for diagnostc and therapeutic intervention in body orifices, canals, tubes, ducts, vessels and cavities of the body. The imaging system includes application to surgical and high numerical aperture microscopes. An important application of the invention is implantation of the optical probe for periodic or continuous extraction of information from the tissue site where implanted.

Methods and apparatus for forward-directed optical scanning instruments

An imaging system for performing optical coherence tomography includes an optical radiation source; a reference optical reflector; a first optical path leading to the reference optical reflector; and a second optical path coupled to an endoscopic unit. The endoscopic unit preferably includes an elongated housing defining a bore; a rotatable single mode optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end positioned within and extending the length of the bore of the elongated housing; and an optical system coupled to the distal end of the rotatable single mode optical fiber, positioned to transmit the optical radiation from the single mode optical fiber to the structure and to transmit reflected optical radiation from the structure to the single mode optical fiber. The system further includes a beam divider dividing the optical radiation from the optical radiation source along the first optical path to the reflector and along the second optical path; and a detector positioned to receive reflected optical radiation from the reflector transmitted along the first optical path and reflected optical radiation transmitted from the structure along the second optical path. The detector generates a signal in response to the reflected optical radiation from the reference reflector and the reflected optical radiation from the structure, and a processor generating an image of the structure in response to the signal from the detector. The system provides both rotational and longitudinal scanning of an image.

Method and apparatus for performing optical measurements using a fiber optic imaging guidewire, catheter or endoscope

Ultra-small optical probes comprising a single-mode optical fiber and a lens which has substantially the same diameter as the optical fiber. The optical fiber and lens are positioned in a probe housing which is in the form of an insertional medical device such as a guidewire. Connector elements are provided to facilitate the attachment of the probe to an optical system and the quick disconnection of the probe from the optical system. The probe is used to obtain optical measurements in situ in the body of an organism and can be used to guide interventional procedures by a surgeon.

Ultra-small optical probes, imaging optics, and methods for using same

Since its introduction, optical coherence tomography OCT technology has advanced from the laboratory bench to the clinic and back again. Arising from the fields of low coherence inter- ferometry and optical time- and frequency-domain reflectometry, OCT was initially demonstrated for retinal imaging and followed a unique path to commercialization for clinical use. Concurrently, sig- nificant technological advances were brought about from within the research community, including improved laser sources, beam delivery instruments, and detection schemes. While many of these technolo- gies improved retinal imaging, they also allowed for the application of OCT to many new clinical areas. As a result, OCT has been clinically demonstrated in a diverse set of medical and surgical specialties, in- cluding gastroenterology, dermatology, cardiology, and oncology, among others. The lessons learned in the clinic are currently spurring a new set of advances in the laboratory that will again expand the clinical use of OCT by adding molecular sensitivity, improving image quality, and increasing acquisition speeds. This continuous cycle of laboratory development and clinical application has allowed the OCT technology to grow at a rapid rate and represents a unique model for the translation of biomedical optics to the patient bedside. This work presents a brief history of OCT development, reviews current clinical applications, discusses some clinical translation challenges, and re- views laboratory developments poised for future clinical application.

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Optical coherence tomography: a review of clinical development from bench to bedside

Retinal nerve fiber layer imaging with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography: a variability and diagnostic performance study.

Effects of Age on Optical Coherence Tomography Measurements of Healthy Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer, Macula, and Optic Nerve Head Citation

A Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:Al 2 O 3 oscillator, optimized for minimal coherence length, is demonstrated as a high-power source for high-resolution optical coherence tomographic imaging. Dispersion compensation and heterodyne noise rejection are demonstrated to yield in situ images of biological tissues with 3.7-μm resolution and 93-dB dynamic range.

High-resolution optical coherence tomographic imaging using a mode-locked Ti:Al2O3 laser source

A cam (100a) includes a cam disk (101a) having a center (108a) about which the cam disk rotates, an outline and peripheral scattering face (104a) for receiving radiation (117a) from a source and scattering the radiation as scattered radiation (124a). The cam (100a) includes a motor (150a) for rotating the cam disk, wherein the scattered radiation undergoes periodic delay variations determined by the outline of the cam disk. A measuring apparatus (10.1) which utilizes the cam (100a) includes a source (12) for outputting radiation with a short coherence length; a splitter (22) for splitting the radiation into reference radiation and measuring radiation; a radiation directing unit (34) which receives and directs the measuring radiation toward an object (28) and also collects a portion of the measuring radiation scattered off of the object. The cam (100a) receives the reference radiation and scatters a portion of the reference radiation as scattered reference radiation. The measuring apparatus (10.1) includes a detecting unit (42) which detects intensity resulting from part of the measuring radiation which coherently interferes with the scattered reference radiation to provide information about the object.

Rotating cam for optical systems

PART I: TECHNOLOGY AND INTERPRETATION Section 1: Methods and Techniques of OCT Angiography Examination * Principles of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography * Interpretation of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography * Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: Terminology * Techniques for Using OCT Angiography for Clinical Examination * Clinical Applications of OCT SSADA Angiography in Everyday Clinical Practice Section 2: OCT Angiography Examination of Structure and Histology * Retinal Normal Vascularization PART II: OCT ANGIOGRAPHY STUDY OF DISEASES AND DISORDERS Section 3: Anterior Segment OCT Angiography Examination * Corneal and Anterior Segment OCT Angiography Section 4: Retina OCT Angiography Examination: Age-related Macular Degenerations * OCT Angiography Examination of Choroidal Neovascular Membrane in Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration * OCT Angiography Examination of Choroidal Neovascular Membrane in Other Disorders * OCT Angiography Follow-up of Choroidal Neovascularization After Treatment * Non-Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration Section 5: Retina OCT Angiography Examination: Other Macular Diseases * OCT Angiography Findings in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy * OCT Angiography Examination of Type 2 Idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia * OCT Angiography of Vascular Occlusions * Diabetic Retinopathy * OCT Angiography in Diabetic Retinopathy * OCT Angiography Examination of Foveal Avascular Zone Section 6: Myopia and Pathologic Myopia * OCT Angiography Examination in High Myopia Section 7: Choroid * OCT Angiography Examination of Choroidal Nevi and Melanomas Section 8: Glaucoma and Optic Nerve * OCT Angiography Examination in Glaucoma PART III: FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS IN OCT ANGIOGRAPHY Section 9: Future Developments in OCT Angiography Examination * Ultrahigh Speed Swept Source Technology for OCT Angiography Index

Clinical OCT Angiography Atlas

Disclosed herein are vitrectomy probes configured for use with optical coherence tomography.

James G. Fujimoto

Papers

Effects of Age on Optical Coherence Tomography Measurements of Healthy Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer, Macula, and Optic Nerve Head Citation

High-resolution optical coherence tomographic imaging using a mode-locked Ti:Al2O3 laser source

Rotating cam for optical systems

Clinical OCT Angiography Atlas

Oct vitrectomy probe