Endoscopic optical coherence tomography based on a microelectromechanical mirror

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 mum, respectively. Cross-sectional images of 500 X 1000 pixels covering an area of 2.9 mm X 2.8 mm can be acquired at similar to5 frames/s and with nearly 100-dB dynamic range. Applications in thickness measurement and bladder tissue imaging are demonstrated. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America