RGB-color forward-viewing spectrally encoded endoscope using three orders of diffraction.

Spectrally encoded endoscopy (SEE) is an ultra-miniature endoscopy technology that encodes each spatial location on the sample with a different wavelength. One challenge in SEE is achieving color imaging with a small probe. We present a novel SEE probe that is capable of conducting real-time RGB imaging using three diffraction orders (6th order diffraction of the blue spectrum, 5th of green, and 4th of red). The probe was comprised of rotating 0.5 mm-diameter illumination optics inside a static, 1.2 mm-diameter flexible sheath with a rigid distal length of 5 mm containing detection fibers. A color chart, resolution target, and swine tissue were imaged. The device achieved 44k/59k/23k effective pixels per R/G/B channels over a 58° angular field and differentiated a wide gamut of colors.

High-Resolution, Wide-Field, Forward-Viewing Spectrally Encoded Endoscope.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Spectrally encoded endoscopy (SEE) is an optical imaging technology that uses spatial wavelength multiplexing to conduct endoscopy in miniature, small diameter probes. Contrary to the previous side-viewing SEE devices, forward-viewing SEE probes are advantageous as they provide a look ahead that facilitates navigation and surveillance. The objective of this work was to develop a miniature forward-viewing SEE probe with a wide field of view and a high spatial resolution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We designed and developed a forward-viewing SEE device with an overall total diameter of 1.27 mm, which consists of a monolithic illumination probe with a length of 3.87 mm and a diameter of 500 µm, 8 multimode detection fibers that were polished at a 17° angle, a rotational scanning mechanism, and a sheath. The SEE device was evaluated using a USAF resolution target and was used for preclinical imaging of a swine joint ex vivo. RESULTS: This design resulted in a high resolution probe (best spatial resolution of 20.3 µm), a wide total angular field of view of 100°, and an effective number of imaging elements of ~344,000 pixels. The SEE probe performance was compared to a commercial color chip-on-the-tip endoscope; while monochrome, results showed better spatial resolution and a wider field of view for the SEE device. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate the potential of this forward-viewing SEE probe for visualization and navigation in medical imaging applications. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Single-beam spectrally encoded color imaging.

We have developed, to the best of our knowledge, a new method of conducting spectrally encoded color imaging using a single light beam. In our method, a single broadband light beam was incident on a diffraction grating, where the overlapped third order of the red, fourth order of the green, and fifth order of the blue spectral bands were focused on a line illuminating tissue. This configuration enabled each point on the line to be illuminated by three distinctive wavelengths, corresponding to red, green, and blue. A custom grating was designed and fabricated to achieve high diffraction efficiencies for the wavelengths and diffraction orders used for color spectrally encoded imaging. A bench system was built to test the new spectrally encoded color imaging method. For a beam diameter of 174 µm, the bench system achieved 89,000 effective pixels over a 70° circular field. Spectrally encoded color images of excised swine tissue revealed blood vessels with a similar color appearance to those obtained via a conventional color camera. The results suggest that this single-beam spectrally encoded color method is feasible and can potentially simplify color spectrally encoded endoscopy probe designs.