GDC lensless endoscope - In vivo imaging system with a cellular scale for a preclinical diagnostic

CONTEXT

Modern endoscopy requires solutions for acquiring images at the proximal end of endoscopes while limiting the space requirement at the distal end. Lens less endoscopes can meet these new needs. In these systems, the light beam is focused by modifying the wave front. No lens is required at the distal end allowing the miniaturization of the endoscope. However, these systems do not allow nonlinear imaging with:

•A three-dimensional spatial resolution allowing optical sectioning
•A near-infrared laser, that penetrates deeper into a scattering medium such as biological tissue, opening the possibility of an in vivo imaging of biological tissues.

HOW IT WORKS

In this system, laser pulse excitations are out of sync at the input of a single-mode fiber bundle to pre-compensate for the group velocity distortions they will experience during their crossing through the bundle. At the exit of the fiber bundle, the plane wavefront allows focusing of the light beam on different sample plans to a depth of more than 100 microns.

DEVELOPMENT STATUS

Pre-industrial prototype available

APPLICATIONS

•Small animal in vivo imaging
•Clinical: gastro-enterology, neurology, neurology, …
•Remote exploration of risky areas