Zhuo Wang, Tzu-Yu Wu, Mark Hamm, Alexander Altshuler, Anderson Mach, Donald Gilbody, Bin Wu, Santosh Ganesan, James Chung, Mitsuhiro Ikuta, Jacob Brauer, Seiji Takeuchi, Tokuyuki Honda
As one of the smallest endoscopes that have been demonstrated, the spectrally encoded endoscope (SEE) shows potential
for the use in minimally invasive surgeries. While the original SEE is designed for side-view applications, the forwardview
(FV) scope is more desired by physicians for many clinical applications because it provides a more natural
navigation. Several FV SEEs have been designed in the past, which involve either multiple optical elements or one
optical element with multiple optically active surfaces. Here we report a complete FV SEE which comprises a rotating
illumination probe within a drive cable, a sheath and a window to cover the optics, a customized spectrometer, hardware
controllers for both motor control and synchronization, and a software suite to capture, process and store images and
videos. In this solution, the optical axis is straight and the dispersion element, i.e. the grating, is designed such that the
slightly focused light after the focusing element will be dispersed by the grating, covering forward view angles with high
diffraction efficiencies. As such, the illumination probe is fabricated with a diameter of only 275 μm. The twodimensional
video-rate image acquisition is realized by rotating the illumination optics at 30 Hz. In one finished design,
the scope diameter including the window assembly is 1.2 mm.
Recent evidence suggests that ovarian cancer can originate in the fallopian tube. Unlike many other cancers, poor access to the ovary and fallopian tubes has limited the ability to study the progression of this deadly disease and to diagnosis it during the early stage when it is most amenable to therapy. A rigid confocal microlaparoscope system designed to image the epithelial surface of the ovary in vivo was previously reported. A new confocal microlaparoscope with an articulating distal tip has been developed to enable in vivo access to human fallopian tubes. The new microlaparoscope is compatible with 5-mm trocars and includes a 2.2-mm-diameter articulating distal tip consisting of a bare fiber bundle and an automated dye delivery system for fluorescence confocal imaging. This small articulating device should enable the confocal microlaparoscope to image early stage ovarian cancer arising inside the fallopian tube. Ex vivo images of animal tissue and human fallopian tube using the new articulating device are presented along with in vivo imaging results using the rigid confocal microlaparoscope system.
Ratiometric fluorescence-imaging technique is commonly used to measure extracellular pH in tumors and surrounding tissue within a dorsal skin-fold window chamber. Using a pH-sensitive fluorophore such as carboxy SNARF-1 one can measure pH distributions with high precision. However, it is often observed that the measured pH is lower than expected, with a bias that varies from one image to another. A comprehensive analysis of possible error sources is presented. These error sources include photon noise, estimator bias, instrument errors, temperature, and calibration errors from biological factors.
Recent evidence suggests that epithelial ovarian cancer may originate in the fimbriated end of the fallopian tube1. Unlike
many other cancers, poor access to the ovary and fallopian tubes has limited the ability to study the progression of this
deadly disease and to diagnosis it during the early stage when it is most amenable to therapy. We have previously
reported on a rigid confocal microlaparoscope system that is currently undergoing a clinical trial to image the epithelial
surface of the ovary2. In order to gain in vivo access to the fallopian tubes we have developed a new confocal
microlaparoscope with an articulating distal tip. The new instrument builds upon the technology developed for the
existing confocal microlaparoscope. It has an ergonomic handle fabricated by a rapid prototyping printer. While
maintaining compatibility with a 5 mm trocar, the articulating distal tip of the instrument consists of a 2.2 mm diameter
bare fiber bundle catheter with automated dye delivery for fluorescence imaging. This small and flexible catheter design
should enable the confocal microlaparoscope to image early stage ovarian cancer arising inside the fallopian tube. Early
ex vivo mages of human fallopian tube and in vivo imaging results from recent open surgeries using the rigid confocal
microlaparoscope system are presented. Ex vivo images from animal models using the new articulating bare fiber system
are also presented. These high quality images collected by the new flexible system are similar in quality to those
obtained from the epithelial surface of ovaries with the rigid clinical confocal microlaparoscope.
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