This technology is a compact, high-resolution, depth-resolved probe for noninvasive in vivo imaging at the microscopic scale.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive, cross-sectional imaging method for biological tissue. One key trade-off in the OCT field is between lateral resolution and depth of focus: how clear the images are versus how deep they can be taken. A further constraint is that any optical tools used to enhance lateral resolution or depth of focus must be compact enough to fit on a fiber-optic probe. Therefore, there is a need for improved, compact OCT probes with both high spatial resolution and deep imaging capabilities.
This technology puts forward an optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe enhanced by a metasurface, which is a nanoscale flat optical element that manipulates light without the need for traditional lenses or filters. Combined with a needle beam, which is a narrow beam of light that remains focused over long distances, the enhanced probe can image deep into tissue with high resolution. Notably, the metasurface is the only physical optical component used to enhance the probe, whereas existing technologies use bulkier components, such as graded-index rods and microprisms.
This technology has been validated in USAF resolution targets, porcine cardiac tissue, and human breast tissue.
Patent Pending
IR CU26217
Licensing Contact: Dovina Qu
