Diagnostic fiber-based optical imaging catheters

Abstract

Fiber optics miniaturization and advances in signal acquisitionand processing have allowed the development of fiber-basedoptical imaging catheters that permit instantaneous luminalorgan imaging. This technique is applicable in clinicalsettings for diagnosing various diseases. Intravascular opticalcoherence tomography (IV-OCT), a catheter-based opticalimaging technique, acquires high-resolution cross-sectionalhuman coronary arterial wall imaging, enabling preciseassessment of coronary atherosclerosis. OCT with a ballooncenteringcatheter or a tethered capsule acquires comprehensivethree-dimensional images of the distal esophagus fordiagnostic imaging in patients with esophageal diseases,including Barrett’s esophagus. Spectrally encoded confocalmicroscopy (SECM), an advanced type of confocal microscopythat uses diffraction grating and a broadband laser source tolaterally scan the sample without mechanical motion, hasbeen developed as a tethered confocal endomicroscopycapsule to diagnose and monitor eosinophilic esophagitis, anallergic condition in the esophageal wall. In this review, theauthors describe the recent development of fiber-basedimaging catheters with rotary scanning for diagnosing variousdiseases in luminal organs, including the coronary artery andesophagus. Further developments, including miniaturizationof optics, increased speed, and multimodal acquisition, couldsignificantly improve diagnostic capability to improve patientcare.