Ultra-Miniature Multi-Modal Endoscopes

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究的主要目的是：1）构建能够同时进行漫白光反射成像和荧光成像的超微型内窥镜，2）证明这些仪器的独特科学和临床应用。超微型内窥镜的导管将基于现有的光纤束和GRIN透镜技术，但将需要沿中央成像通道的照明。一种新的NA共享光学设计结合偏振技术，抗反射涂层，光谱限制，和数据处理将被用来克服固有的问题，从照明下的光纤束产生的背景信号。该系统采用了一种新型的分光瞳概念，实现了高灵敏度的彩色图像和荧光图像的同时多模态采集。仪器的开发旨在实现多种科学和临床应用。一个重要的科学应用是成像巴雷特食管的小鼠模型的食管。在R21阶段，将开发仪器概念，将在小鼠食管中测量内源性漫反射和自体荧光对比度以优化系统设计，将研究使用外源性造影剂的图像对比度增强，并将使用仪器评估小鼠食管中的体内成像。假设达到里程碑，R33阶段将需要构建一个功能齐全的多模式成像仪器，包括具有必要功能的导管。将在小鼠食管中进行验证研究，以证明该仪器在该特定应用中的科学实用性和有效性。将使用离体人体组织标本和动物模型进行其他研究，以评价支气管和血管成像中拟议临床应用的可行性和有效性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The primary objectives of this research are: 1) to build ultra-miniature endoscopes with the capability for simultaneous diffuse white-light reflectance imaging and fluorescence imaging, and 2) to demonstrate unique scientific and clinical applications for these instruments. The catheter of the ultra-miniature endoscope will be based on existing fiber bundle and GRIN lens technology, but will require illumination down the central imaging channel. A novel NA-sharing optical design combined with polarization techniques, anti-reflection coatings, spectral confinement, and data processing will be used to overcome the inherent problem of background signal generated from illumination down the fiber bundle. A novel split-pupil concept will be employed in the system to achieve simultaneous multi-modal acquisition of color images and fluorescence images with high sensitivity. The development of the instrumentation is aimed at multiple scientific and clinical applications. One important scientific application is imaging the esophagus of a mouse model of Barrett's esophagus. During the R21 phase, the instrument concepts will be developed, endogenous diffuse reflectance and autofluorescence contrast will be measured in the mouse esophagus to optimize the system design, image contrast enhancement using exogenous contrast agents will be investigated, and the instrument will be used to evaluate in vivo imaging in mouse esophagus. Assuming the milestones are met, the R33 phase will entail building a fully functional multi-modal imaging instrument including catheters with the necessary functionality. A validation study will be carried out in mouse esophagus to demonstrate the scientific utility and efficacy of the instrument for this particular application. Additional studies will be carried with ex-vivo human tissue specimens and animal models to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of the proposed clinical applications in bronchial and vascular imaging.