Low cost and high performance MEMS-VCSEL technology for next generation swept source optical coherence tomography and microscopy

该提案旨在开发新一代高速、低成本的微电子机械系统 多MHz光学相干层析成像用垂直腔面发射激光器(MEMS-VCSEL) 轴向扫描速率。拟议的努力涉及Praevium Research与以下领域的专业知识之间的合作 MEMS--VCSEL开发，以及OCT系统的领导者麻省理工学院(MIT) 集成和OCT成像。这些超高速成像系统能够在体内实现新的基础和 临床成像应用，比以前更大的视场和更精细的分辨率。多个- 在癌症研究中，MHZ操作对于推进OCT尤其关键，这需要对大型 微结构的体积成像以及用于血管造影成像(OCTA)和光学相干的密集采样 显微镜(OCM)。拟议的低成本激光器将使这些高性能技术得到广泛应用 基础和临床癌症研究社区。 Praevium Research将专注于开发新型高速、低成本的MEMS--VCSEL扫描激光器 消息来源。MEMS--VCSEL最近已成为OCT的近乎理想的激光器。这些设备提供了一种独特的 宽调谐范围、高调谐速度和可变调谐速度的组合，支持动态单模操作 米级成像范围和低成本的潜力，通过单片晶片规模的制造和 测试。拟议的工作旨在将MEMS-VCSEL技术推向2-5 MHz的单片轴向扫描速率 设计，采用多种致动器设计和封装方法，以优化激光速度、调谐范围和 扫描线性度。这些努力将显著降低制造成本，提供第一批可扩展的、 商用的多MHz OCT扫频源，使速度比现有的提高10倍-40倍 商用OCT仪器的成本仅为当前扫频震源技术的一小部分。 麻省理工学院将把新光源与最先进的数据采集和处理以及新的 内窥镜探头技术用于演示胃肠道病变患者的活体成像。新的 超高速OCT系统设计，包括激光扫描多路复用和线性化，以及低延迟OCT 加工和展示，将考察其性能和可行性。系绳微电机探头 将开发用于紧凑和高精度光学成像的压电式扫描器。麻省理工学院将 在研究系统的同时，演示这些技术在临床前研究中的内窥镜应用 用于优化性能的参数和设计，以建立潜在客户的工作流程和成像协议 未来的临床应用。在与波士顿退伍军人事务医疗中心的现有合作中，麻省理工学院将 进一步展示了对上消化道和下胃肠道病变患者的研究，评估 能够广泛覆盖粘膜结构和血管系统，以及细胞形态。这些努力 将推动许多其他内窥镜、腹腔镜或外科应用的发展。

This proposal aims to develop a new generation of high-­speed, low-­cost, microelectromechanical systems vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (MEMS-­VCSELs) for optical coherence tomography (OCT) at multi-­MHz axial scan rates. The proposed effort involves a collaboration between Praevium Research, with expertise in MEMS-­VCSEL development, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a leader in OCT system integration and OCT imaging. These ultrahigh speed imaging systems enable new in vivo fundamental and clinical imaging applications, at larger fields of view and finer resolutions than were previously possible. Multi-­ MHz operation is particularly critical for advancing OCT in cancer studies, which require high speed for large volume imaging of microstructure, and dense sampling for angiographic imaging (OCTA) and optical coherence microscopy (OCM). The proposed low-­cost laser will make these high performance technologies widely available to the fundamental and clinical cancer research communities. Praevium Research will focus on the development of the new high-­speed, low-­cost MEMS-­VCSEL swept laser source. MEMS-­VCSELs have recently emerged as a near ideal laser for OCT. These devices offer a unique combination of wide tuning range, high and variable tuning speed, dynamic single mode operation enabling meter-­scale imaging range, and the potential for low-­cost, enabled by monolithic wafer-­scale fabrication and testing. The proposed work seeks to push MEMS-­VCSEL technology to 2-­5MHz axial scan rates in a monolithic design, with multiple approaches to actuator design and packaging to optimize laser speeds, tuning range, and sweep linearity. These efforts will significantly reduce manufacturing cost, providing the first volume-­scalable, commercially available swept source for multi-­MHz OCT, to enable a 10x-­40x speed improvement over existing commercial OCT instruments at a fraction of the cost of current swept source technologies. MIT will integrate the new light source with state of the art data acquisition and processing and with new endoscopic probe technology to demonstrate in vivo imaging in patients with gastrointestinal pathologies. New ultrahigh speed OCT system designs involving laser sweep multiplexing and linearization, and low latency OCT processing and display, will be investigated for performance and feasibility. Micromotor probes, tethered capsules, and piezoelectric scanners will be developed for compact and high-­precision optical imaging. MIT will demonstrate endoscopic applications of these technologies in pre-­clinical studies, while investigating system parameters and designs for optimized performance to establish workflow and imaging protocols for potential future clinical applications. In an existing collaboration with the Boston Veterans Affairs Medical Center, MIT will further demonstrate studies in patients with upper and lower gastrointestinal tract pathologies, assessing capabilities for wide field coverage of mucosal structure and vasculature, and cellular morphology. These efforts will motivate development in many other endoscopic, laparoscopic, or surgical applications.