In vivo 3-D imaging of gastrointestinal tracts by use of an endoscopic swept source optical coherence tomography with a microelectromechanical endoscopic rotational probe

In vivo three dimensional endoscopic imaging of rabbit and human gastrointestinal tracts was demonstrated based on an endoscopic swept source optical coherence tomography (SSOCT) system. The endoscopic SSOCT system is composed of a high speed SSOCT, a fast scanning rotational microelectromechanical system (MEMS) probe and real time data acquisition and imaging processing. The 2.2 mm rotational MEMS probe was miniature enough to be able to fit into the 2.8 mm biopsy channel of a standard endoscope. The gastrointestinal tracts of patients were imaged together with normal endoscopic examination. The epithelial, mucosal, lamina propria, and submucosal layers can be clearly seen on the OCT images.