3D visualization of tissue microstructures using optical coherence tomography needle probes

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) needle probes use miniaturized focusing optics encased in a hypodermic needle. Needle probes can scan areas of the body that are too deep to be imaged by other OCT systems. This paper presents an OCT needle probe-based system that is capable of acquiring three-dimensional scans of tissue structures. The needle can be guided to a target area and scans acquired by rotating and pulling-back the probe. The system is demonstrated using ex vivo human lymph node and sheep lung samples. Multiplanar reconstructions are shown of both samples, as well as the first published 3D volume rendering of lung tissue acquired with an OCT needle probe