Endoscopic double-pulse electronic-speckle-pattern interferometer for technical and medical intracavity inspection

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Traditional endoscopic examinations lack tactile feedback, limiting diagnostic precision.
• Interferometry offers high-sensitivity measurements but is challenging to miniaturize for endoscopic applications.
• Existing endoscopic imaging systems require further enhancement for detailed internal structural analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a compact endoscopic electronic-speckle-pattern interferometer (ESPI) system.
• To enable highly sensitive, real-time interferometric inspection within cavities.
• To explore applications in technical object examination and minimally invasive medical diagnostics.

Main Methods:

• Integration of optical fibers for laser beam delivery and an endoscopic imaging system.
• Utilizing a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) camera with a fast frame-grabber for dynamic image subtraction.
• Achieving high fringe contrast at a frequency rate of up to 25 Hz.

Main Results:

• Successful demonstration of the compact ESPI system for both technical and biological object analysis.
• Acquisition of high-contrast interferometric data in vitro and in vivo.
• Validation of the system's capability for dynamic, high-frequency measurements.

Conclusions:

• The developed endoscopic ESPI camera system provides a novel tool for sensitive intracavity inspection.
• This technology offers potential for "endoscopic taction," replacing tactile sensation with visual information in minimally invasive therapy.
• The system expands possibilities for handheld, high-resolution diagnostics in both industrial and medical fields.