Wireless fluorescence capsule for endoscopy using single photon-based detection.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Imaging
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Fluorescence Imaging (FI) is crucial in biology and medicine but limited by expensive, bulky, and power-hungry equipment.
• Current FI devices restrict applications to laboratory and hospital settings.
• There is a need for portable, low-power FI solutions for broader clinical use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a miniaturized, wireless fluorescence endoscope capsule with low power consumption.
• To enhance sensitivity and enable in-vivo and in-vitro fluorescence imaging.
• To provide a portable alternative to existing fiber-optic endoscopes.

Main Methods:

• Incorporated a complementary metal oxide semiconductor single photon avalanche detector imaging array.
• Integrated miniaturized optical isolation, wireless technology, and a low-power design.
• Utilized 468 nm illumination and demonstrated imaging of fluorescence phantoms and labeled tissues.

Main Results:

• The capsule operates at low power consumption (30.9 mW).
• Achieved enhanced sensitivity for imaging tissue autofluorescence and targeted fluorescence.
• Successfully imaged fluorescence phantoms with flavins and hemoglobin, and FITC-labeled tissue.

Conclusions:

• The developed capsule offers a significant advancement in portable fluorescence imaging.
• It has the potential to replace power-hungry fiber-optic endoscopes.
• This technology could extend clinical examinations beyond the duodenum and enable new FI applications.