Tri-modal microscope for head and neck tissue identification.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical optics
• Surgical imaging technology
• Microscopy

Background:

• Accurate intraoperative identification of head and neck tissues is crucial during thyroid surgery.
• Existing imaging modalities may lack the specificity or speed for real-time tissue differentiation.
• Minimally invasive surgical techniques demand advanced imaging tools for enhanced visualization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel tri-modal microscope integrating OCT, SECM, and fluorescence imaging.
• To develop a tool for rapid, simultaneous, and co-registered imaging of tissues during thyroid surgery.
• To demonstrate the system's capability for identifying key cellular and structural features in head and neck tissues.

Main Methods:

• Development of a dual-wavelength polygon-based swept laser for synchronized multi-modal imaging.
• Integration of optical coherence tomography (OCT), spectrally encoded confocal microscopy (SECM), and fluorescence imaging.
• Design of a custom lens and a double-clad fiber coupler for miniaturization and increased throughput.

Main Results:

• Successful synchronized, co-registered, and simultaneous imaging using all three modalities.
• Demonstration of image quality and co-registration on excised swine head and neck tissue samples.
• Illustration of the complementary nature of OCT, SECM, and fluorescence for tissue feature identification.

Conclusions:

• The novel tri-modal microscope offers a promising solution for rapid intraoperative tissue identification in thyroid surgery.
• Simultaneous multi-modal imaging enhances the ability to discern critical cellular and structural characteristics.
• The system's design facilitates potential for miniaturization and improved surgical guidance.