Dual-modality endomicroscopy with co-registered fluorescence and phase contrast

Area of Science:

• Biomedical optics
• Microscopy
• Medical imaging

Background:

• Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) provides fluorescence contrast for cellular imaging.
• Scanning oblique back-scattering microscopy (sOBM) offers label-free phase-gradient contrast.
• Current endomicroscopy techniques may benefit from complementary contrast mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a dual-modality laser scanning endomicroscope.
• To integrate CLE and sOBM for simultaneous, co-registered imaging.
• To evaluate the combined system's capability in visualizing tissue structures.

Main Methods:

• A 2.6mm-diameter micro-objective was coupled to a 30,000-core flexible fiber bundle.
• The system integrates confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) for fluorescence contrast.
• Simultaneous phase-gradient contrast was achieved using scanning oblique back-scattering microscopy (sOBM).

Main Results:

• The dual-modality endomicroscope successfully provided simultaneous fluorescence and phase-gradient contrast.
• The contrasts were inherently co-registered, enabling complementary visualization.
• Proof-of-principle demonstrations were performed on ex-vivo mouse colon tissue.

Conclusions:

• The developed dual-modality endomicroscope offers a novel approach for enhanced tissue visualization.
• Simultaneous CLE and sOBM provide complementary information on both labeled and unlabeled structures.
• This technology holds potential for improved diagnostic capabilities in endoscopic procedures.