Endoscopic optical coherence tomography: technologies and clinical applications [Invited]

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is an emerging imaging modality.
• Endoscopic OCT integrates OCT with endoscopic procedures for in-situ visualization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the technological advancements in endoscopic OCT.
• To summarize the clinical applications of endoscopic OCT for disease diagnosis and intervention guidance.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on endoscopic OCT technology and clinical studies.
• Discussion of design considerations for OCT endoscopes (e.g., scanning mechanisms, probe types).
• Analysis of multi-modal endoscopic systems integrating OCT.

Main Results:

• Detailed overview of OCT endoscope design, including side-viewing and forward-viewing probes.
• Exploration of proximal-scanning versus distal-scanning mechanisms.
• Presentation of diverse clinical applications in cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems.

Conclusions:

• Endoscopic OCT is a rapidly developing field with significant potential in clinical diagnostics and interventions.
• Integration with other modalities enhances its diagnostic capabilities.
• Future outlook suggests continued advancements and broader clinical adoption.