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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
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Multimodal Imaging and Spectroscopy Fiber-bundle Microendoscopy Platform for Non-invasive, In Vivo Tissue Analysis
Published on: October 17, 2016
Sensor-integrated dual-clad fiber probe for OCT-guided retinal endolaser photocoagulation
Dongyue Wu1,2, Florian Lux1, Max Mai Tobon2
1University of Freiburg, Department of Microsystems Engineering, Freiburg, Germany.
Journal of Biomedical Optics
|July 16, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a novel smart endolaser probe integrating optical coherence tomography (OCT) for real-time feedback during retinal endolaser photocoagulation (REPC). The instrument enhances surgical precision and safety by enabling co-localized sensing of tissue response during laser delivery.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Surgical Technology
Background:
- Retinal endolaser photocoagulation (REPC) is a common vitreoretinal surgery.
- Current REPC lacks real-time intraoperative feedback on treatment efficacy.
- This limits surgical precision and can impact patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design, fabricate, and demonstrate a fiber-optic smart instrument for REPC.
- The instrument integrates optical coherence tomography (OCT) sensing with surgical laser delivery.
- The goal is to provide co-localized, real-time feedback on tissue alterations during REPC.
Main Methods:
- A dual-clad fiber delivered both surgical and OCT beams.
- A 3D nano-printed microlens optimized beam shaping within the intravitreal cavity.
- The 23G instrument-integrated OCT (iiOCT) probe's performance was characterized and validated ex vivo on porcine eyes.
Main Results:
- The iiOCT probe demonstrated adequate optical performance with a specific OCT spot size and surgical laser divergence.
- Stable power transmission was confirmed across repeated laser pulses.
- Ex vivo experiments successfully validated co-localized, concurrent laser delivery and OCT sensing of retinal tissue.
Conclusions:
- The miniaturized iiOCT endolaser probe successfully combines laser delivery and OCT sensing.
- This integrated instrument offers potential for intraoperative, quantitative assessment of REPC outcomes.
- It may enable feedback-driven, robotic photocoagulation, improving surgical safety and efficacy.
