Daisy-chained Endoscopic probe for multi-channel Optical Coherence Tomography (MC-OCT)

This research is the design of a multi-channel optical coherence tomography (OCT) device that will enable assessment of basic geometry and tracking of dynamic deformation of human lumen structures over the full length of the lumen. Compared to a conventional endoscopic OCT, which is limited to scanning at one end only, the proposed design consists of multiple imaging/sensing units, which are distributed along the full length of the endoscope/catheter to enable the simultaneous scanning of multiple distinct lumen points. A broadband source beam will be split into portions (sub-spectrums) for imaging at multiple locations based on wavelength-based beam splitting elements; which are placed at each of the longitudinally distributed imaging units. The same elements are used to redirect back-reflected light from lumen to the detection unit after an interference with the reference arm beam in the interferometer.