Wavelength swept spectrally encoded confocal microscopy for biological and clinical applications

Spectrally encoded confocal microscopy (SECM) is a technique that facilitates the incorporation of confocal microscopy into small, portable clinical instruments. This would allow in vivo evaluation of cellular and sub-cellular features in a non-destructive, minimally invasive manner. Prior studies have demonstrated the potential of the techniques as well as highlighted the need for faster acquisition rates and higher sensitivity. In this thesis, new laser sources, optical fiber arrangements and probe designs are explored to ultimately evaluate SECM's relevance as a clinical tool. Clinical imaging at cellular scales requires imaging rates on the order of tens of frames per second to reduce motion artifacts from unavoidable patient movements. Rapid SECM imaging was achieved through the development of a novel wavelength swept laser which simultaneously provided high output power (> 10mrW), narrow linewidth (10GHz), broad wavelength tuning (80 nm centered at 1310 nm) and fast repetition rates (up to 16,000 Hz), while being compact and environmentally stable. Imaging with a wavelength swept SECM system was characterized by coupling the laser to a tabletop imaging arm comprising a high density holographic grating, a galvanometer mounted mirror and a 0.9 NA water immersion microscope objective.

Department dc:contributor.department

Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Boudoux, Caroline

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Brett E. Bouma.

• Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/38595
• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Identifier URI

http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/38595

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/38595