Chromatic confocal microscopy for multi-depth imaging of epithelial tissue

• DOI: 10.1364/boe.4.000732
• Publication Date: 2013-04-16T13:12:53Z
• Authors: Cory Olsovsky; Ryan Shelton; Oscar Carrasco-Ze...; Brian E. Applegate; Kristen C. Maitland
• Keywords: Chromatic aberration; Supercontinuum

We present a novel chromatic confocal microscope capable of volumetric reflectance imaging microstructure in non-transparent tissue. Our design takes advantage the aberration aspheric lenses that are otherwise well corrected. Strong aberration, generated by multiple aspheres, longitudinally disperses supercontinuum light onto sample. The backscattered detected with spectrometer is therefore wavelength encoded and each spectrum corresponds to line image. This approach obviates need for traditional axial mechanical scanning techniques difficult implement endoscopy susceptible motion artifact. A range 590-775 nm yielded >150 µm depth ~3 resolution. system was further demonstrated capturing images buccal mucosa. believe these represent first microstructural biological tissue using microscopy exhibit long while maintaining acceptable resolution resolving cell morphology. Miniaturization this optical could bring enhanced speed accuracy endomicroscopic vivo epithelial