Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography Utilizing a Miniature Piezoelectric-Driven Probe

In this study, we developed a miniature optical scanning probe with an integrated piezoelectric-driven fiber optic slip ring (FOSR) to facilitate smooth navigation and precise imaging within tortuous vessels. The FOSR features a coil spring-wrapped optical lens serving as a rotor, enabling efficient 360° optical scanning. The structurally-and-functionally-integrated design significantly streamlines the probe (with a diameter of 0.85 mm and a length of 7 mm) while maintaining an excellent rotational speed of 10,000 rpm. High-precision 3D printing technology ensures accurate optical alignment of the fiber and lens inside the FOSR, with a maximum insertion loss variation of 2.67 dB during probe rotation. Finally, a vascular model demonstrated smooth probe insertion into the carotid artery, and imaging of oak leaf, metal rod phantoms, and ex vivo porcine vessels verified its capabilities for precise optical scanning, comprehensive 360° imaging, and artifact elimination. The FOSR probe exhibits small size, rapid rotation, and optical precision scanning, rendering it exceptionally promising for cutting-edge intravascular optical imaging techniques.
Source: IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering - Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research