Handheld imaging probe
A handheld imaging probe for performing optical coherence tomography is disclosed. The handheld imaging probe includes a lens tube and a housing. The lens tube contains an objective lens and a polycarbonate sheet. The polycarbonate sheet provides a bio-safe contact with a tissue sample to be examined. The housing, which is connected to the lens tube, contains a micromirror for directing a laser beam to irradiate the tissue sample via the objective lens and the polycarbonate sheet.
1. A handheld imaging probe comprising:
a lens tube containing an objective lens and a polycarbonate sheet for providing bio-safe contact with a tissue sample to be examined; and
a housing connected to said lens tube, wherein said housing contains a micromirror for directing a laser beam to irradiate a tissue sample via said objective lens and said polycarbonate sheet.
2. The probe of claim 1 , wherein said lens tube is made of stainless steel.
3. The probe of claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a pico-motor for providing z-directional focus tuning of said micromirror.
4. The probe of claim 1 , wherein said micromirror further supplies mosaic imaging to provide a large field of view for said probe.
5. The probe of claim 1 , wherein said micromirror includes a rotatable mirror.
6. The probe of claim 5 , wherein said micromirror is made of a semiconductor chip.
7. The probe of claim 5 , wherein a diameter of said rotatable mirror is approximately 1,024 μm.
8. The probe of claim 5 , wherein said rotatable mirror is capable of being rotated along two different axes.
9. The probe of claim 5 , wherein a rotation of said rotatable minor is controlled by two set of combdrive actuators.
10. The probe of claim 5 , wherein optical scan angles of 22° and 12° on an inner and outer axes of said rotatable mirror are achieved for frequency values around 2.81 kHz and 670 Hz on said inner and outer rotation axes, respectively.