Forward-imaging optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems and probes

1. An OCT imaging probe comprising: (a) a scanning reflector surface configured to be rotated about two axes in a single operating plane to direct light transmitted along an OCT sample path to a sample to be imaged, and (b) a tunable lens assembly operatively positioned in an OCT sample path between a scanning reflector surface and the sample, wherein the tunable lens comprises a deformable base material doped or coated with a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles.

2. A forward-imaging optical coherence tomography (OCT) system, comprising:

a reference path and a sample path, the sample path comprising a scanning reflector surface configured to be rotated about two axes in a single operating plane to direct light transmitted along the sample path to a sample to be imaged, wherein the scanning reflector surface is suspended within a frame by at least two torsion springs and at least two inner rotor combs for inner axis rotation, the inner rotor combs disposed along opposite sides of the scanning reflector surface such that the lengths of the inner rotor combs are parallel to the at least two torsion springs, and at least two gimbals aligned in the orthogonal direction of the at least two torsion springs to mount the frame within a bond pad, and at least two staggered vertical comb drive actuators for outer axis rotation of the frame; and

a lens assembly, wherein the lens assembly comprises at least one of (a) a graded index (GRIN) lens, (b) a Steinheil triplet lens, and (c) a lens with a filed curvature that is less than about one wavelength of the light passing through the lens assembly, and

wherein the lens assembly comprises a tunable lens comprising at least one of (a) an elastically deformable base material doped or coated with a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles and (b) a plurality of magnetic particles operatively positioned about the peripheral rim of the lens.

3. The OCT system of claim 2 , wherein the scanning reflector surface has a reflectivity of about 30% or greater.

4. The OCT system of claim 3 , wherein the scanning reflector surface has a reflectivity selected from about 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% and greater.

5. The OCT system of claim 2 , wherein the scanning reflector surface comprises silicon coated with one or more layers of a metallic or dielectric material.

6. The OCT system of claim 2 , wherein rotating the scanning reflector surface about the two axes in a single operating plane causes interrogation of the sample in an arbitrary raster pattern by light transmitted along the sample path.

7. A forward-imaging optical coherence tomography (OCT) system according to claim 2 , further comprising: a light source; a light splitter in operative communication with the light source and configured to split light from the light source for transmission along said reference path and said sample path, wherein the reference path comprises a reference reflector surface; and a processing system in operative communication with the reference and sample paths for processing light energy reflected from the reference reflector and sample to produce an OCT image of the sample.

8. The OCT system of claim 7 , wherein the light source is a spectrally swept light source or swept light source.

9. The OCT system of claim 2 , wherein the lens assembly and the scanning reflector surface are operatively positioned within a probe sized for insertion into the subject through an endoscopic port or opening.

10. The OCT system of claim 2 , wherein the deformable base material is selected from the group consisting of a fluid, liquid, gel, and gas.

11. The OCT system of claim 10 , wherein the nanoparticles are configured for magnetization by an applied magnetic field.

12. An OCT imaging probe comprising: (a) a scanning reflector surface configured to be rotated about two axes in a single operating plane to direct light transmitted along an OCT sample path to a sample to be imaged, the scanning reflector surface is suspended within a frame by at least two torsion springs and at least two inner rotor combs for inner axis rotation, the inner rotor combs disposed along opposite sides of the scanning reflector surface such that the lengths of the inner rotor combs are parallel to the at least two torsion springs, and at least two gimbals aligned in the orthogonal direction of the at least two torsion springs to mount the frame within a bond pad, and at least two staggered vertical comb drive actuators for outer axis rotation of the frame, and (b) a tunable lens assembly operatively positioned in an OCT sample path between a scanning reflector surface and the sample, wherein the tunable lens comprises at least one of (1) a deformable base material doped or coated with a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles and (2) a plurality of magnetic particles operatively positioned about the peripheral rim of the lens.

13. The OCT probe of claim 12 , wherein the scanning reflector surface is a vertical comb-drive microscanner.

14. The OCT probe of claim 12 , wherein the scanning reflector surface has a reflectivity of about 30% or greater.

15. The OCT probe of claim 12 , wherein the deformable base material is selected from the group consisting of a fluid, liquid, gel, and gas.