3D Spectroscopic Endoscope for Tumor Diagnostics

We will design a 3-dimensional spectroscopic endoscope, capable of obtaining the 3-D surfaceprofile h(x,y) of a tumor as well as its spectroscopic image I-O(x,y,lambda), with high spectral resolution,in vivo and in real time. The technique takes advantage of the high dispersion property of diffractiveelements, the high-speed wavelength tuning capability of an acousto-optic tunable filter, and advanceddigital 3-D filtering techniques. To take a set of 3-D tumor-surface images with various focal planes,the diffractive lens varies its focal length according to the changing illumination wavelength. The 3-Dsurface profile and the deblurred spectroscopic images can be reconstructed by 3-D digital filteringalgorithms. Because no mechanical movement is required, the data acquisition time is short (a few tenthsof a second). The data processing is implemented by specially designed hardware which allows doctorsto see the 3-D profile of tumors in vivo. This novel 3-D spectroscopic endoscope will greatly enhancethe diagnostic contribution of endoscope use through the availability of 3-D and spectroscopicinformation. The imaging tip, which uses a diffractive lens, is low-cost and disposable.