Fine optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging needles that can be integrated with a standard biopsy needle have been developed with a new optics design to improve the optical quality and mechanical robustness, where a fiber-optic lens (that is spliced to a single-mode fiber) and a microreflector are encased within a microglass tube. The design also minimizes the cylindrical lens effect induced by the glass tube and eases the needle assembly process. Real-time cross-sectional OCT imaging of various tissue samples were performed ex vivo using the miniature-imaging needle along with a 1300-nm swept-source OCT system. The preliminary results demonstrate the improved mechanical and optical performance and suggest the potential of the fine OCT needle for minimally invasive interstitial imaging and image-guided biopsy.

Keywords: Astigmatism; OCT needle; biopsy needle; interstitial imaging; optical coherence tomography (OCT).