title: Fiber-optic confocal reflectance microscope with miniature objective for in vivo imaging of human tissues.
abstract: We have built a fiber-optic confocal reflectance microscope capable of imaging human tissues in near real time. Miniaturization of the objective lens and the mechanical components for positioning and axially scanning the objective enables the device to be used in inner organs of the human body. The lateral resolution is 2 micrometers and axial resolution is 10 micrometers. Confocal images of fixed tissue biopsies and the human lip in vivo have been obtained at 15 frames/s without any fluorescent stains. Both cell morphology and tissue architecture can be appreciated from images obtained with this microscope.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Kung-Bin
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Descour
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Follen
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Richards-Kortum
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D007909:Lenses; D008046:Lip / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008857:Microscopy, Interference / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008863:Microspheres; D008904:Miniaturization; D055100:Optical Fibers; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011137:Polystyrenes