title: Molecular imaging needles: dual-modality optical coherence tomography and fluorescence imaging of labeled antibodies deep in tissue.
abstract: Molecular imaging using optical techniques provides insight into disease at the cellular level. In this paper, we report on a novel dual-modality probe capable of performing molecular imaging by combining simultaneous three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (OCT) and two-dimensional fluorescence imaging in a hypodermic needle. The probe, referred to as a molecular imaging (MI) needle, may be inserted tens of millimeters into tissue. The MI needle utilizes double-clad fiber to carry both imaging modalities, and is interfaced to a 1310-nm OCT system and a fluorescence imaging subsystem using an asymmetrical double-clad fiber coupler customized to achieve high fluorescence collection efficiency. We present, to the best of our knowledge, the first dual-modality OCT and fluorescence needle probe with sufficient sensitivity to image fluorescently labeled antibodies. Such probes enable high-resolution molecular imaging deep within tissue.
authors.affiliation: Optical + Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, School of Electrical, Electronic, & Computer Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scolaro
authors.affiliation: Optical + Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, School of Electrical, Electronic, & Computer Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lorenser
authors.affiliation: Centre d'optique, photonique et lasers, Department of Engineering Physics, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal (QC), Canada.
authors.forename: Wendy-Julie
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Madore
authors.affiliation: Optical + Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, School of Electrical, Electronic, & Computer Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
authors.forename: Rodney W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.affiliation: Centre for Medical Research, The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and School of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.affiliation: Centre for Medical Research, The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and School of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Yeoh
authors.affiliation: Centre d'optique, photonique et lasers, Department of Engineering Physics, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal (QC), Canada.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Godbout
authors.affiliation: Optical + Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, School of Electrical, Electronic, & Computer Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia ; Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation & Analysis, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.affiliation: Centre d'optique, photonique et lasers, Department of Engineering Physics, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal (QC), Canada.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boudoux
authors.affiliation: Optical + Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, School of Electrical, Electronic, & Computer Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
keywords: (110.2350) Fiber optics imaging; (170.0180) Microscopy; (170.2520) Fluorescence microscopy; (170.4500) Optical coherence tomography