Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) micro-endoscope technologies generate high-resolution 3-D images of structures inside and approximately one millimeter beneath the surface of tissue, blood vessels and lumens of hollow organs at very high speeds (approximately 80 frames per second).  OCT can be channeled through a hair’s width fiber needle of about .4 mm (4/10 of a mm) as a probe or can be used long-range.  Long range OCT forms 3-D images of human airways that reveal potentially dangerous breathing pathologies, such as sleep apnea.  Other fiber-based platforms are used to image the retina, oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, cartilage and other tissues.

OCT is often used in combination with ultrasound. While ultrasound can image deep within the body, it produces only indistinct images. On the other hand, OCT images clearly, but not deeply. Together, OCT and ultrasound can provide useful and effective optical and ultrasound images. For example, OCT and ultrasound can provide a unique and complementary contrast that can be used to detect and characterize dangerous plaques that build up in the artery wall.  This information can be used to accurately diagnosis heart disease and determine a patient’s risk of stroke.