Endoscopic probe, system and method for optical coherence tomography and confocal endoscopy

摘要

An endoscopic probe for optical coherence tomography and confocal endoscopy according to the invention comprises an elongate optical fiber for transmitting a first illumination radiation for coherence tomography, which comprises a first wavelength range, and a second illumination radiation for the confocal endoscopy, which comprises a second wavelength range, from a proximal end surface (14) to a distal end surface (25) of the light guide, and a lens (17) for transmitting the first and the second illumination radiation from the distal end surface (25) of the light guide to an object area to be observed, in particular a tissue region (26) of a human or animal tissue, and for relaying an observation radiation emanating from the object area to the distal end face (25) of the light guide. The objective (17) comprises a wavelength-dependent aperture (27) which has a smaller aperture in the first wavelength range than in the second wavelength range. The optical waveguide is further designed for the transmission of the coupled observation radiation to the proximal end surface (14) of the optical waveguide. The light guide is formed as a single optical fiber and the distal end surface (25) of the optical fiber is movable transversely to the optical axis (29) of the objective (17). The invention also relates to a corresponding system and method for combined optical coherence tomography and confocal endoscopy for combined optical coherence tomography and confocal endoscopy.