Soft tissue probe for in vivo
Soft tissue probe for in vivo
The VivoSight Multi-Beam optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging system from Michelson Diagnostics can now be used with a probe developed especially for imaging soft tissue that allows in vivo imaging of oral and gynecological tissue. The OCT system provides sub-surface cross-sectional images at a far higher resolution than is possible with ultrasound, CT or MRI, and much deeper and wider than is possible with confocal microscopy. The new soft tissue probe provides the same unprecedented imaging quality as the existing topical probe, giving real-time, in vivo images at better than 7.5 µm lateral resolution. The probe is 9 cm long and provides both 2D and 3D images over a 5 mm x 5 mm area. For sterile applications, the probe is used with a disposable transparent sheath which covers the probe, handle and upper connecting cable. Several studies suggest that the new probe should be particularly useful to clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of oral and cervical cancers. For example, ex vivo trials on excised oral tissue have already shown that the system can visualise structures such as the epidermal/dermal junction and areas of cellular crowding that are characteristic of early stage tumors. A blinded assessment of OCT images of 125 excised oral lesions showed that a sensitivity of 80 per cent and specificity of 81 per cent could be obtained in the diagnosis of oral cancer. It is expected that in vivo imaging will give even better results and could even eliminate the need for a biopsy.
Michelson Diagnostics
Orpington, Kent, UK
Michelson Diagnostics
