Flexible transbronchial optical frequency domain imaging smart needle for biopsy guidance

• Published in: Biomedical optics express Vol. 3; no. 8; pp. 1947 - 1954
• Main Authors: Tan, K M, Shishkov, M, Chee, A, Applegate, M B, Bouma, B E, Suter, M J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Optical Society of America 01.08.2012
• Subjects: Endoscopes, Catheters and Micro-Optics; (170.3880) Medical and biological imaging; (060.2350) Fiber optics imaging; (170.2150) Endoscopic imaging; (170.3890) Medical optics instrumentation; (170.4500) Optical coherence tomography; (170.4580) Optical diagnostics for medicine
• ISSN: 2156-7085; 2156-7085
• DOI: 10.1364/boe.3.001947

Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is a procedure routinely performed to diagnose peripheral pulmonary lesions. However, TBNA is associated with a low diagnostic yield due to inappropriate needle placement. We have developed a flexible transbronchial optical frequency domain imaging (TB-OFDI) catheter that functions as a "smart needle" to confirm the needle placement within the target lesion prior to biopsy. The TB-OFDI smart needle consists of a flexible and removable OFDI catheter (430 µm dia.) that operates within a standard 21-gauge TBNA needle. The OFDI imaging core is based on an angle polished ball lens design with a working distance of 160 µm from the catheter sheath and a spot size of 25 µm. To demonstrate the potential of the TB-OFDI smart needle for transbronchial imaging, an inflated excised swine lung was imaged through a standard bronchoscope. Cross-sectional and longitudinal OFDI results reveal the detailed network of alveoli in the lung parenchyma suggesting that the TB-OFDI smart needle may be a useful tool for guiding biopsy acquisition to increase the diagnostic yield.