Work

Speckle-free, near-infrared portable confocal microscope

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: We have developed a portable confocal microscope (PCM) that uses an inexpensive near-infrared LED as the light source. Use of the spatially incoherent light source significantly reduced the speckle contrast. The PCM device was manufactured at the material cost of approximately $ 5000 and weighed only 1 kg. Lateral and axial resolutions were measured as 1.6 and 6.0 µm, respectively. Preliminary in vivo skin imaging experiment results showed that the PCM device could visualize characteristic cellular features of human skin extending from the stratum corneum to the superficial dermis. Dynamic imaging of blood flow in vivo was also demonstrated. The capability to visualize cellular features up to the superficial dermis is expected to facilitate evaluation and clinical adoption of this low-cost diagnostic imaging tool.

Source: Applied Optics

DOI: 10.1364/ao.392004

Authors: Cheng Gong, Delaney B. Stratton, Clara N. Curiel-Lewandrowski, Dongkyun Kang

Institutions: University of Arizona, Banner - University Medical Center Tucson, University of Arizona Cancer Center

Language: English

Topic: Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques

Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Cancer Institute, Fogarty International Center

Awards: Smartphone confocal microscopy for diagnosing Kaposi’s sarcoma, Targeted Prevention for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer