Multimodality endoscopic optical coherence tomography and fluorescence imaging technology for visualization of layered architecture and subsurface microvasculature

Endoscopic imaging technologies, such as endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) and near-infrared fluorescence, have been used to investigate vascular and morphological changes as hallmarks of early cancer in the gastrointestinal tract. Here we developed a high-speed multimodality endoscopic OCT and fluorescence imaging system. Using this system, the architectural morphology and vasculature of the rectum wall were obtained simultaneously from a Sprague Dawley rat in vivo. This multimodality imaging strategy in a single imaging system permits the use of a single imaging probe, thereby improving prognosis by early detection and reducing costs.