Michelson Diagnostics has developed a probe suitable for imaging soft tissue for use with its VivoSight Multi-Beam optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging system. The probe enables in vivo imaging of oral and gynecological tissue.

The VivoSight Multi-Beam OCT system provides sub-surface cross-sectional images at a resolution that is higher than ultrasound, CT, or MRI, as well as deeper and wider than is possible with confocal microscopy. The Soft Tissue Probe provides real time, in vivo images at better than 7.5 µm lateral resolution. It is 9 cm long and provides both 2-D and 3-D images over a 5 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.

Ex vivo trials on excised oral tissue have shown that Multi-Beam OCT can visualize structures such as the epidermal / dermal junction and areas of cellular crowding characteristic of early stage tumors. Michelson’s clinical partners have reported achieving sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 81% for diagnosis of oral cancer, from a blinded assessment of OCT images of 125 excised oral lesions. The company expects that in vivo imaging will give even better results and could eliminate the need for a biopsy. The probe will also be suitable for imaging tumor margins prior to surgery.