This technology presents a new class of microsurgical instruments incorporating common path optical coherence tomography (CPOCT) capabilities. These instruments may be used freehand or with robotic assistance. An example prototype uses 25-gauge microsurgical pick incorporating a single 125 um diameter optical fiber interfaced to a Fourier Domain CP-OCT system developed at Johns Hopkins University. The device provides end point sensing at the surgical site allowing for real time feedback of tool location and tissue characteristics to the surgeon via a visual display, tactile display, robotic assistance or auditory feedback. This information can be used with a robotic assistant in a number of ways, following three capabilities have been shown on simple phantom models simulating vitroretinal surgery:
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The C10900 Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) instrument derives its novelty from its ability to perform simultaneous imaging and surgical intervention functionality integrated into a single instrument. Registration of the surgical instrument to OCT is simplified by the fact that the surgical part of the instrument is visible in the OCT field of view. Typical OCT systems work with probes that are situated outside (and not in contact with) the sample being scanned. The C10900 technology can be utilized with either freehand surgical instruments or actuated devices. Furthermore, multiple imaging probes can be integrated into the instrument for increased imaging volume, multiple imaging directions, increased resolution, or to provide other types of imaging for simultaneous multimodal imaging functionality.
