High numerical aperture microendoscope objective for a fiber confocal reflectance microscope

Abstract

A disposable high numerical aperture microendoscope objective has been designed, fabricated, and tested for use with a fiber confocal reflectance microscope. The objective uses high precision LIGA fabricated components to integrate imaging components and hydraulic suction lines into a housing that measures only 3.85 mm in outer diameter and 14.65 mm in length. The hydraulics are used to translate tissue through the focal plane for three dimensional imaging. This device is diffraction limited for lambda = 850 nm, has a numerical aperture of 1.0, a field of view of 250 microm, and a working distance of 450 microm. The objective is intended for in vivo imaging of precancerous cells.