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Defending Against Biological Terrorism

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Piezoelectric Scanning Mirrors for Optical Coherence Tomogra...

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Piezoelectric Scanning Mirrors for Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract: A novel scanning mirror design for endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) will be presented. OCT is a noninvasive interferometric imaging technique with micrometer-size spatial resolution and mm-range penetration capability in tissue. Endoscopic OCT, performed by delivering the light beam through a catheter placed in an endoscope, provides the potential for sub-surface imaging in situ, potentially forming the basis for a new type of “optical biopsy.” The scanner, based on two piezoelectric MEMS mirrors, was designed to provide wide-range, rapid, forward-looking scanning of the optical beam at the distal end of a compact catheter. A forward-looking OCT probe enhances the ability to image mucosa of large or hollow organs such as stomach, colon, and bladder.

The design and fabrication of the mirror devices will be discussed with particular attention to the unique challenges in fabricating a relatively large mirror (0.8 mm x 1.6 mm) that is supported and actuated by a cantilever less that 2 mm thick. The optical quality and electromechanical performance of the completed devices will be presented followed by preliminary results on the assembly of the mirrors into a catheter.

Bio: Kristin H. Gilchrist, Ph.D. is a research scientist with the Center for Materials and Electronic Technologies at RTI International. She received her B.E. in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering from Vanderbilt University in 1997. She received her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1999 and 2003, respectively. Her Ph.D. thesis focused on cell-based biosensors utilizing cardiac cells cultured on microelectrode arrays. Her technical expertise includes the integration of living cells and electronic systems. Her current research focus is in the development of novel microfabricated devices for chemical sensing and biomedical diagnostics.

If you need any more information please contact Prof. Leda Lunardi (leda_lunardi@ncsu.edu). Sponsored by IEEE Photonics Society.