Systems and methods for micro-optical coherence tomography imaging of the cochlea

A method for micro-optical coherence tomography imaging of a human cochlea in vivo, comprising:

• emitting, by a source coupled to a first optical waveguide, light into a proximal end of the first optical waveguide toward a distal end of the first optical waveguide that is coupled to an optical imaging probe inserted into the cochlea through the round window of the cochlea,
• the first optical waveguide comprising:
• at least a portion of the first optical waveguide comprising a single mode optical fiber and configured such that the light is transmitted disposed at the distal end of the first optical waveguide having an increased flexibility with respect to the proximal end of the first optical waveguide,
• the single mode optical fiber comprising a proximal end and a distal end and is tapered from a diameter of 125 μm at the proximal end to a diameter between 5 μm and 50 μm at the distal end, and
• a sheath surrounding at least the portion of the first optical waveguide, and the optical imaging probe comprising:
• a housing rotatably disposed within the sheath,
• an optical element disposed within the housing, the optical element comprising a reflective surface, the optical element being coaxially aligned with a central axis of a distal end of the first optical waveguide,
• the optical element being configured to rotate about the central axis and redirect light emitted by the first optical waveguide toward a circumference of the optical probe from the central axis,
• a second optical waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second optical waveguide being directly coupled to the distal end of the first optical waveguide,
• the second optical waveguide being configured to act as a mirror tunnel that causes light that is emitted from the distal end of the first optical waveguide and received at the proximal end of the second optical waveguide with a single propagation mode to be emitted from the distal end of the second optical waveguide with multiple propagation modes, and
• a spacer directly coupled to the distal end of the second optical waveguide,
• the optical probe comprising a rigid portion comprising the second optical waveguide and the spacer, and
• the rigid portion of the optical probe having a length of between 0.75 mm to 1.5 mm and being configured to insert into a portion of the human cochlea with a radius of curvature of between 2-6 mm
• causing, while rotating the housing within the sheath, the optical imaging probe to emit light received from the distal end of the first optical waveguide toward an interior of the cochlea;
• causing, while rotating the housing within the sheath, the optical imaging probe to receive reflected light from the cochlea and transmit the reflected light toward a proximal end of the first optical waveguide;
• receiving, using an optical coherence tomography system, the reflected light from the optical imaging probe;
• generating, using the optical coherence tomography system, a two dimensional image of a portion of the cochlea surrounding the optical probe based on the reflected light received from the optical imaging probe;
• and
• causing the two dimensional image of the portion of the cochlea surrounding the optical probe to be presented,
• the two dimensional image being indicative of a radial distance between an outer surface of the optical probe and a wall of the cochlea, and
• the two-dimensional image comprising information identifying micron-scale anatomical features.

An optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging tool, comprising:

• a first optical waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end,
• the first optical waveguide comprising a single mode fiber and configured to transmit light between the proximal end and the distal end of the first optical waveguide,
• the single mode fiber comprising a proximal end and a distal end and is tapered from a diameter of 125 μm at the proximal end to a diameter between 5 μm and 50 μm at the distal end,
• at least a portion of the first optical waveguide in which the light is transmitted disposed at the distal end of the first optical waveguide having an increased flexibility with respect to the proximal end of the first optical waveguide, and
• the first optical waveguide comprising an optical fiber,
• a proximal end of the optical fiber having a first diameter, and
• the optical fiber tapering to a distal section having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter such that the portion of the first optical waveguide comprises the distal section of the optical fiber having the second diameter;
• a sheath surrounding at least the portion of the first optical waveguide;
• and
• an optical probe coupled to the first optical waveguide, the optical probe comprising:
• a housing rotatably disposed within the sheath;
• an optical element disposed within the housing, the optical element comprising a reflective surface, the optical element being coaxially aligned with a central axis of the distal end of the first optical waveguide,
• the optical element further comprising a driveshaft coupled to the optical element and surrounding the first optical waveguide such that rotation of the driveshaft causes the first optical waveguide to rotate within the sheath,
• a lubricant being included around the driveshaft, and
• the optical element being configured to rotate about the central axis and redirect light emitted by the first optical waveguide toward a circumference of the optical probe from the central axis;
• a second optical waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second optical waveguide being directly coupled to the distal end of the first optical waveguide,
• the second optical waveguide being configured to act as a mirror tunnel that causes light that is emitted from the distal end of the first optical waveguide and received at the proximal end of the second optical waveguide with a single propagation mode to be emitted from the distal end of the second optical waveguide with multiple propagation modes;
• and
• a spacer directly coupled to the distal end of the second optical waveguide,
• the OCT imaging tool being configured to resolve micron-scale anatomical features,
• the optical probe comprising a rigid portion comprising the second optical waveguide and the spacer, and
• the rigid portion of the optical probe having a length of between 0.75 mm to 1.5 mm and being configured to insert into a structure with a radius of curvature of between 2-6 mm.