Tissue imaging and image guidance in luminal anatomic structures and body cavities

A multi-view imaging probe having an axis, a side surface, proximal and distal ends, and a transparent cap disposed across the axis at the distal end, the imaging probe comprising:

• an optical channel element inside the probe supporting optical communication between the proximal and distal ends;
• a beamsplitting element appended to the optical channel at the distal end to redirect a first portion of light delivered along the optical channel to the distal end transversely with respect to the axis through the side surface while transmitting a second portion of said light along the axis, the beamsplitting element being rotatable about the axis;
• and
• a light redirecting system immovably disposed with respect to the distal end inside the imaging probe and including one or more optical elements juxtaposed to one another
• to transmit the second portion through the transparent cap along a direction inclined with respect to the axis such as to reduce the spatial angle associated with the second portion in a first direction and in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, wherein the reduction of said spatial angle in the second direction is larger than the reduction of said spatial angle in the first direction,
• wherein the imaging probe is operable to deliver light, received in reflection of at least one of the first and second portions of light from an imaging target, from the distal end to the proximal end.

A method for collecting optical information with the use of a multi-view imaging probe having an axis, a side surface, proximal and distal ends, and a transparent cap disposed across the axis at the distal end, the method comprising:

• redirecting a first portion of light, delivered by an optical channel element inside the probe from the proximal end to a beamsplitting element located at the distal end, along a first direction transversely with respect to the axis through the side surface while transmitting a second portion of said light along the axis, to form a redirected first portion of light;
• transmitting the second portion of light through a light redirecting system that is immovably disposed with respect to the distal end inside the imaging probe and further through the transparent cap along a second direction inclined with respect to the axis, to form a transmitted second portion of light;
• repositioning the distal end with respect to a target to receive, by the optical channel element, (i) first portion of reflected light returned to the probe by the target in response to the redirected first portion of light;
• and (ii) second portion of reflected light returned to the probe by the target in response to the transmitted second portion of light;
• and
• determining a position of the distal end with respect to the target based at least on cross-correlation between first data corresponding to the first portion of reflected light and second data corresponding to the second portion of reflected light.