Forward-cone-imaging OCT needle probe

We propose a novel forward-imaging OCT needle probe. The probe is based on the use of two angled GRIN lenses that can freely rotate with respect to each other. The probe is capable of scanning a forward cone volume ahead of the probe tip. Different scanning modes, such as the conventional OCT B-scan mode, spiral mode and starburst B-scan mode, can be obtained by adjusting the angular scan velocities of the two GRIN lenses. We develop a prototype probe and demonstrate its capability to acquire OCT images. In this paper we give the characteristics of the prototype probe and display images of different part of tadpole acquired by the probe. The longitudinal resolution, lateral resolution and the signal-to-noise ratio of the system are 10 μm, 10 μm and 93 dB, respectively.