Optical Spectroscopy Video

Barrett’s esophagus may contain areas of pre-cancer (dysplasia) and early cancer that may not be readily visualized at endoscopy because of their microscopic nature. As an adjunct to endoscopy, the goal of optical spectroscopy is to improve identification of these suspicious areas so that targeted biopsies can be obtained. Optical fibers can be incorporated into standard biopsy forceps to excite the tissue and collect specific light signals, which carry diagnostic information about the tissue type. Light signals that do not correlate with abnormal areas would not be biopsied. On the other hand, light signals that correlate with abnormal areas would be specifically targeted for biopsy.

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(5.4 Mb.)

Instrumentation Video

This animation shows the basic set-up of an optical spectroscopic device. Excitation light travels through optical fibers encased in a flexible catheter that is placed in gentle contact with the tissue surface. At the microscopic level, light interacts with tissue elements in various ways, including the scattering of light by vibrating molecules (Raman scattering). The emitted light signals are collected by the optical catheter connected to a spectrograph (light analyzer) and detector. The analysis of these light signals, such as Raman, provides important information about the microstructure and/or molecular composition of tissue. Changes in the behavior of these signals can thus be used to identify abnormal tissue.

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(2.86 Mb.)