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BY-NC-ND 4.0 license Open Access Published by De Gruyter September 22, 2018

Imaging of the human tympanic membrane by endoscopic optical coherence tomography

  • Martin Schindler EMAIL logo , Lars Kirsten , Joseph Morgenstern , Jonas Golde , Mikael Erkkilä , Julia Walther , Max Kemper , Matthias Bornitz , Marcus Neudert , Thomas Zahnert and Edmund Koch

Abstract

Endoscopic optical coherence tomography is a non-invasive and contactless imaging technique based on white light interferometry. It enables high-resolution three-dimensional imaging of scattering tissue up to a depth of about 2 mm. In addition, Doppler-OCT can detect sub-resolution movements. These features can be used to examine the tympanic membrane, the surrounding tissue and nearby areas of the tympanic cavity. For this purpose, we present an endoscopic OCT system, which provides access to the tympanic membrane. The design of the endoscope is based on a gradientindex (GRIN) lens system. This allows a broad field of view and a large working distance. An additional VIS beam path allows visual imaging and orientation inside the auditory canal. Therefore, illumination fibers are attached a round the GRIN-system. The resulting endoscope has a length of 55 mm and a diameter of 3.5 mm. By attaching an earphone and a probe microphone, the oscillation of the tympanic membrane can be measured under acoustic stimulation. With the endoscopic OCT system, we provide an examination tool for the diagnosis of a broad number of diseases like conductive hearing loss.

Published Online: 2018-09-22
Published in Print: 2018-09-01

© 2018 the author(s), published by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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