British researchers develop precise endoscope for imaging eye tissues during surgery

A team of researchers in Britain has announced the development of an extremely small optical endoscope that captures high-resolution cross-sectional images of internal eye tissues, an innovation that may improve imaging during retinal surgeries and allow direct monitoring of tissues during operations.

The scientific website Medical Xpress reported on Wednesday that the endoscope was developed by physicists from the University of Kent, in collaboration with researchers from King's College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital. The research results were published in the journal Biomedical Optics Express, where they were selected as Editor's Choice.

The prototype of the endoscope has a diameter of only 0.31 millimeters, making it small enough to be inserted into the eye, with the ability to image tissues up to a depth of approximately one millimeter beneath the surface. The device relies on Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) technology, which provides precise images of retinal layers.

Inserting an extremely small probe into the eye allows for direct imaging of tissues during surgical procedures, potentially helping surgeons monitor changes within the eye more precisely during medical interventions. The endoscope features a design based on forward vision, unlike most miniaturized optical coherence tomography devices that use side vision.

To overcome this, researchers used optical fibers cut at an angle; rotating them scans the tissues with a light beam, enabling the formation of precise cross-sectional images. This technology opens new avenues for developing medical imaging tools used in eye surgeries by providing more accurate and direct information about tissue conditions during operations.

In this context, the results indicated that the traditional application of Optical Coherence Tomography is usually performed from outside the eye, by directing low-energy laser beams through the pupil, whereas the new endoscope provides information that helps doctors improve the monitoring of surgical procedures and enhance the precision of interventions aimed at treating retinal diseases.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)