Photoacoustic and hyperspectral dual-modality endoscope.

We have developed a dual-modality endoscope composed of photoacoustic (PA) and hyperspectral imaging, capable of visualizing both structural and functional properties of bio-tissue. The endoscope's composition and scanning mechanism was described, and the feasibility of the dual-modality endoscope was verified by mimic phantom experiments. Lately, we demonstrated its endoscopic workability through in vivo experiments. The experimental results showed that the proposed herein hybrid endoscope can provide optical imaging of the surface and tomography imaging for the deeper features, and a functional oxygen saturation rate map of the same imaging area. We demonstrated optical-resolution PA imaging of vascular structures and an oxygen saturation rate map in a rabbit's rectum. It confirmed that this dual-modality endoscope can play an important role in comprehensive clinical applications.