Optical coherence tomography through a rigid borescope applied to quantification of articular cartilage thickness in a porcine knee model.

There exists an unmet need for an optical coherence tomography (OCT) delivery scheme that is simple, robust, and applicable to general surgical applications. To deliver the beam in a narrow form factor, optical borescopes present an attractive potential solution. We present a method for enabling endoscopic delivery of OCT using a handheld rigid borescope adapted to a low-cost OCT engine. The system reduces the distal profile of the scanner, enabling application of the system in otherwise hard-to-access regions. The clinical potential of this design is demonstrated through real-time quantification of articular cartilage thickness, a primary biomarker of joint health during osteoarthritis. This platform has the potential to enable use of OCT for real-time feedback during arthroscopic surgery.