Capturing the breath of an artificial lung model using endoscopic optical coherence elastography

We demonstrate Endoscopic Optical Coherence Elastography (Endo-OCE) imaging of bronchus in an artificial breathing lung model that can breathe at 10 times per minute with a tidal volume of 500 ml. A 1.2 mm motorized catheter was delivered to the distal bronchus via the working channel of a clinical bronchoscope. Endo-OCE images was acquired at 3000 frames/s during the exhalation of the breath. The results show that the passive breathing of the lung model can induce sufficient tissue deformation (strain) for Endo-OCE imaging. The lung model can be a useful tool to validate the Endo-OCE technology.