Large area confocal microscopy.

Imaging large tissue areas with microscopic resolution in vivo may offer an alternative to random excisional biopsy. We present an approach for performing confocal imaging of large tissue surface areas using spectrally encoded confocal microscopy (SECM). We demonstrate a single-optical-fiber SECM apparatus, designed for imaging luminal organs, that is capable of imaging with a transverse resolution of 2.1 microm over a subsurface area of 16 cm2 in less than 1 min. Due to the unique probe configuration and scanning geometry, the speed and resolution of this new imaging technology are sufficient for comprehensively imaging large tissues areas at a microscopic scale in times that are appropriate for clinical use.