Dissertation Defense: Dominique (Nikki) Galvez, "Furthering Optical Techniques for Micro-Endoscope Development: The Cell-Acquiring Fallopian Endoscope for Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer"

Title: Furthering Optical Techniques for Micro-Endoscope Development: The Cell-Acquiring Fallopian Endoscope for Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Submillimeter microendoscopy is rapidly emerging as a critical tool for applying powerful, multimodal optical imaging techniques to the small lumens and structures of the body. Development in this field can dramatically increase survival rates for diseases like ovarian and pancreatic cancer, where early detection is critical. This work discusses the design of the Cell-Acquiring Fallopian Endoscope (CAFE), a minimally invasive, submillimeter endoscope for the early detection of ovarian cancer in the fallopian tubes and the investigations made to develop it, including 3D-printing of multi-element microlenses, and the modulation transfer function of a coherent fiber bundle-based microendoscope.