Urogenital photoacoustic endoscope.

Photoacoustic (PA) endoscopy for human urogenital imaging has the potential to diagnose many important diseases, such as endometrial and prostate cancers. We have specifically developed a 12.7 mm diameter, rigid, side-scanning PA endoscopic probe for such applications. The key features of this endoscope are the streamlined structure for smooth cavity introduction and the proximal actuation mechanism for fast scanning. Here we describe the probe's composition and scanning mechanism and present in vivo experimental results suggesting its potential for comprehensive clinical applications.