The application of a capsular structure to the distal section of a catheter-based probe has been a subject of significant investigation in various optical endoscopy technologies, such as endoscopic optical coherence tomography and optical-resolution photoacoustic endoscopy, particularly concerning their gastrointestinal imaging applications. In this study, we developed a photoacoustic capsule endoscope with an 8-mm diameter to bring these benefits to our gastrointestinal endoscopic applications. We specifically chose the 8 mm diameter for the first prototype probe to investigate its feasibility and associated technical issues based on a rat colorectum model. The achieved lateral resolution was as low as 10 μm, sufficient for resolving capillaries, and we successfully conducted in vivo imaging at an A-line acquisition rate of 32 kHz, satisfying the Nyquist sampling theory. As a result, we obtained a clear in vivo 3D microvasculature image from a rat colorectum over a 360° full angular region, overcoming the blind spot issue that is often caused by imperfect acoustic coupling between a catheter probe and a target lumen.
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