OFDI can detect the time delay of scatter light illuminated from objects such as cells at different depths, which in turn, allows a practitioner to determine what structure is inside the wall as a function of depth in the tissue.

"By scanning the beam and collecting all of these time delay traces, you obtain an OFDI image. OFDI does this very quickly, so it is possible to image the whole esophagus at this very high resolution in a short amount of time," said Tearney.


Previously, to obtain this OFDI information, a provider had to do this in conjunction with endoscopy, "a complex and expensive procedure where the patient is typically sedated," said Tearney.

Tearney and his team ultimately wanted to come up with a microscopic imaging technique that could be done without sedation and endoscopy. By implementing OFDI technology within a capsule, the new device not only gets rid of sedating a patient, but also the specialized setting and equipment, as well as the doctor who has been trained in endoscopy. Tearney said that once the device is available, a patient experiencing heartburn may present at their primary care doctor's office for the pill.

The tethered capsule endomicroscopy technology has been licensed for commercial development by the Cambridge, Mass.-based NinePoint Medical.

The company will be launching an inaugural, endoscopy based NvisionVLE Imaging System in mid-2013, which allows providers to "view high-resolution, volumetric images of organs and tissues endoscopically, with the ability to see below the tissue surface, not possible with traditional endoscopy," said Charles Carignan, president and CEO of NinePoint, in a statement to DOTmed News.

The company will move ahead with the continued development of this pill-based embodiment of the NvisionVLE technology. Carignan said he expects NinePoint Medical to have it available in 2014.

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