MEMS-Based Portable Reflection Confocal Microscope for In Vivo Skin Imaging.

Abstract

This study aims to develop a portable reflective confocal microscope (PCRM) based on MEMS micro-mirrors for in vivo skin imaging. The design of PCRM is intended to overcome the limitations of traditional invasive biopsies and bulky desktop microscopes, enabling handheld operation and access to hard-to-reach skin areas. This research innovatively integrates MEMS technology into the PCM through precise mechanical design, using an 830 nm laser and a commercial Olympus objective lens, achieving a lateral resolution of 1.24 μm and an axial resolution of 5.3 μm, with imaging at a speed of 11 f/s over a field of view of 530 × 500 μm. PCRM successfully imaged various skin layers, including capillary blood flow, demonstrating diagnostic potential for skin lesions and providing a compact, high-performance solution for non-invasive skin imaging suitable for clinical applications.