Fig. 21: Performance of metalens-based optical coherence tomography microscopes.

a OCT images of grape obtained using the conventional OCT catheter (upper) with two magnified views, and the nano-optic endoscope (lower) with two magnified views, scale bars: 500 μm. b OCT ex vivo images of swine airway obtained using the conventional OCT catheter (upper) with two magnified views, and the nano-optic endoscope (lower) with two magnified views, scale bars: 500 μm. The fine glands in the bronchial mucosa are indicated by the arrow. c Microscopic spectral tomography images of frog egg cells at different wavelengths. d Utilizing the traditional method to image samples from the swine tracheobronchial tissue, scale bars: 500 μm. e Utilizing the BICI to image samples from the swine tracheobronchial tissue, scale bars: 500 μm. f–h Tissue imaging comparison, scale bars: 500 μm. f the conventional approach image with a magnified view. g the BICI image with a magnified view. h Corresponding histology image of the tissue with a magnified view. The arrowhead indicates perichondrium wrapping around cartilage. a, b Reprinted with permission from ref. ²⁸⁰. Copyright 2018 Springer Nature. c Reprinted with permission from ref. ²⁸¹. Copyright 2019 Springer Nature. d–h Reprinted with permission from ref. ²⁸². Copyright 2022 Springer Nature