Dual excitation autofluorescence lifetime and reflectance imaging for fast multidimensional characterization of tissues

We report a fiber-based imaging system that combines autofluorescence and reflectance spectroscopy for rapid and multidimensional characterization of tissues. The system utilizes dual wavelength excitation and time-resolved fluorescence data to assess tissue properties in real-time. Initial experiments using human cancer specimens demonstrated the system's effectiveness in providing multiparametric tissue characterization, which could improve diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The integration of the system with a commercial endoscope further emphasizes its clinical applicability and viability. This work showcases a potential pathway for translating this technology into clinical settings, enabling objective and quantitative evaluation of patients in real-time for diagnostic and follow-up.