Non-linear Multimodal Microendoscopy for Lung Cancer Pathology

For this study the investigators are looking to do the following:

1. To characterize human lung lesions by nonlinear microscopy using ex vivo tissues. In particular, to investigate collagen content and ultrastructure with SHG (second harmonic generation) microscopy, to characterize cell and nuclear morphology and lipid vesicle content with THG (third harmonic generation) and CARS (coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering) microscopy and to conduct spectroscopic and lifetime characterization of MPF (multiphoton fluorescence) signals in cancerous, benign, and normal tissues.
2. To establish the first spectral/structural database for nonlinear optical microimaging of normal and abnormal lung tissue, from which to generate diagnostic algorithms, both to optimize the operating parameters of planned nonlinear endoscopic imaging and to serve as the basis for nonlinear optical histopathology.