Abstract: In a method for in vivo diagnostics of a biological tissue covered with epithelium an image of the biological tissue is acquired with the aid of a beam in the visible or near IR range directed towards a biological tissue by visualizing the intensity of optical radiation backscattered by the biological tissue. The basal membrane of said biological tissue, which separates the epithelium from an underlying stroma, is identified in the acquired image and diagnostics is performed on basis of the form of the basal membrane. For diagnostics of biological tissue lining the surface of cavities and internal organs of a patient a miniature optical fiber probe is inserted into the patient's cavity. The probe may be placed at a distal end of an endoscope instrumental channel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the analysis of the internal structures of objects using optical means. According to the invention there were designed an apparatus suited for optical coherence tomography (OCT), an optical fiber lateral scanner (15), which is a part of said apparatus and is incorporated into an optical fiber probe (8), and a method for studying biological tissue in vivo, which allows for making a diagnostics of the biological tissue under study on basis of the state of the basal membrane (46). The moving part of lateral scanner (15) of sampling arm (4) of interferometer (2) is arranged comprising a current conductor (19), which envelopes a magnetic system (17) in the area of one of its poles (25) and an optical fiber (13), which is rigidly fastened to current conductor (19), whereas optical fiber (13) serves as a flexible cantilever, allowing to miniaturize the optical fiber probe (8).