We developed a flexible endomicroscopy (FEM) in reflection geometry for quantitative phase imaging of unlabeled thick samples. FEM provides the phase information by wavefront modulation using chessboard grating and phase-shifting. FEM system features high lateral and axial resolutions of 1.2 and 8.3 μm, respectively, with a probe diameter of 2.5 mm. By testing pathologic slices and thick opaque mammalian tissue, FEM identifies normal and tumor glandular structures, secreta, and tomographic skin layers. With the potential for direct morphological and phase measurement, high resolution, and thin fiber tip, the label-free FEM could be an attractive tool for various clinical applications.
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